7 Superheroes And Villains As Mental Illnesses And Treatments

Mental illnesses are the villains that plague the everyday "average Joe." They impact daily life in different negative ways depending on the illness. Treatments for these illnesses are like the Superheroes that defeat the villains. Read on to see these comparisons!

1. The Joker: Schizophrenia

The Joker commits crimes as if he has no conscience. Schizophrenic people can potentially behave in similar ways. Schizophrenia creates a disconnect and inability to think, behave, and feel clearly; The Joker has these same issues.

Batman

Treatment of Schizophrenia is typically lifelong and is a combination of therapy and medication. Batman keeps the Joker in check. Batman will always need to be around to stop the Joker's shenanigans in the same way that Schizophrenia needs lifelong treatment.

2. Loki: Bipolar Disorder

Loki is a complex character. Sometimes he is on the good side, other times he is the enemy. This can be related to Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder is episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs. In the same way that Loki's alliance changes, Bipolar people's moods change.

Thor

For all intents and purposes, Thor is Loki's brother. He feels responsible for Loki, and Loki resents him for being better at everything. Thor is the remedy to Loki's chaos, just as medication and psychotherapy is the treatment for Bipolar Disorder.

3. Savitar: ADHD

Savitar is an extremely powerful speedster. Being a speedster means he can get wherever he needs to be very quickly. This is similar to how people with ADHD have short attention spans and jump from one thing to the next in a matter of seconds.

The Flash

The Flash is the superhero counterpart to Savitar. He is the equivalent of talk therapy and medication commonly used to treat ADHD. Savitar and the Flash both tap into the same Speed Force to get their power, it's just how they use it that's different.

4. The Lizard: DID

The Lizard is Dr. Curt Connors. By researching animals' ability to regrow limbs, he accidentally turned himself into a lizard-man with the ability to transform back & forth. This is kind of how Dissociative Identity Disorder works; the Lizard & Connors are separate beings sharing the same body space.

Spider-Man

Spider-Man is the hero The Lizard hates; he always spoils his plans. Psychotherapy, talk therapy, and behavioral therapy are the Spider-Man to Dissociative Identity Disorder's Lizard.

5. Two-Face: Anxiety

Two-Face is the supervillain representation of Anxiety. He makes all of his decisions by flipping a coin, and he is pretty much obsessed with the number 2. If he can't have his coin to make decisions, he loses it.

Batman (Again)

Batman is the guy that Two-Face avoids. He spoils Two-Face's fun. Batman is the counseling and medication (includes antidepressants) that treats the Anxiety that is Two-Face.

6. Venom: Depression

Venom is an evil suit that bonded with reporter Eddie Brock. Brock blamed Spider-Man for ruining his career. He is an example of Depression. His inability to cope with life change caused a Depressive episode, which caused his evilness.

Spider-Man, Round 2

Spidey and Venom went at it for years. They even begrudgingly formed alliances at some points. In the end, Venom lost, and it was in part because of Spider-Man. Spidey was the antidepressants, other medication, and talk therapy used to treat depression.

7. The Riddler: OCD

The Riddler is a prime example for some aspects of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. OCD is excessive thoughts that lead to repetitive behaviors. The Riddler is obsessed with riddles, puzzles, and word games. All of his crimes overstate his "intellectual superiority" by sending his adversaries complex clues.

Batman (Again, again)

Time and time again Batman finds a way to take down the Riddler. He is the equivalent of the medication and therapy commonly used to treat the OCD embodied by the Riddler. Batman always wins in the end.

Disclaimer:

This is not saying that if you have a mental illness you are a supervillain. Not at all. This is purely to show that your illness CAN be overcome; you just need to find your inner superhero. Find it in you to discover the outside superheroes that can help you defeat this villain. The good guys always win!