I have to think that Frodo's biggest problems lie deeper than the Ring. No doubt the Ring was extremely harsh on Frodo and caused him a lot of suffering; both physically and mentally.
However, I think Frodo's biggest problem he faces is actually taking the Ring, which takes great courage. No doubt the actual journey for him to overcome is tough and harsh work, however the act of taking it upon himself to do it, I think was the biggest thing Frodo had to decide.
Frodo is always the type of person to put others above himself. He makes the ultimate sacrifice of staying back in the Shire and living peacefully, living as he always had, vs. taking the ring to Mount Doom and knowing what lies ahead. Frodo was aware of what he had to face (maybe not to the extent he faced, but he knew it wasn't gong to be easy), so I think DECIDING to do it is the biggest thing Frodo had to overcome. And he struggles with it well into the story.
On one side he has going back to the Shire, and just letting the "greater" and "wiser" people handle the ring, this task is too daunting for a hobbit like himself. On the other, he takes the ring and carries the fate of Middle-earth, and all it's races.
Then once he makes the decision he is faced to sticking with it. Many chances he considers turning back and wishes he never came in contact with the Ring, and these are the biggest struggles he has to overcome. The Ring makes it more difficult for him, but I think the real problem was to decide to take the Ring and bear the fate of middle-earth on his shoulders, and then sticking to that decision.
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Fenris Penguin
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