Life’s not always sunshine and rainbows.
Sometimes, bad days are just unavoidable.
But in Squidward’s case?
It seems like there’s no end to them.
Yet, have you ever wondered why he’s so depressed?
Well, say no more.
Because it’s about time we got to the bottom of it.
Continue reading to discover:
- 11 surprising reasons why Squidward’s so depressed.
- 3 moments when the octopus just couldn’t handle it anymore.
- A funny way Squidward Tentacles could easily solve all his problems.
- And so much more…
Why is Squidward depressed? 13 reasons
#1: He hates his job
Although the idea of an octopus running a cash register’s funny…
Squidward doesn’t think the same way.
In fact, the octopus actually hates his job.
And judging by how gloomy he greets customers…
It’s safe to say he’d prefer being anywhere else.
For example, he doesn’t like being disturbed.
In one scene, a hungry customer tried ordering a Krabby Patty.
But how did Squidward respond?
Squiddy actually screamed at the guy.
And the poor fish’s let whimpering in fear.
(Which goes to show how much the octopus hated his job.)
Also, it doesn’t help that Mr. Krabs pays next to nothing in salaries.
In fact, there’s even 1 time when he charged Squidward for breathing.
As a result, it’s not that shocking to see the octopus depressed.
What’s more, a study shows job dissatisfaction can put your mental health in danger.
And that it can even have negative effects on your physical well-being as well.
#2: Being with other people tires him out
You don’t have to enjoy being around people 24/7.
Everybody’s just different.
And others prefer getting their alone time instead.
In fact, that’s 1 of the reasons why Squidward’s so depressed.
Being around people sucks the life out of him.
He’s a silly octopus that’s very introverted.
But never gets the opportunity to unwind.
For example, when he tried to relax in the shower.
It seemed like everything’s going fine. And we actually see the octopus smile for once.
However, did he get to take a bath in peace?
Sadly, he didn’t.
SpongeBob and his best friend Patrick interrupted him.
And whether it’s hiding in the bathroom or coming inside uninvited…
Squidward can’t catch a break.
So that’s why he’s so depressed.
#3: He can’t stand the noise
I’m not a big fan of loud places.
It hurts the ear., And I can’t get anything done.
But what does this have to do with Squidward?
Well, he actually feels the same way too.
Bikini Bottom’s just way too noisy.
And that’s why he always looks so tired and down.
If it’s not his job, the poor octopus can’t even get a wink of sleep.
And if SpongeBob can’t get any rest in the InSPONGEiac episode…
What about Squidward?
Well, he’s not as happy-go-lucky as the table sponge.
Not to mention, he doesn’t have the same positive attitude.
So I can only imagine what type of magic goes into his sleeping rituals.
(Maybe that’s why his house’s made out of volcanic rock. Just to keep the noise from getting inside!)
#4: The annoying citizens of Bikini Bottom
While living at the bottom of the sea might sound fun…
Squidward strongly disagrees.
You see, the fish in Bikini Bottom may look normal. But they’re the farthest thing from ordinary.
In fact, nearly everyone’s annoying and crazy.
For example, we can look at Squiddy’s neighbor, SpongeBob. A shining beacon of fun that almost always gets in trouble. And also ends up bothering everyone else around him.
For instance, when the sponge tried cleaning his lawn…
Did he do it peacefully without causing anybody else problems?
No, he ended up covering Squidward’s house in sand.
Plus, let’s not forget SpongeBob can put up a fight with Deadpool. Marvel’s most infamous superhero of all time.
So the yellow sponge’s not just annoying.
He’s also very dangerous too.
#5: Jealousy/envy
Apart from being annoyed by everyone around him…
Squidward can get pretty jealous too.
And no matter what he tries to do to improve himself, the poor Squiddy comes crashing down again and again.
For example, when he’s playing his favorite clarinet…
The fish in Bikini Bottom absolutely hate his music.
But who’s Squidward comparing himself to anyway?
Well, it’s his bitter rival, Squilliam Fancyson. A rich and talented octopus of Bikini Bottom.
In fact, Squilliam’s got a private yacht and casino.
Aside from that, the octopus lives in an actual mansion. And occasionally gets reviewed by local TV shows like House Fancy.
In contrast, Squidward’s got nothing to show.
But even if you should be happy with what you have…
Squiddy likes getting more.
He wants the same fame as Squilliam.
And because he can’t achieve any of it…
That’s 1 of the reasons why he’s so gloomy.
#6: Squiddy’s got a lot of pride
Likewise, Squidward’s no saint.
He’s by no means a role model.
And all of the pride he carries around’s a danger not just to himself but to everyone around him.
You see, the octopus thinks he’s way too cool for anything.
And every time SpongeBob tried to get him to have some fun…
He declined and called his shenanigans stupid.
But where did that attitude get him?
Well, nothing but pain and trauma, really.
For instance, when the sea sponge and starfish camped outside their house.
The octopus just laughed at them.
He even went so far as to do everything they said would attract underwater bears.
However, who’s actually telling the truth?
It’s SpongeBob and Patrick.
And Squidward’s viciously attacked by a beast in the dead of night.
So if that’s how the octopus acts all the time, it’s no surprise why he’s depressed.
#7: His high expectations
There’s nothing wrong with aiming high.
It’s great for motivation.
However, in Squidward’s case, things fall by the wayside.
In fact, the octopus looks for goals so out of his reach.
That it’s impossible for Squiddy to actually achieve them.
For example, Squidward wanted to be a decorated artist.
But does he start out small like everybody else in the world?
No, he wants his artwork in museums pronto.
And in the Insecurity Guards episode, he tried to sneak them inside. Because he doesn’t really care about the effort.
All Squidward wanted was prestige.
However, did he get his way?
Yes and no.
Sure, his painting’s put up in the museum. But he’s also going to jail.
And because of Squidward’s messed up expectations…
He’s going to be depressed no matter what he does.
#8: He has passion but no real talent
Squidward’s got a lot of hobbies.
And we often see him try a lot of things like:
- Dancing.
- Playing the clarinet.
- Painting self-portraits.
Sadly, passion doesn’t translate to talent.
So despite all the time he spends on them, Squidward just falls flat.
In fact, research shows constant failure can negatively impact self-esteem.
And when you’re stuck in a rut, your emotions are all over the place.
So Squidward’s not in the healthiest headspace. Especially if you think about all the bad things that happen to him.
For example, back in season 10, in the Out of the Picture episode.
An art curator actually noticed his work.
But what’s the catch?
Well, he said it’s only going to fetch a good price if the artist’s dead.
What’s worse, Mr. Krabs tried to get rid of Squiddy too. So that he could make a profit from the art.
He has a passion for art and its different forms.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any talent in any of those.
His ‘slimy dancing‘ proves to be an acquired taste.
#9: Being the butt of jokes
A lot of people love the show for its jokes.
And you’ll find plenty of very funny SpongeBob quotes too.
But if there’s someone who always gets the short end of the stick…
It’s Squidward Tentacles.
And because he’s always the butt of every joke, he goes crazy with steam coming out of his head.
Plus, some of his angriest moments include:
- Taking out his frustration on an innocent mailman.
- Trapping SpongeBob in a small locker with a chain lock.
- Pulling out 2 chainsaws and destroying everything he touches.
And if you’re feeling that way 24/7, I doubt you’ll have any space for happiness in your heart.
What’s more, if you don’t believe me when I say Squiddy becomes crazy sometimes…
You should definitely watch this video about his stages of anger:
#10: Lack of care for others and selfishness
I like keeping to myself sometimes.
But Squidward takes it to a whole other level.
In fact, it’s actually very unhealthy how the octopus goes about it.
He doesn’t care at all about the people around him.
Plus, it’s his selfishness that prevents him from being happy. And no one wants to be around the grumpy cashier.
(Except SpongeBob because he’s happy to be with anyone.)
For example, back in season 2, in the Squidville episode.
Squidward moved out to live with other octopi like himself.
In fact, he enjoyed being there…
Well, at least for the first couple of days.
But after that initial period, he annoyed everybody around him and didn’t care how others felt.
So even if he’s around like-minded squids, it seems Squidward’s always doomed to be selfish.
And that’s why he’s always so depressed in every SpongeBob episode.
#11: Negative outlook on life
Bad days are normal.
And you don’t have to be overly optimistic every second of your life.
However, Squiddy’s negative point of view’s a bit too much.
In fact, he never sees the good in anything.
Squidward’s always quick to judge, especially when accounting for worst-case scenarios.
For example, in season 12, in the Jolly Lodgers episode.
There’s a jellyfish convention at the hotel he’s staying at over the weekend.
But did he give the place a chance?
No, he immediately believed it to be bad.
Sure, Squidward did end up getting chased around in a costume.
So he’s at least somewhat right.
However, if Squiddy gave it an honest try, maybe things wouldn’t have escalated that badly.
As a result, Squidward’s outlook on life always gets him in terrible situations.
And it’s 1 of the reasons that make him so unhappy.