In the film, What About Bob?, many examples of psychological disorders are displayed in order to convey the significance of anxiety and the effect it can have on one’s life. The main character, Bob Wiley, suffers from generalized anxiety disorder, multiple phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Each of these anxiety disorders significantly interferes with Wiley’s everyday life and causes him to go to great lengths in order to receive the help he so desperately needs. Due to his many issues, Bob Wiley seeks therapy and comes in contact with psychotherapist, Leo Marvin who is from New York City. After one session of therapy, Leo Marvin breaks the news to Wiley that he will be vacationing with his family and will continue therapy once he
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Marvin’s relationship is a rollercoaster throughout the course of the film, it is clear that anxiety disorders are very much present in the world today and it is important for people to seek assistance when dealing with these issues. Throughout the film, Wiley suffers from generalized anxiety disorder because he is constantly tense, apprehensive and on edge. Furthermore, Wiley experiences “free floating” anxiety, which is not related to any specific stimulus. As a result, Wiley is often worried and has many “negative thought processes” that are constant and extreme. He is frequently irritable, restless and fidgety which causes many problems with his therapist, Dr. Marvin. In the film, Wiley has a hard time performing relatively simple tasks, such as leaving his house and riding an elevator. Since his anxiety becomes too overwhelming at times, it makes it nearly impossible for Bob Wiley to live a carefree, calming and happy …show more content…
After watching the film, it is clear that Wiley suffers from a collection of specific phobias, one of them being agoraphobia. According to Burke, Trost, deRoon-Cassini & Bernstein (2016), agoraphobia is the most common phobia that clinicians treat. People with this phobia typically fear leaving their home, being in public and traveling because they worry that they may have a panic attack in a place that they do not consider safe which can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. In the film, Bob Wiley gradually gets over his fear of leaving the house because he eventually travels by himself to New Hampshire to track down Dr. Marvin. However, with that being said, it is not easy for him to do this but he uses Dr. Marvin’s therapeutic advice by breaking down challenging tasks into smaller components that are more manageable; Dr. Marvin referred to these as “Baby Steps”. Furthermore, Dr. Marvin explains to Wiley, “The best psychiatrist in the world is the one right inside of you. Baby steps. Take things one step at a time”. Along with agoraphobia, Wiley has a phobia related to germs and illnesses. This is seen throughout the film when he refuses to touch anything that may be dirty or unsafe. In order to cope with this phobia, Wiley constantly has Kleenexes and disinfectant spray on him so
Marvin’s relationship is a rollercoaster throughout the course of the film, it is clear that anxiety disorders are very much present in the world today and it is important for people to seek assistance when dealing with these issues. Throughout the film, Wiley suffers from generalized anxiety disorder because he is constantly tense, apprehensive and on edge. Furthermore, Wiley experiences “free floating” anxiety, which is not related to any specific stimulus. As a result, Wiley is often worried and has many “negative thought processes” that are constant and extreme. He is frequently irritable, restless and fidgety which causes many problems with his therapist, Dr. Marvin. In the film, Wiley has a hard time performing relatively simple tasks, such as leaving his house and riding an elevator. Since his anxiety becomes too overwhelming at times, it makes it nearly impossible for Bob Wiley to live a carefree, calming and happy …show more content…
After watching the film, it is clear that Wiley suffers from a collection of specific phobias, one of them being agoraphobia. According to Burke, Trost, deRoon-Cassini & Bernstein (2016), agoraphobia is the most common phobia that clinicians treat. People with this phobia typically fear leaving their home, being in public and traveling because they worry that they may have a panic attack in a place that they do not consider safe which can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. In the film, Bob Wiley gradually gets over his fear of leaving the house because he eventually travels by himself to New Hampshire to track down Dr. Marvin. However, with that being said, it is not easy for him to do this but he uses Dr. Marvin’s therapeutic advice by breaking down challenging tasks into smaller components that are more manageable; Dr. Marvin referred to these as “Baby Steps”. Furthermore, Dr. Marvin explains to Wiley, “The best psychiatrist in the world is the one right inside of you. Baby steps. Take things one step at a time”. Along with agoraphobia, Wiley has a phobia related to germs and illnesses. This is seen throughout the film when he refuses to touch anything that may be dirty or unsafe. In order to cope with this phobia, Wiley constantly has Kleenexes and disinfectant spray on him so