In the film “As Good As it Gets,” Melvin is a character with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). He engages in routines and rituals and any disruption to those compulsive behaviors is grounds for complete chaos and panic in his life. Melvin struggles daily with the need to go to a certain restaurant and be waited on by the same waitress each time. He also has hand washing rituals and the need to lock the door constantly. These obsessions and compulsions are representative of OCD. Melvin also meets pieces of the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); however, much of his anxiety is a result of the OCD. For example, Melvin becomes destressed when his neighbor Simon needs him and he reluctantly helps him in various ways, all requiring Melvin to go far outside of his comfort zone and face his anxieties. I would want to explore Melvin’s inner thoughts and feelings in therapy, as I do not have access to this information in the film. For example, does Melvin have a strong inner critic? Are his thoughts critical in nature or are they something entirely different? Melvin behaves, especially toward the beginning of the film, with such a sense of urgency to act out specific behaviors repeatedly. I am …show more content…
He recognizes that his behaviors affect his daily life and relationships. When Carol stopped coming to work, it disrupted Melvin’s routine so much that he hired a doctor to care for her son so she could come back to work and be his server. Melvin demonstrates good insight when he takes his medication after having not taken it. This decision was in relation to his feelings about Carol, which appeared to play a part in his wanting to improve, but nonetheless he took his medication. By the end of the film, Melvin’s insight had become even greater. I believe he would benefit from cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which has been found to be effective in the treatment of OCD (Beidel, Frueh, & Hersen,
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Towards the end of therapy the family was adjusting to health crises that have become chronic. Parental anxiety had increased due to the fear that Melvin would be left alone and would be unable to take care of himself or interact appropriately with the outside world. Had therapy been affective, there would have been some sense of relief, knowing Melvin would be safe without the assistance of his
This condition has a considerable effect on Melvin’s life, not only do these numerous compulsive behaviors take up a lot of time in his life, the reactions that he’s, including his disregard for others and the insults that he throws at people portray him as a mean and stubborn man; which leaves him quite lonely with no friends. Melvin sought treatment into his disorder from a psychiatrist, for which he was prescribed medication to help him. He finds it hard to take the medication, which is in pill form, again an unrealistic worry that he will choke on the pill or not be able to swallow it, and subsequently die from the whole ordeal. Melvin is not a very open person about his disorder; he seemingly finds it hard to talk about what it really is that makes him do and say the things that he does. Melvin does find motivation for his treatment in the form of love. He finds that it is easier to take his medication when he is in the company of Carol; the waitress that brings him is breakfast daily. The thought of being with her soothes Melvin’s need for the compulsions in his life; he is more at ease when he is with her. Melvin unknowingly at first does not feel the need to fulfill his compulsions when he forgets to lock his door, counting it five times, when he returns to his apartment one night. He also finds himself being able to do things, such as stepping on the lines and cracks in
There are several different options of treatment for someone with OCD. Some of the options are drug
However, Melvin’s behavior did not change beforehand, despite going to a psychiatrist. Nevertheless, the type of therapy Melvin was receiving is unknown. The only clear treatment revealed for Melvin was medication. Additionally, Melvin’s symptoms of OCD were not apparently lessened until after meeting Carol. Therefore, positive prognosis after meeting Carol potentially resulted from the medication intake which was previously avoided.
When he returns back to his sterile apartment building and walking on the street doing the same thing by telling people to not touch him as he thinks he is getting a contaminated germ from the people just by touching his shoulders. After he got inside of his apartment, he immediately does a ritual of cleaning. He first washed off all the germs from his hands by using a hot water and a new bar of soaps. He continues this ritual of washing his both hands and keep repeating over and over again and wasting a countless new bar of soaps in this process. In addition to the common manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms is Melvin Udall also keep repeating every little thing he does for instance, turning the light on and off six times and superstitious and compulsion that when he is walking on the street and saw there is a crack on the sidewalk, he would not have stepped on the crack, as he gets worried if he steps on a crack because he won’t feel right and feel uncomfortable, and uneasy that will linger on his mind. On the other hand, it is difficult to figure it out these compulsions because this process of obsessional that provoke Melvin to fears something disaster is going to happened if he locked the house four times instead of six times to make him feel
Melvin initially portrays himself as superior to others resulting in lack of intimate relationships; however, he displays periods of inferiority to people who threaten to challenge or change his obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors. For example, Melvin who has been rude to customers and waitresses as his daily restaurant becomes subservient to the other who forces him to leave. However, as Melvin is gradually exposed to different triggers including taking care of animal, the audience observes his impairment in his social functioning improving. Melvin tires to stop avoiding people’s emotions and provide empathic understanding towards others. This issue helps build a better understanding regarding the cognitive distortion influencing OCD as well as support the effectiveness of field’s use of exposure therapy when treating the compulsive
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.
Melvin Udall, a writer, has obsessive compulsive disorder. He has a real hatred for his neighbor, Simon’s, dog. He is very organized, with everything placed perfectly. Melvin does not like to be bothered or touched by anyone, no matter what the reason may be. For Melvin, everything must be routine, and he will get anxiety if anything changes. After Simon got beat up, Melvin was “forced” by Frank to take in his dog to his home. This seemed to change Melvin’s life; he suddenly became a little more caring and got upset when he had to give the dog back. In fact, it bothered him so much, he went to talk to his therapist. When Carol was gone from work, he tracked her down to find out why and hired a private doctor to take care of her son, just so she would
The protagonist in the film As Good As It Gets, Melvin Udall is a successful romantic novelist who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. From the onset of the film, Melvin displays ritualistic behavior that aligns with the diagnostic criteria for OCD, specifically the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both. This paper focuses on Melvin’s particular psychopathology, analyzing the character’s current symptoms and diagnoses, the etiology of the disorder, and the key elements of his treatment.
Some examples are, turning the lights on and off multiple times and not stepping on the cracks on the sidewalk. When looking at these compulsions, one can assume that Melvin fears something tragic might happen if he doesn’t lock the door enough or that he might be worried that if he steps on the crack it will result in discomfort and will linger
Well everyone suffers from one thing or another. A man named Melvin and a young lady named Tara are no different. Both of them suffer from an Obsessive compulsive-disorder. There disorder may have the same name but the way they respond to their disorder is quite different.
Through a critical look at Melvin’s situation within the film, it is appropriate to identify that a new update is required to cover for the new DSM 5 version that is recently under consideration from the American Psychiatric Association (APA). While the DSM 4 version is appropriately placed to incorporate all language and subjects that are relevant for disease diagnosis and classification, the next version should be considerate of the evolution within the psychiatric platform to give room for update and inclusion of more information based on the changes in behavioral approach and diagnosis criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Melvin portrays the specific alteration within his eccentricities obscurity and behavior realized from OCD. To fully identify the difference between the anxiety behavior and incorporation of differential behavior, the new DSM needs to incorporate all description from various anxiety related behavior and personal approaches that are relevant for studies and professional research. Through this incorporation, the APA can easily enhance suitability within its operations as well as foster understandability within all sectors that are relevant for professional research and
Lester is a 40-year-old man referred to me for counselling by his doctor. He is currently married and lives with his wife, Carolyn, and their 16-year-old daughter Jane. He is employed as a fast food attendant (Cohen, Jinks & Mendes, 1999). At the initial examination Lester dresses untidily and unshaven, and avoids eye contact. Lester reports an overall feeling of unhappiness (Cohen, Jinks & Mendes, 1999). He stated that he has become reckless and self-destructive and worried about some of his recent life decisions.
psychiatrist, who is trying to help him; although, throughout the entirety of the film he tends to