Tiggeris one of theWinnie the Poohcharacters who represent mental illnesses. She loses interest in all the games and activities she did with her sister, refusing to leave her room. It also encourages us to look at the world in a different way and to see the relatable side of things. Holden has had to deal with both a brother dying of leukemia and seeing a classmate commit suicide while wearing his borrowed sweater. He was a sex-obsessed womaniser who treated women like objects, tricking and misleading them into sleeping with him. #27: MAKE THEM SWEAT. And what do you know, according to the researchers behind the book Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, the difference between just collecting and hoarding is that, "When people collect things, they typically want to display them to other people . Hoarders want to keep things hidden because of the shame they have. Yes, poor Alice, you have. Rather than ostracize him, his community plays along with his delusion at the behest of his doctor, helping himcome to terms with prior trauma while at the same time becoming more introspective and tolerant as a whole. In fact, she's likely suffering from sadistic personality disorder. : I made it a point not to include living characters from movies with potential sequels and currently running TV shows! Gone With the Wind's Scarlett O'Hara is one of the most iconic heroines in American film. Or to put it more accurately those whose questionable behaviour didnt age well amid the current era of accountability. It's true that the disorder wouldn't be recognized until 70 years after Doyle invented the character. Autism has a spectrum spanning the most high-functioning and the most severe alterations to behavior, and the further along the spectrum, the greater the chance of sensationalism. You've earned your first teardrop tattoo.". These characters show the realities of living with them in sensitive and illuminating portrayals. As the turn of the century neared, the White Russian was just another bad, outdated cocktail from the 1970s. Jane Eyre. They feel, think, and behave like real people. Give important characters a backstory. Do you possess expert skills in image creation and manipulation? One of the great things about Charlie Brown is that he does not necessarily let his psychological issues ruin his life. Put the character struggling with trust in a vulnerable situation. (5) The character must live with the consequences of his . Craig encounters patients in the facility with everything from autism to manic depression and beyond, and they're depicted in ways that aren't exaggerated, hypertrophied, or over-the-top. Aside from the usual cognitive behavioral therapy, they examine the romantic relationships in their lives to try to find areas of their unhappiness that they can alter. All the characters are problematic as hell, but she's on another level. Oh, and remember how he tried to restrict her friend group, just because he didnt get along with or approve of them? Maggie is married to a loving husband but is unhappy, and Milo has always wondered if his first love is the one who got away. And these are just the tip of the iceberg that is, her failing to see how insignificant her problems are in the grand scheme of things. Shows like, But its weird to think that your favorite silly, zany cartoon characters can suffer from those same afflictions. What Is Schizophrenia? The forums had slightly different perspective tendencies. He and his military father often lock horns over trust issues. Honestly, it was quite disappointing to watch her make one questionable decision after another on the Netflix spin-off; from acting all entitled with her dream job, to having an affair with her engaged ex-boyfriend. To be honest, we skimmed this bit back in high school. I dont know about you, but I find it hard to sympathise with someone who nearly killed his girlfriend due to drunk driving and leaving her in the middle of the road. Ariel, there is a certain reality show we want to put you in touch with . We're going to avoid the obvious fact that Belle's relationship with the Beast who is imprisoning her shows all the signs of Stockholm syndrome (and in fact we've already detailed that here). forum to moderate!". Though Winona Ryder's character was the protagonist ofGirl, Interrupted,the suicide attempt that landed her in an all-female mental institution was the catalyst for more engrossing stories featuring her fellow patients. For instance, a recent New York Times article stated that actress Claire Danes' portrayal of a bipolar woman . These uneven obsessions with random topics -- in Holmes' case, things like tobacco ashes and regional soil consistency -- are not signs of an enthusiast; they are symptoms of a disorder. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get sexy, sexy jokes sent straight to your news feed. Yikes, that doesnt sound good does it? Personal story time: Miles Teller is one of my all-time celebrity crushes, and yet I still wanted to strangle this character throughout the movie. People with antisocial personality disorder tend to antagonize, manipulate or treat others harshly or with callous indifference. Cam spends the 18 months of her master's program coming to terms with his bipolar diagnosis and raising their two daughters. If you know someone with Asperger's, you're well familiar with this habit. A lot of fiction gets more depressing when you realize that writers are usually writing about themselves, whether they admit it or not. It's unlikely that the writers who created these characters consciously decided they would give them an undiagnosed mental disorder as one of their traits. Bella Swan might have gotten a lot of flack for being utterly bland (hey, not her fault she was written that way), but at least she wasnt a centuries-old vampire who went for a literal 17-year-old. He also carries the constant fear of being rejected. Joy has usually been the predominant emotion inRiley'slife, but the move gives a voice to Sadness, who soon commandeers her personality. Dont think that Elsa had some serious depression? Sheimagines adrink that makes you shrink in size. He doesn't really pay attention to the fact that his restless behavior may actually be annoying to his friends. As discussed above, relatively effortless empathy with a fictional character imbues us with the perception that we are similar to the character in question. She also struggles with extreme guilt for the lack of control over her powers. Of course, how can I leave out the most divisive of fictional characters in recent TV history? He keeps trying to kick that football! Also read: 47 Upcoming Movies We Cant Wait to See in 2021. The film focused on Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), a happy-go-lucky 11-year-old who becomes depressed when her parents move the family to San Francisco. Discussions of fictophilia were generally initiated by people experiencing love, desire, or deep attachment to a fictional character and often wanting to discuss whether it was 'normal' or 'healthy,' or searching for others like them. [] surprised. ", "Care for a 70th rendition of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep,' my dear Watson?". One of the most enigmatic patients she encountered was Lisa Rowe, played with volatile intensity by Angelina Jolie. Ellen discovers ways to confront her deep-seated anxieties and embrace self-acceptance. But Belle didn't need to be kidnapped to develop a mental disorder; she comes firing out of the gates with one already fully developed: schizoid personality disorder. War does that to people.". Think again. Press | Send us your Press Releases & Media Invites. The 80s was obviously the era of mean and inconsiderate teenage guys starring in high school-set movies. You character will probably never be able to trust others, even when people get close to her. No? 5 Inspirational Fictional Characters from Books. Vulnerability is what allows people to connect on a deep, meaningful level. Living in an era when women weren't considered their most attractive unless their mouths were shut, Scarlett was portrayed as a hard-workin', hard-drinkin', hard-screwin' Southern belle who wouldn't take shit from anyone. "I don't know what this is, but my teenage rebellion sense is tingling!". Now, lets move on to Disney characters who totally gave the wrong message to many young children. As well as helping us understand ourselves better, reading books might also help us understand and empathize with other people, by guiding us to see things from their points of view. Mediocre? my all-time favourite fiction writing book series. He left his umbrella.". Then, when she discovers that her step-daughter, Snow White, has become "the fairest of them all," extreme jealousy and envy sends her into a murderous rage. I know he has issues, but it doesn't justify him being the shittiest person, emotionally cruel and manipulative at all times. Even when the other person feels close and for them everything is fine, she'll feel like a thin, invisible wall is stuck between them. Disturbed, Elsa locks herself away and refuses to face the world out of fear of hurting more people. "Not when we've put so much effort into prying them off her cold dead feet!". Mental conditions. However, he portrays the mental illness with understated intensity, especially when it comes to bear on hisvocation and his relationship with his teenage daughter, Angela (Alison Lohman). RELATED:10 Jamie Foxx Characters Ranked From Heroic To Most Villainous. Are you frightened by MS Paint and simply have a funny idea? But Ariel has another glaring, deep-seated issue that should be addressed. He gets entrusted to his younger brother Charlie (Tom Cruise) after the death of their father and has no idea that Charlie is an opportunistusing Raymondto get at their father's fortune. Above all, someone suffering from the disorder will avoid human relationships, especially any that might result in sexual encounters. Wisdom, Wellness and Writing for Conscious Creatives. Or to put it simply, he has to grow the fuck up. As much as I love her style (most of the time), she was the absolute worst among the four leads. He has bad impulse control, evidencedwith all the bouncing around he does. are the property of their respective owners. It then makes you wonder how these crowd faves have gotten away with it for so long; but hey, lets chalk it up to not knowing any better back then. Also read: 7 Airbnbs That Were Featured in Movies & TV Shows. Oh, and who could forget the fact he couldn't handle his toddler son playing with a Barbie, or when he tried it on with his own cousin or when he was rampantly homophobic in the male-nanny debacle? Take him through the process of dilemma, choice, action and consequence: (1) Something that matters must be at stake. Yes, I definitely did just lump these two in the same item. Content Warning: The following article contains discussions of mental health conditions, violence, and suicide. The opening scene in the film depicts Ariel raiding a sunken boat for useless bullshit. There are particular aspects that identify it as a disorder. What's Eating Gilbert Grapeis about the importance of characters not only identifying their own mental illnesses but locating those around them that understand them as well. While they get closer handling the family business, Roy has to understand that the methods he used to control his mental illness have to be adjusted to accommodate his new fatherly role. Even more important, many will feel compelled to act, either to intervene, to support, or to commiserate. Sadistic personality disorder doesn't just mean somebody is an evil dick. Angela yearns to be closer to her father, as well as gain an insider perspective into the world of the con, so she asks to join his next big scheme. You can create an infograpic and you could be on the front page of Cracked.com tomorrow! One-note characters will always fail to come to life on the page. Everyone says Big was a bad character, but seriously they both sucked so much they deserved each other. I wouldnt be surprised. While some of these symptoms could just as easily stem from depression, it's important to also point out that J.D. In fact, it's probably easier to just think of her as Doc Holiday in a dress. This point struck home with me: Have your character confide some of these fears or worries through dialogue. So much emphasis is placed on show, dont tell nowadays, but dialogue provides a way for characters to tell, in their own distinctive speech patterns, what is driving them. This aspect of moral self-trust brings the role of empathy with fictional characters clearly into view. In reality, Belle would have probably preferred he stay a beast and all his servants stay candlesticks and clocks, though she'd never admit it. Seriously, she spent most of the time just whining and depending on Troy. Many movies about mental illness focus on the problematic lifestyle of the character afflicted, with them adapting to a neurotypical worldview, rather than the people around them adapting to their neurodivergent perspective. Perhaps a secret of theirs becomes known. In fact, someone with the disorder is more likely to find stronger intimacy with animals than people, so it's little surprise that Belle develops a relationship with a beast instead of a man. She seemed oblivious to the fact that he only wanted her as a submissive despite him telling her countless times. When readers read fiction, they know they are encountering human-constructed characters, settings, and situations. He is preoccupied entirely by his own short-comings in life. In fact, many teenagers who watched it would say that he and Aria Montgomery were such an adorable couple. What Is Major Depressive Disorder? This is because people with avoidant personality disorder have a low threshold for criticism and often imagine themselves to be inferior to others.". Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother CBS He was a sex-obsessed womaniser who treated women like objects, tricking and misleading them into sleeping with. When Milo (Bill Hader)attempts suicide, he reunites with his estranged twin sister Maggie (Kristen Wiig) in the hospital. And to top it all off, he was a terrible friend who was either constantly competing with them or trying to date them. Among the problematic fictional characters weve listed so far, this dude is basically the epitome of white male privilege. The seclusion of the castle along with the nonhuman inhabitants and a relationship with a beast who isn't a sexual threat is like a dream for anyone with schizoid personality disorder. So if Love and Belonging drives us, it must motivate our characters as well (especially in Romances!). Characters Who Didn't Live Happily Ever After, Cartoon Characters You Never Realized Suffer From Mental Disorders. Benny devoteshimselfto supporting her in those times so that she can live an isolated life far away from the jarring pace of the world. These are tackled through dark comedy and emotionally vulnerable drama by acompelling performance by Davidson, making the portrayal of mental illness particularly effective. Schizoid personality disorder's trademark symptom is self-imposed social isolation. I get so bored, I could scream." Some of you have already heard of this, but for the benefit of those who havent: Janis is the real villain, not Regina George. . It may feel as if you are frequently unwelcome in social situations, even when that is not the case. It's a compulsion. When Joy and Sadness get pulled to the furthest reaches of Riley's subconscious, Anger, Fear, and Disgust assume control. Are there any other problematic fictional characters that you believe should be on this list? The Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the quintessential example of NPD. And while those traits would win her a lot of competitive reality shows, they are also the definite symptoms of antisocial and histrionic personality disorders. You cant have love without vulnerability. At the end of the day, I still believe in possible character development and redemption, no matter how long overdue. Fictional characters can, under U.S. law, be protected separately from their underlying works. Steve forms an unlikely friendship with Ayers, and together they bring awareness to not just mental illness, but society's response to it. happy writing, and thanks Jo for welcoming me here! Copyright 2023 Inspire Portal. It certainly changes the tone of the happy ending. Wait, are these thing humans as well? Cartoons have always included characters suffering from psychological problems, like how, Want more pop-culture disorders? It's amazing he didn't have multiple rape charges against him. After spending her teenage years being herded through multiple recovery programs for her eating disorder, Ellen (Lily Collins) doesn't see much point in trying to escape her anorexia, especially since every time she begins a new therapy she ends up weighing less than she did before she started. So, dont expect this list to include characters who are already deemed antiheroes or villains, to begin with. Come on, anyone who says its easy to tell them apart is lying. Or how she basically used the unassuming Cady as a pawn? Whether it's because she keeps it so well hidden from the other merpeople or because some problems are just too big for a crab and a fish to tackle, no one in the film ever addresses the fact that Ariel is a pathological hoarder. Personally, Im a fan of both the musical and the movie adaptation. Follow the BuzzFeed Community on. And, sure enough, one of the main side effects of disposophobia is obsessing over the collection at the expense of daily obligations. People have common worries and fears. Fiction is a reflection of the real world, especially when it comes to our characters. Let it be known that I actually used to look up to her, especially when I watched the series during my uni days. She creates an emotional attachment to every object she finds, and this is another common problem among hoarders: they find sentimentality in random, worthless items. We have to let someone get close enough to see the real, authentic us. Is she going to eat them? Grow Reader Empathy By Showing A Protagonists Vulnerable Side, Vulnerability: The Key To Compelling Romantic Relationships, The Path To Vulnerability Leads To Deeper Relationships. In reality, it was a primitive way to diagnose the thousands of mental breakdowns following conflict that we now call PTSD. Based somewhat on Pete Davidson's life in the wake of losing his father,The King of Staten Islandfinds the comedian portraying Scott, a young man with a history of mental illness, trying to adjust to the death of his father (who lost his life serving as a firefighterduring the September 11th attacks) who also suffered from the same. Believe it or not, lots of thebest cartoon characters on TVsuffer from mental illnesses. Cartoons are a fond childhood memoryuntil you really start to think about some of the animated heroes and villains. Here are some of the best responses. The Diagnosis: Avoidant personality disorder (APD), What Is APD? They show no guilt or remorse for their behavior.". He never did his own homework despite knowing his so-called best mate was fighting the worst villain of all time, and always expected Harry and Hermione to carry him. Lets be real IRL, this wouldve been an absolute disaster. If so, wed love to hear your own hot takes on our, On a different note, weve also previously written about, movies and TV shows whose characters arent such lost causes, . These tortured creatures were Munchkins once. From giving up her voice just to be with someone she hasnt met, to trying to trick him so theyd live happily ever after; these are just the tip of the iceberg. You may be surprised that thiscomic charactersuffers from APD. and her bank account, but shes also a terrible friend. schoolworkhelper If Catcher had been written today, Holden would be nursing a Pabst in this picture. Yep, never mind the fact that the father shes trying to avenge was a tyrant who, frankly, had it coming. Kids obsess over weird things: that's not unusual. Angela Ackerman is a writing coach, international speaker, and co-author of several bestselling resources including, The Emotion Thesaurus, The Positive Trait Thesaurus and The Negative Trait Thesaurus. Trust Issues - Kindle edition by James, Danielle. He's the most-portrayed fictional character in the world, running the gamut from Basil Rathbone playing a jolly English gentleman who fights Nazis to Robert Downey Jr.'s Victorian Rain Man/MMA fighter. This need for domination, coupled with Scar's APD, led to the brutal killing of Mufasa. The guy wanted to possess his girlfriend and control every aspect of her life. So, you know, hes that insufferable. Matilda by Roald Dahl. Characters with a hard exterior may try to act tough, but when they see someone going through a situation that triggers emotional memories of their own past wounds, they cant help but empathise. When we trust someone, we want to open ourselves to them because doing so signifies a high level of self-acceptance. Accepting that depression will always be a part of their lives is the only way they are able to healthily move forward. Vote up the cartoon character diagnoses that make the most sense. Perhaps 70 years from now, experts will have a name for the ability to slow down time and punch people in slow motion. The perceived dramatic nature of a mental illness has notoriously meant it's too often conveyed as a means to broadcast sentimentality or sensationalism. Web Design by Viva la Violette. She said homophobic things to Emily then ended up kissing her while she was grieving the death of Maya, and even tried to drown her. Now watch Scarlett collapse into a puddle of melodrama when she is rejected by a man: It's worth watching just to see him give her a handful of soil in the middle of her crying fit. Or when she sent Aidan to help an injured Miranda? But obviously the disorder existed long before there was a name for it, and Doyle didn't have to know what the disorder was called in order to have known somebody with those quirks, and written them into his fictional detective. Most notable among them are a quick temper, a willingness to show a little skin to get what she wants and a cutthroat determination, regardless of who gets hurt. A fast-talking caffeine-dependent wordsmith, Marcy has never been one to shy away from sharing a good story or two. She was incredibly entitled and self-centred. Somehow, gum made out of tree bark is still softer than Bazooka. Think its normal for a girl to be BFFs with a talking tree? Vulnerability is really all about laying ourselves bare. America's favorite literary rebel, The Catcher in the Rye's Holden Caulfield, has a special place in the hearts of readers. Also she is blatantly using Dorothy as a human shield. Whether the characters you relate to fly on broomsticks, survive high school with perfectly-timed sarcastic comments or pack a punch in an action flick, fictional characters can be so relatable because they capture real human emotions. I think Ruth Harris said it best when she said: Rules killgood fiction. You may enjoy this offering from her blog by Anne R. Allen: 6 Reasons Show Dont Tell Can be Terrible Advice for New Writers I also love using dialogue as a way to initially create a scene. She ends up befriending and falling in love with a beast before she knows he's secretly a human prince under a spell. Why she ever wanted him back I'll never know. Who invites three men (none of whom she has ever met) to her wedding, just because one of them could be her biological dad? Remember when she outed Damien to Cady literally a few seconds after introducing themselves? Her low self-esteem is also evident in her song, "Let It Go," where she expresses the need to put up a facade: "Dont let them in, dont let them see, be the good girl you always have to be! We are comfortable showing our true self (beliefs, emotions, dreams, ideas, weakness, and strengths) without fear of judgement. RELATED: 10 Forgotten Keanu Reeves Roles You Need To Go Back & Watch. His entire personality thrives because of rape culture. Instead he concentrates on the visual of seeing the blood and teeth everywhere, or the look on James' face.