As Good as It Gets Melvin Udall is a successful author who lives the life of a recluse. He is a misogynistic, homophobic, anti-Semitic racist with an intense dislike of people and dogs. All the neighbors in his Greenwich Village apartment building avoid him. His psychotherapist diagnosed Melvin with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) because he avoids stepping on sidewalk cracks and touching other people, wears gloves all the time, wipes off door handles, eats at the same restaurant every day, sits at the same table, insists on the same waitress, Carol, and always orders the same meal. Suddenly, Melvin 's life takes a turn. A group of robbers beats up his artist gay neighbor, Simon. Simon 's art dealer, Frank, forces …show more content…
At one point, Carol and Melvin have a date at a fancy restaurant, only to discover that Melvin needs to purchase a coat and tie to meet the dress code. Challenged by these demands on him, he insults Carol, saying that she is wearing a housedress. She gets furious and demands a sincere compliment, or she will leave the restaurant. With anguish and many disclaimers, Melvin finally states that because of his affection for her, he decided to take medication for his OCD. When Carol wants to know why that is a compliment, he says that being with her makes him want to be a better man. When Carol responds very positively and affectionately, he tries to take it back by saying that he "overshot the mark". According to the DSM-IV-TR, people with OCD suffer from recurrent obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions, defined as "persistent ideas, thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress" (Criterion A.1), 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 related to these kinds of problems. (Criterion A.2). Persons who suffer from OCD try to ignore, suppress or neutralize their obsessions with some other thought or action (Criterion A.3) and recognize that they are a product of their own mind (Criterion A.4). Melvin Udall has repetitive thoughts about germs
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a pattern of recurring obsessions and compulsions that are severe enough to be time consuming and interfere with a person’s daily functioning. They must cause marked distress (such as pain or physical harm to the person) or significant impairment. Usually, they take more than
The film focused on Jack Nicholson’s character, “Melvin Udall” as a subject riddled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. According to the class text, obsessions include recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges or images; thoughts of contamination. Also, Mr. Udall’s functions in different social settings often seemed rigid, and sparked disconnect with his neighbors, and acquaintances. However, further on Mr. Udall played an instrumental role in piecing together a crucial script in the lives of the individuals he encounters. Watching the movie imposed a convicting thought of recognizing such individuals like Mr. Udall in our society enduring the complexities of severe disorders—OCD. Despite the daily struggles experienced by individuals
Melvin Udall suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Melvin sticks to the same routine every day in order to not upset himself, if one thing goes wrong in that daily routine, Melvin’s entire day seems to be ruined to the point where he cannot function well. Melvin is afraid of the germs that are all around him. He does not enjoy being touched in any way, or by anyone, whether it is a stranger walking down the street or a friend, of which Melvin does not have many. Melvin always enters his house and turns around to lock the door, which he counts as he does, turning the lock five times before he is certain that he will avoid any danger that might come if he does not fulfill these rituals; he has the same
Melvin, from the very beginning of the film, exhibits clear symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, likely promulgated through social anxiety and various phobias. Some of the reoccurring symptoms Melvin displays include: germaphobia and a fear of being touched, avoidance of cracked surfaces, and a complete organization of his belongings. His fear of germs seems to be a major driving force in his obsessive-compulsive disorder. He doesn’t appreciate people entering his living space or touching him. He washes his hands relentlessly. Additionally, he does not trust the silverware to properly clean, so he insists on using new plastic ware each time he eats.
OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is the unwanted recurrent thoughts, actions, or impulses and repetitive behaviors and actions that a person feels driven to perform (Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous World Services, 1999). People suffering from OCD perform a variation of strange rituals everyday uncontrollably. There are different types of compulsive behavior people with OCD display. For example, hoarders fear that something bad will happen if they throw anything away or give anything away. They compulsively hoard things that they don not need or use. These victims of OCD can become obsessed with not only performing actions, but with keeping objects and possessions.
"OCD patients have a pattern of distressing and senseless thoughts or ideas- obsessions- that repeatedly well up in their minds. To quell the distressing thoughts, specific patterns of odd behaviors- compulsions- develop." (Gee & Telew, 1999)
“Melvin Udall” the character with “Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior” (“OCD”) which is a mental disorder, feels the need to check things repeatedly, for example the way he locks the door to his apartment . He seems to be unable to control his actions; he constantly avoids people which lead to a behavior that involves the dislike of people and animals. He seems to enjoy a clean environment, and wears gloves or any protective material that allows him to come in contact with anything. There also seems to be an odd behavior of Melvin by using soap only once and then disposes it.
About 60% of obsessive-compulsive disorder patients have multiple obsessions. Not only does Melvin display behaviors associated with his fear of contamination, but also he presents compulsions under the symmetry/exactness/”just right” symptom subtype. This subtype deals specifically with the need for symmetry, in which things are put in a certain order and rituals are repeated. Melvin has very specific expectations of order in his daily routine. Every
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V) explains the criteria for OCD. OCD is considered to be an anxiety disorder in the DSM V. Obsessions are defined as experiencing recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses and urges, and can be invasive and unasked for which then cause noticeable distress and anxiety for the individual. The individual will try to ignore the unwanted thoughts and urges or they may try to neutralise them via
Furthermore, a person who has OCD has the difficulties of touching with other people and terrified of germs. In this movie, Melvin is unable to tolerance of touching with other people, wears gloves all the time, wipes off door handles, using his own plastic cutlery at the restaurant because he afraid the cutlery at the restaurant is not clean enough and safe for uses. Moreover, suffers from OCD probably will makes a person becomes perfectionist. In this movie, when he opens his medicine cabinet, all labels of numerous bars of soap are all neatly and facing the same
Nevertheless, he felt that the feelings he has for Carol were a motivation to start taking the pills. He also helped Carol’s son, who was sick, and Simon who was in a difficult financial
According to psych central website’s article, OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and disturbing thoughts (called obsessions) and/or repetitive, ritualized behaviors that the person feels driven to perform (called compulsions).
OCD plagues people with intrusive, unwanted thoughts or obsessions, which are rarely pleasant. People who have these obsessions recognize that they are senseless. Still, they are unable to stop them. They may worry about
Obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder described by irrational thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive tasks (compulsions) (Obsessive Compulsion Disorder, 2013). When a person has obsessive-compulsive disorder, they may realize that their obsessions aren't accurate, and they may try to overlook them but that only increases their suffering and worry. Eventually, you feel driven to perform compulsive acts to ease your stressful feelings. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is often driven by a reason, cause, or fear for example, a fear of germs. To calm the feeling of this fear, a person may compulsively wash their hands until they're sore and chapped. Despite their efforts, thoughts of obsessive-compulsive behavior keep coming back. This leads to more ritualistic behavior and a brutal cycle of obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD is the fourth most common mental disorder, and is diagnosed nearly as often as asthma and diabetes (Who We Are, 2012). In the United States, one in 50 adults suffers from OCD. Obsessive compulsive disorder affects children, adolescents, and adults. About one third to one half of adults with OCD report a childhood onset of the disorder, they felt these anxieties but were not diagnosed or felt no need to be diagnosed until the compulsions over whelmed them (Who We Are, 2012). The phrase obsessive compulsive has been used to describe excessively meticulous, perfectionistic, absorbed, or otherwise fixated person. While
The film As Good As It Gets, reflects on the psychopathologies of three main characters. Marvin Udall is an obsessive-compulsive writer who maintains poor boundaries with those who encounter him. Simon Bishop is a homosexual artist who struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) about his estranged relationship with his parents and following an attack in his home. Carol Connelly is a waitress who suffers from anxiety, due to her son having an extreme case of asthma causing him to have constant medical attention. These random characters’ lives intersect in such a way, that in the end they become their greatest support network.