# Im Ok > I'm Ok is a 2015 two-panel exploitable comic by DeviantArt artist DestinyBlue featuring a woman's "I'm OK" wall message that reveals "I'm Not Okay" through a perspective shift. "I'm OK" is a two-panel exploitable comic where a woman writes "I'm OK" on a wall, but a 90-degree perspective shift in the second panel reveals the full message reads "I'm Not Okay." Originally created as a sincere artwork about depression by DeviantArt artist DestinyBlue in May 2015, the comic was repurposed into a shitposting template starting in 2017, with users swapping the hidden text for absurd punchlines. ## Origin On May 21, 2015, DeviantArt user DestinyBlue published the original comic alongside a long, deeply personal essay about living with depression and anxiety[1]. In the description, DestinyBlue wrote about how depression "erodes the you-ness of you" and described years of struggling with mental illness before seeking help[1]. The artwork was part of a broader series of emotionally raw illustrations that DestinyBlue had built a following around on DeviantArt. The comic's visual concept, using a perspective shift to reveal a hidden truth, struck a chord with viewers dealing with similar experiences. For about two years, the image circulated primarily in its original context as a mental health awareness piece[2]. - **Platform:** DeviantArt (original art), Instagram / Reddit (meme format) - **Creator:** DestinyBlue (artist, original comic), luigilover.tm (earliest known exploitable edit) - **Date:** 2015 (original art), 2017 (meme format) ## Overview The "I'm OK" comic uses a simple visual trick. In the first panel, a woman stands at a wall where the words "I'm OK" are clearly visible. In the second panel, the camera rotates 90 degrees, revealing that the full text actually reads "I'm Not Okay." The original piece was meant to show how people with depression hide their real feelings behind a surface-level reassurance[1]. As a meme template, the format works by replacing the hidden second-panel text with something unexpected or ridiculous. The joke structure flips the comic's emotional weight into comedy: the "secret message" is no longer about depression but about whatever absurd complaint the editor plugs in. The format shares DNA with the "I'm Fine" meme, another template about masking inner turmoil[2]. ## How It Spread The comic's second life as a meme template began roughly two years after its original posting. On August 29, 2017, Instagram user luigilover.tm posted one of the earliest known exploitable edits, changing the hidden message to read "I'm last in Mario Kart." The post picked up over 4,300 likes[2]. Reddit caught on quickly. On November 23, 2017, user JuicedJunkie posted a version to r/me_irl where the revealed text read "I'm Oklahoma," a simple geographic pun that earned over 5,700 points[2]. The edits kept rolling through 2018 and 2019. On May 19, 2018, r/dankmemes user McMab posted a variation reading "I'm OKn't," playing on the "-n't" suffix trend popular that year, and scored over 6,900 points[2]. Later that year, on November 8, 2018, Redditor yonosoyvictor contributed a version reading "I'm Already Tracer," referencing the viral Overwatch character debate, which pulled in over 5,900 points[2]. The format's appeal was its simplicity. Anyone could edit the second panel's text to land a punchline, and the dramatic perspective shift gave even weak jokes an extra kick. The original comic's serious emotional weight made the absurd replacements funnier by contrast. ## How to Use The "I'm OK" template typically follows a two-step process: 1. The first panel stays mostly unchanged, showing the figure next to text that reads "I'm OK." 2. The second panel, where the perspective shifts, is edited so the full revealed message says something unexpected, funny, or absurd instead of "I'm Not Okay." ## Cultural Impact The original comic's spread as a mental health awareness piece was significant on its own. DestinyBlue's accompanying essay about depression, self-harm, and the slow process of seeking help reached a wide audience on DeviantArt and was shared across social media as a resource for people struggling with similar issues[1]. The artist wrote that they hoped sharing their story would "make it easier for the next person to speak about it"[1]. The meme version, while obviously lighter in tone, kept the original comic in circulation years after its initial posting. This created an unusual dynamic where the same image simultaneously existed as a sincere mental health statement and a shitposting template, depending on who was sharing it and in what context. ## Fun Facts - DestinyBlue's original DeviantArt description mentions that 1 in 4 people experience mental health issues, framing the comic as part of a broader conversation about invisible illness[1]. - The artist described anxiety as "that half second spike" when you almost fall backward in a chair, except lasting for years[1]. - The "I'm Fine" meme uses a nearly identical concept (hidden distress behind a calm exterior), making the two formats frequent companions in meme compilations[2]. - Urban Dictionary's top entries for "I'm OK" include the deadpan definition: "It's when someone not ok"[3]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the "I'm OK" meme? It's a two-panel comic where a woman appears to write "I'm OK," but a perspective shift reveals the full text says "I'm Not Okay." The format became an exploitable template where users replace the hidden message with jokes[2]. ### Where did the "I'm OK" meme come from? DeviantArt artist DestinyBlue posted the original comic on May 21, 2015, as part of a personal essay about depression[1]. ### What does the "I'm OK" meme mean? In its original form, it symbolizes how people with depression mask their real feelings. As a meme template, the hidden message is swapped for absurd or comedic punchlines[2]. ### How do you use the "I'm OK" meme? Edit the second panel so the revealed text says something funny instead of "I'm Not Okay." Popular versions use puns, gaming references, or trending meme phrases[2]. ### Is the "I'm OK" meme still popular? The format saw peak activity between 2017 and 2019, with major edits hitting Reddit and Instagram during that window. It still appears occasionally but is no longer a dominant template[2]. ### Who is DestinyBlue? DestinyBlue is a DeviantArt artist who created the original comic and has been open about their experiences with depression and anxiety[1]. ### What was the first "I'm OK" meme edit? One of the earliest known exploitables was posted on August 29, 2017, by Instagram user luigilover.tm, changing the text to "I'm last in Mario Kart"[2]. ### What is the "I'm OKn't" version? A May 2018 edit by Reddit user McMab on r/dankmemes that played on the "-n't" suffix trend, gaining over 6,900 points[2]. ### Is the "I'm OK" meme related to "I'm Fine"? Yes, both formats use the concept of masking inner distress behind surface-level reassurance, and they're often grouped together in meme discussions[2]. ## References 1. [Depression by DestinyBlue on DeviantArt]() 2. [I'm OK - Know Your Meme]() 3. [I'm OK]() 4. [I'm OK - Urban Dictionary]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/im-ok Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library