Winnie the Pooh is addicted to honey.1 He doesn’t need psychostimulants (also addicting) but, rather, rehabilitation and maybe some methadone. His mind is little, not because of shaken bear syndrome, but because the honey is rotting his brain cells. His lack of focus, poorly laid out plans and behaviour (attention deficit disorder), as well as his weight, are also a result of the addiction. He spends his entire day looking for honey, bothering other characters for their honey, getting into trouble because of the honey and even fearing imaginary creatures (the Heffalumps) because he’s tripping on the honey. Look in Pooh’s home, and I’m sure you will find a bunch of empty jars of honey.
Owl has mild autism. He monologues, is socially awkward and has special interests (such as books) and so forth. Piglet suffers from many phobias. He won’t leave the house if Pooh doesn’t drag him out. He’s afraid of everything.
This summarizes the major psychological disorders:
Pooh: addiction
Owl: mild autism
Piglet: phobias
Eyore: depression
Tigger: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Rabbit: need to control others.
Footnotes
For the full letter, go to: www.cmaj.ca/cgi/eletters/163/12/1557#5452365
REFERENCE
- 1.Shea SE, Gordon K, Hawkins A, et al. Pathology in the Hundred Acre Wood: a neurodevelopmental perspective on A.A. Milne. CMAJ 2000;163:1557–9 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]