Disney, one of the biggest movie studios ever, earned nearly $5 billion in 2022. The legendary brand has been around since the 1930s, popularized for its animated films about princesses. These princesses often needed to fight back against a nemesis or evil person before finally reaching their happily ever after. These princesses carry a lot of meaning for women and young girls due to the relatable experiences they often reflect.
But reality can sometimes be a little darker, which Disney hasn’t always acknowledged outright. In real life, women often deal with all kinds of mental illnesses, and there are many Disney princesses who show signs of mental illness. Some speculate that this is a way of understanding symptoms through iconic characters we’ve all come to love. According to fans, here are all the Disney princesses who may deal with mental health issues.
1. Mulan: Atelophobia
In 1998, we got to know the heroic Mulan, who fought to save her homeland from an army that invaded it. She also showed signs of atelophobia, which is defined as an extreme fear of imperfection, according to the Cleveland Clinic. People with atelophobia are very frightened of making mistakes and tend to avoid new situations if there isn’t a guarantee of success. It can lead to panic attacks, depression, anxiety, and more. This is highly likely since Mulan often deals with feelings of rejection and imperfection.
2. Anna: ADHD
Anna from Frozen doesn’t have the ability to use ice magic, unlike her sibling. She exhibits signs of ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, due to her tendencies towards being chronically inattentive, acting impulsively, and fidgeting often. Just think of all the times she trips, gets extremely excited, talks too fast, and jumps on furniture. Not to mention agreeing to marry a prince just hours after being introduced to him.
3. Alice: Schizophrenia
Alice falls down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland, which might be caused by schizophrenia. In the classic 1951 version, the protagonist talks to a floating cat and a talking caterpillar while escaping an evil queen. The film has often been associated with hallucinations, which are a common symptom of schizophrenia. This is a chronic brain disorder that often includes seeing things that aren’t there.
