Melvin Udall is a successful author who lives a life of a reclusive life in Manhattan. He is an anti-social, homophobic, anti-Semitic racist with an intense dislike of anything outside his sense of routine. Suddenly, Melvin's life gets thrown into chaos. His artist gay neighbor, Simon, is beaten up by a group of robbers. Simon's art dealer, Frank, forces Melvin to care for Simon's dog during his owner's recovery. As if that’s not enough of a jolt to Melvin’s routine, the only waitress who will serve him at the restaurant where he eats everyday takes off from her job because her son is severely ill. Melvin finds out where Carol lives and visits her. Upon finding out the reason behind her absence at work, Melvin sends a doctor to provide care
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We can tell not only by studying Melvin’s behavior but also because it is explicitly stated in the movie when Melvin barges into his therapist’s office saying, “"How can you diagnose someone as having obsessive compulsive disorder and then pretend I had some choice about barging in?" Obsessions are defined as "persistent ideas, thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress", which are difficult to dismiss, despite their disturbing nature. These experiences are more intrusive than excessive worries about real-life problems, and they are unlikely to be related to these kinds of problems. Persons who suffer from OCD try to ignore, suppress or neutralize their obsessions with some other thought or action and recognize that they are a product of their own mind. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors such as excessive or unreasonable cleaning, checking a stove or locks on doors, hand washing, requesting assurances, or mental acts, such as repeating certain words silently, counting, or praying excessively. These behaviors either serve as coping mechanisms to reduce the discomfort with the anxiety or distress caused by the obsessive thoughts temporarily, or - unrelated to an obsession - they are performed according to rules that must be applied rigidly. In the majority of cases these actions …show more content…
He also goes out of his way to avoid touching people or things unless wearing gloves as well as never using anybody else’s utensils or clothes. Having obsessive-compulsive disorder heavily strains Melvin’s relationships and social interactions. He has a hard time adjusting his routine to include different activities or people, and kept himself socially isolated except for interactions that were necessary. Melvin also had trouble expressing himself emotionally and was often rude and blunt, in addition to seeming to be uncaring of other's feelings or problems. Many clients who suffer from OCD have poor social skills, because they are wrapped up in their obsessions and compulsions, and therefore are oblivious to normal courtesies, to social context, and to other's perception of them. There are several examples of this throughout the movie, one of which takes place when Melvin is irritated that he has been made to wait for his meal. Melvin is fixated on arranging his plastic utensils and lashes out at Carol saying, "We're all gonna die soon. I will, you will, and it sure sounds like your son will too." Instead of the traditional response people have when hearing
We can tell not only by studying Melvin’s behavior but also because it is explicitly stated in the movie when Melvin barges into his therapist’s office saying, “"How can you diagnose someone as having obsessive compulsive disorder and then pretend I had some choice about barging in?" Obsessions are defined as "persistent ideas, thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress", which are difficult to dismiss, despite their disturbing nature. These experiences are more intrusive than excessive worries about real-life problems, and they are unlikely to be related to these kinds of problems. Persons who suffer from OCD try to ignore, suppress or neutralize their obsessions with some other thought or action and recognize that they are a product of their own mind. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors such as excessive or unreasonable cleaning, checking a stove or locks on doors, hand washing, requesting assurances, or mental acts, such as repeating certain words silently, counting, or praying excessively. These behaviors either serve as coping mechanisms to reduce the discomfort with the anxiety or distress caused by the obsessive thoughts temporarily, or - unrelated to an obsession - they are performed according to rules that must be applied rigidly. In the majority of cases these actions …show more content…
He also goes out of his way to avoid touching people or things unless wearing gloves as well as never using anybody else’s utensils or clothes. Having obsessive-compulsive disorder heavily strains Melvin’s relationships and social interactions. He has a hard time adjusting his routine to include different activities or people, and kept himself socially isolated except for interactions that were necessary. Melvin also had trouble expressing himself emotionally and was often rude and blunt, in addition to seeming to be uncaring of other's feelings or problems. Many clients who suffer from OCD have poor social skills, because they are wrapped up in their obsessions and compulsions, and therefore are oblivious to normal courtesies, to social context, and to other's perception of them. There are several examples of this throughout the movie, one of which takes place when Melvin is irritated that he has been made to wait for his meal. Melvin is fixated on arranging his plastic utensils and lashes out at Carol saying, "We're all gonna die soon. I will, you will, and it sure sounds like your son will too." Instead of the traditional response people have when hearing