Sharon Newman - Character Development - Mental Health

Mental Health

In 2009 Sharon suffers from kleptomania (an impulse-control disorder), causing her to steal items from people and stores and eventually forcing her to admit herself to a psychiatric hospital while she is pregnant. Case told TV Guide that all the character's "craziness" made sense; she welcomed the challenge to decide how "functional Sharon appears to people" and debate with directors. Michael Fairman noted that Sharon is "acting so bizarre". Case said her breakdown was due (in part) to Brad Carlton's death and the breakdown in her marriage to Jack; each time Sharon "mapped it out", her life is "torn to pieces". Sharon has since experienced periodic kleptomania.

In 2012, after Victor disappears after his wedding to Sharon, she realizes she must be married to Victor for more than eight days to obtain his money. She then burns their prenuptial agreement after Nikki sends her a text from Victor's phone saying he has left her. Sharon decides to run his company (Newman Enterprises) in his absence. Case thought a scene where Sharon crashed a Newman board meeting was "fun" and "different", confessing that she had wanted to play "this version of Sharon" for years. As Victor's proxy she became CEO of the company, secretly aided by manipulative businessman Tucker McCall (Stephen Nichols). The stock price for Newman drops (with Tucker secretly buying stock). Case hoped the writers wouldn't go the "typical" route, with Victor wreaking "havoc on everyone". Sharon was labeled "Newman's Grim Reaper" by the media, leaving Nick and Victoria to regain the company from her clutches. They demonstrate her history of kleptomania, forcing her to return to the psychiatric hospital for an evaluation (which she passes); she then returns to her position as CEO. Case called Sharon's return a "fun aspect of the story". Sharon continued to behave out of character; when she discovers that Victor is alive, she tells everyone he died after identifying a burnt body which was not his (Case said that Sharon took advantage of the situation). At Victor's funeral Sharon wears white, nearly marrying Tucker afterwards. Victor then returns, expelling Sharon from his family, home and company. Despite her crimes, Sharon escapes prison. At this point, Aaron Hagey-MacKay of GlobalTV said Sharon was "crazy".

"Sharon has a lot of different sides to her. Sometimes she's crazy. Sometimes she's brilliant."

Case said she was unconcerned about the storyline because the writers had a plan to explain Sharon's behavior. New head writer Josh Griffith told TV Guide that the character would reach a "total mental breakdown", taking her to "the edge and over it" before being rebuilt. Griffith said the breakdown would help her find salvation, with a "stronger, more together, more evolved Sharon" emerging. Sharon breaks down at the main house of the Newman ranch, burning it down under the influence of alcohol. Griffith stated that the damage Sharon has done to the Newman family is "physical, professional and emotional". After seeing a doctor, Sharon is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and begins treatment; however, she is alarmed after discovering she must take prescribed medication, possibly for the rest of her life. Case was happy with the outcome of the storyline, as were viewers of the show. In January 2013 she told Soap Opera Uncensored, "When Sharon battled her emotional problems, that also took a lot of work but in a different way. Playing someone who is bipolar is very exhausting but it worked out perfectly and explained all of Sharon’s past behavior. I applaud Josh for making that decision because I think it makes the most sense considering her history".