Unlike the majority of characters in The Vampire Diaries, Caroline Forbes' life improves drastically when she became a vampire. Once a shallow, controlling mean girl, her transition gives her the confidence and strength she needs to recognize her best self.
But it isn't always smooth sailing. Life as a supernatural being brings a lot of pain and suffering into anyone's life – and Caroline is no exception.
Katherine Using Her As A Pawn
Katherine ultimately does Caroline a favor when she turns her into a vampire in season two. However, that definitely isn't her intention. When Caroline is in the hospital, she suffocates her to send a message that it's "game on" – as well as to use her as a pawn.
For a while, Katherine relies on Caroline to feed her information about Elena and the Salvatore brothers. Thankfully, Caroline eventually manages to use her own plot against her, and Katherine is put in the tomb before it can get too tough. However, it still puts Caroline in a horrible position where she has to betray her friends against her will. Plus, no matter how much better she is a vampire, Katherine did still kill her at just 17-years-old.
Damon's Manipulation
Caroline isn't the most sympathetic figure when she's first introduced in season one. Selfish, shallow, and fake, she's jealous of the attention Elena receives from everyone – especially Stefan – which is exactly what makes it so easy for Damon to manipulate her.
Not only does he use her as a human blood bag, but he's cruel and compels her to help him achieve his own nefarious means. She's incredibly young and vulnerable at the time, which makes the power imbalance even more uncomfortable. Damon redeems himself eventually – and the pair are close when the show ends – but Caroline never gets the apology she deserves.
Her Mother Rejecting Her As A Vampire
Caroline and her mom Liz have a fraught relationship in the early seasons. As the sheriff, Liz is always busy, which makes Caroline think she cares more about her job than her own daughter. Then there's the fact that Liz hates vampires, and is a member of the Founders' Council responsible for rounding up and eradicating them.
This sets them up for disaster when Caroline transitions in season two. Despite her best efforts to hide it, Liz finds out in the end and is repulsed by her own daughter. Caroline is devastated and compels her to forget. However, Liz ends up finding out again later that season, and plots against her. The pair grow past this – and the secret eventually makes their relationship stronger – but it's still painful.
Stefan Abandoning Her For Three Years
Fans are divided on whether Stefan and Caroline are soulmates. One of the many low points in their relationship comes in season 7 when Stefan is shown to have disappeared for three years with Valerie.
It may have been necessary due to the Hunter's Mark that rendered him a target for Rayna Cruz, but it still doesn't make it any easier for Caroline. She's furious and deeply hurt by his absence, outright ignoring him when he does return. Three years is a long time, and it isn't a wound she can forgive too easily.
Her Father Trying To Condition Her Out Of Vampirism
Not only is Caroline rejected by her mother, but her father too. When Carol Lockwood discovers Caroline's true nature, she summons the low-key TVD villain Bill Forbes to town to try and condition his daughter out of vampirism.
Of course, this isn't possible. Caroline is trapped in the Lockwood Cellar where he tries to get her to associate her vampire instincts with pain so she won't need to feed again. It's absolute agony – and the fact that Caroline is subjected to it by someone she loves so much makes it even worse.
Tyler's Sire Bond To Klaus
Tyler is Caroline's first real love. After she helps him ease into life as a werewolf, the pair bond over their shared supernatural secrets and eventually give in to the tension building between them in season three.
Their happiness doesn't last long. As a hybrid, Tyler is sired to Klaus and has to do his bidding – even if that involves biting Caroline. Once he breaks the sire bond, he's obsessed with getting revenge, which ends up driving an irreversible wedge between the pair. Tyler may not have been Caroline's best romantic interest, but who knows how their relationship would've progressed without Klaus.
Her Father Refusing To Become A Vampire
There's nothing Bill Forbes hates more than vampires. So, when he's turned into one by Alaric Saltzman, he refuses to feed on blood and complete the transition, purely out of moral principle.
Sadly, this makes his death inevitable. One of his final actions is to recognize how proud he is of the woman his daughter has become. It's something Caroline needs to hear, but it doesn't make it any easier to accept such a needless, avoidable death.
Giving Birth To Gemini Twins
Josie and Lizzie are a one-in-a-million blessing for Caroline. As a vampire, it should be impossible for her to procreate. However, the Gemini Coven transplants the twins into her womb by magic after their biological mother, Jo, is stabbed to death at her own wedding.
Nothing makes Caroline happier than her kids, and she loves them more than anything. But the fact they're Gemini Twins brings a lot of pain. Not only are they easy victims for villains like Rayna or Seline, but she has to grapple with the fact that they're destined to perform the Merge – a magical ritual that'll end in one of their deaths. Being an immortal parent to mortal children is traumatic enough without this burden to bear.
Losing Stefan Just After Their Wedding
Caroline and Stefan's slow-burn romance comes to a climax in season eight with their wedding. After all the obstacles they've faced – the latest of which is Stefan becoming human and doubting their entire relationship – it's the happiest day of Caroline's life.
However, it soon turns sour. Katherine returns to burn down Mystic Falls with hellfire. Stefan sacrifices himself to save them all – but never gets a proper chance to say goodbye. Caroline has to send her final message to him over voicemail, while Stefan passes his on via Elena. It's a heartbreaking end to any romance – especially one as hard-won as Steroline.
Her Mother's Death
The evolution of Caroline and Liz's relationship is severely underrated. In the beginning, Caroline is a typically antagonistic teenager. Once Liz discovers her secret, they grow extremely close, with Caroline going out of her way to spend as much time with her as possible, especially once Liz is diagnosed with cancer.
What makes this even more painful is the fact that, unlike most injuries or ailments, vampire blood can't cure her. Despite all her best efforts, Caroline – the ultimate control freak – has zero control over her mother's fate. She struggles to cope in the aftermath, turning off her humanity. It's one of the saddest storylines in the entire show, and the only thing that ever truly causes Caroline to spiral.