====== Josh and...Mental Health ======

Josh's **Mental Health** is an extremely hotly-debated topic in the Cobraverse. To put it simply, Josh is not doing well mentally. A lifetime of self-isolation, alcoholism, abusive parenting at an early age, substance abuse, and trolling attempts has worn holes into Josh's brain.

===== Long-standing mental illnesses =====

==== Depression ====

Josh has a long-lasting relationship with depression and the side effects that exist from it. Although he routinely says "Fuck suicide" and talks about how killing yourself is horrible, Josh's self-worth and [[incidents:The NALpocalypse>#august_30th_2024|close shaves with death]] have proven just how miserable he is once the mask slips, especially when Josh gets a few drinks deep. 

==== Paranoia ====

Josh often attributes events in his life occurring due to intervention by Troles. Ever since [[sagas:The Post-Wendy's Saga]], Josh has often blamed his trolls for events going out of his favor. While it is true that many of Josh's good deeds have been effectively staunched by Trole interference, the boglim is far better at self-sabotage than anyone who intentionally sets out to cause his downfall.

==== Delusional thinking ====

Josh's delusional thinking is easily the most important part of his character; He believes many things about himself that simply aren't true. Attractiveness, how good he smells, and numerous falsified stories involving just how cool he really is. Josh also claims to hear random people at televised events or large gatherings shouting him out, all the way to Ozzy pausing one of his concerts to personally shout out King Cobra.

==== Anger issues ====

Josh has a lot of anger issues, and a temper that runs white-hot. While there are many things that can cause an autistic meltdown, Josh's most notorious trigger is displaying his clumsiness.
Other infamous triggers include:
  * Losing his cigarettes
  * Making mistakes
  * Getting tricked
  * Going in the negative
  * Getting scammed
  * Physical altercations with other homeboys

When Josh gets mad, he instinctively reacts by physically lashing out at anything and everything he deems lesser or smaller than him.

===== Causes =====

==== Childhood Trauma ====

Josh has alluded to numerous cases where his biological mother Lora had abused him. Little is known of this, as Josh seldom brings it up. Perhaps 

==== Autism(And other anti-social behavior) ====

Josh will frequently mention his Asperger's Syndrome and Autistic Spectrum Disorder in his videos and livestreams, usually as a shield for his questionable behavior. While it is true that Josh suffers from some form of Spectrum disorder as disclosed by his father during the Clinterview, it does not generally speaking prevent him from functioning in social settings much, as Josh's proclivity for getting to know random and unusual denizens of Casper, Wyoming is infamous at this stage.

Josh will occasionally exhibit a lack of regard for life he deems lesser than his own, namely in small animals and women he used to date. In one instance, Josh recounts putting a baby bird who was lost out of its misery by crushing it under his bike tire. On other occasions, Josh has reacted with stark indifference(Such as Homeboy Scotty's suicide attempt where Josh would sample sections of the call with Scotty in one of his albums) or even encouragement to his ex Ami threatening to take her own life. 

==== Oppositional Defiance Disorder ====

Alongside his spectrum disorder, Josh appears to have ODD. Josh has an extreme beef with any individual who tries to tell him what to do - His dad, the Casper police, his friends, and especially the Troles. It is commonly joked that the easiest way to get Josh not to do something is to tell him not to do it.

===== Treatment =====

==== Acquiring help ====

After [[incidents:Cobra gets arrested|a brush with the Cheyenne police department]], Josh was court-mandated to see a psychologist. While he showed signs of improvement, Josh would not maintain his visits past the court mandate. \\
In summer of 2025, Josh would start attending therapy. It is unknown what spurred this change.

==== Substance abuse ====

Josh self-medicates heavily with numerous vices - Alcohol, tobacco, weed, and computer duster.

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