Does SpongeBob have depression? (+9 Illnesses in SpongeBob)
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OptimistMinds
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Author bio
The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
The current article will be answering if SpongeBob has depression. Furthermore, we will also be checking out the symptoms of depression which have been portrayed in an episode of SpongeBob called Rock Bottom, along with the other mental illnesses depicted here.
Does SpongeBob have depression?
No, SpongeBob does not have depression according to the symptoms depicted in the show. However, the beloved character shows many symptoms of ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder considering his very short attention span in menial tasks.
The mental illness which SpongeBob might have has been discussed in several theories and has even been researched professionally. Some people say that SpongeBob may also exhibit autism symptoms. On the other hand, other people say that he suffers from Williams-Beuren Syndrome.
Depression in Rock Bottom
The entire show of SpongeBob SquarePants has been known to initiate a number of trends and has also been known to discuss serious topics with a light aura. Similarly, one episode of this show called ‘Rock Bottom’ has been known to portray mental illness very well.
In this episode, SpongeBob and Patrick are coming from a theme park and the bus falls down a drop into a city called ‘Rock Bottom’. This city is very dark and gloomy. Those who suffer from depression will relate to the sudden mood-swing as depicted by this episode.
Not only is the depressive mood experienced by those who have a mental illness depicted here, but the loneliness and isolation they experience is also shown in this episode. Another translation of the eternal darkness of this city relates to the sleeplessness that depressed people experience.
Apart from the depression and insomnia, the episode of Rock Bottom also shows the symptoms of anxiety and how it can cloud proper thinking in anyone. Here, the character Patrick is shown to be nervous enough to not even tell which bathroom to use for his needs.
Another scene in the episode which carefully demonstrates the experiences that those with mental illnesses go through is the bus-boarding scene. In a bid to reach the bus which Patrick has accidentally boarded, SpongeBob continuously tries and fails to run up a steep hill.
Despite continuous attempts, SpongeBob fails at this and is not able to reach the bus. This scene shows the hopelessness that people may experience when they are dealing with a mental health condition.
While the entire episode may trigger feelings of anxiety and depression in almost everyone, it does not end with a sad note. In the final scenes of this episode, we can see that SpongeBob is rescued by an anglerfish who gives him a blown-up glove balloon.
This act demonstrates the external help given by others in the form of therapy and counseling which is necessary for treatment of any mental health condition. It also shows that help can come by in any form, even from those who are unexpected to help.
Mental Illnesses in SpongeBob SquarePants
Apart from the main character SpongeBob himself, many other characters in the show are also depicted to portray or demonstrate mental illnesses. In this section, we have described each character and the mental illness that they are portraying.
Sandy Cheeks and BPD
Sandy Cheeks is often described by knowing fans to have BPD or Borderline Personality Disorder. This is because of the frequent mood swings that this character portrays. She is also known to be highly impulsive, which is a characteristic trait of those who have BPD.
Apart from BPD, some fans also say that Sandy Cheeks may be demonstrating Intermittent Explosive Disorder. This is again because of the frequent outburst of anger that Sandy Cheeks often portrays in the show.
Plankton and Narcissism
Plankton is known to be very self-obsessed and thus a lot of fans of the show speculate that this character may have an Antisocial Personality Disorder. He also may have a Narcissistic Personality Disorder which makes him act the way he does with other people.
Mr. Krabs and OCD
Mr. Krabs is another character of the show who is very obsessed with himself. And thus, he is often said to have a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. On the other hand, the character loves money and thus may have an OCD surrounding the need and want for more money.
Patrick and Intellectual disability
Patrick may be one of the most beloved characters on the show mainly because of his naivety and his simplicity. While it may seem innocent enough, Patrick can be seen to have some sort of developmental disability. Some users say that he may portray Down syndrome.
Squidward and Depression
Another fan-favorite character from the show who is often irritated by SpongeBob’s antics is Squidward. This character is shown to have an Antisocial Personality Disorder considering his extreme dislike for others.
Some fans of the show also say that Squidward may be showing symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder as he is perpetually sad and grumpy all the time. The show also depicts this character as being increasingly irritable at the seemingly naïve antics of SpongeBob and Patrick.
Mrs. Puff and Anxiety
Mrs. Puff in SpongeBob SquarePants is shown to be anxious and scared all the time. And therefore, many super-fans of the show speculate that this character may be suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Apart from generalized anxiety, Mrs. Puff can also be an example of someone who has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, mainly since she often goes through troublesome situations laid out by SpongeBob himself.
Pearl and Narcissistic Disorder
Pearl is another favorite character of the show and has a pretty detailed character arc. Pearl has been shown to show symptoms of a Narcissistic Personality Disorder and often brings everyone’s attention to herself.
The reasons for her character developing such a disorder are also shown explicitly in the show, the main one being the lack of attention from her own father. Other fans speculate that Pearl may show signs of having a Histrionic Personality Disorder.
Larry and BPD
Larry the lobster is often to go through many mood swings in the show. While sometimes he may be full of energy, other times he is shown to be depressed and unwilling to participate in anything. Due to this, fans say that Larry may be suffering from Bipolar Disorder.
Gary and Schizophrenia
While most of the characters in the show are shown to suffer from depression, anxiety or some form of personality disorder, Gary the snail can be seen as depicting a plethora of symptoms related to Schizophrenia.
Due to this, fans can see that Gary may not be in touch with reality. Some other fans of the show also say that Gary the snail may have an Avoidant Personality Disorder which makes him act so aloof and distant all the time.
Conclusion
The current article has answered if SpongeBob has depression. Furthermore, we have also checked out the symptoms of depression which have been portrayed in an episode of SpongeBob called Rock Bottom, along with the other mental illnesses depicted here.
If you like this article, please post your comments and questions in the space below.
Citations
https://screenrant.com/spongebob-squarepants-show-real-meaning-mental-illness-theory/
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/psychological-analysis-of-spongebob
https://spongebob.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000000276894
SpongeBob’s ‘Rock Bottom’ Depicts Symptoms of Depression
https://shatteringthestigma.wixsite.com/project/post/squidward-tentacles-major-clinical-depression
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