Spongebob was suffering alone. He couldn't sleep, he couldn't eat, he couldn't focus. He'd remember to feed Gary twice every week and missed work every 2 weeks. He stopped shaving, brushing his teeth and washing his clothes. He fell into a deep state of depression and couldn't get himself out. He hadn't seen Patrick in 3 months as he was in Italy with his parents. He was only coming back in 15 days. Spongebob was so numb that he didn't even feel a small bit of excitement. He started drinking, and little by little the alcohol replaced every other coping mechanism he had. He became addicted. He felt like his feelings were ruining his sense of self and his wellbeing. He couldn't take it anymore. He was buried in quicksand and slowly suffocating.