By Keely Aouga
Jan. 18 marks National Winnie the Pooh Day, commemorating the book’s author A.A. Milne’s birthday.
Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin were inspired by a black bear named Winnie at the London Zoo during World War I and the author's son, Christopher Robin.
Each of the books' characters, from Tigger to Eeyore, play a unique role in teaching people of all ages every day lessons.
Some people speculate that each character represents a mental health condition. Let’s take a look into some of the characters, and see if you can be convinced.
Winnie the Pooh is believed to represent an eating disorder, which may or may not explain his consummption of honey.
Piglet worries often, therefore making him Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
It's okay to not be okay.
People think that Eeyore experiences Depressive Disorder due to his somber outlook on life and low mood.
Tigger is believed to represent Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder due to his high energy levels and need to always be moving.
These are just four of the characters with the remaining believed to represent conditions from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to Schizophrenia.
Although this theory is not confirmed, mental illness is real and can have severe impacts on an individual’s daily functioning.
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, you are not alone.
Regardless if the theory is true or not, the characters' observed differences normalize the experiences that some people have every day.
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