OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER:

Meet Monica Geller.

PSYCOLOGY BASIS

OBSESSIVE-COMPUSLIVE DISORDER■ OCD is defined as is an anxiety disorder in which people have

unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions), or behaviors that make them feel driven to do something (compulsions).

■ Results in short-lived relief of anxiety■ Can quickly become all consuming, and physically disabling.

OCD SIGNS & SYMPTOMS.■ Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder often center on themes,

such as a fear of getting contaminated by germs, or an over focus on order. Other behaviors that may be signs of OCD compulsions may include:

– Fear of contamination or dirt– Needing things orderly and symmetrical– Aggressive or horrific thoughts about harming yourself or others– Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious

subjects

MEDIA

FRIENDS■ A Comedy Series based in Manhattan about 6 young friends, in the

struggle to find success and happiness in life.■ Monica Geller– passionate, devoted, loving and a terrific chef, OCD.■ Rachel Green – spoiled but courageous, fashionista. ■ Ross Gellar – most intelligent member of the group and is noted for

his goofy, lovable demeanor.■ Phoebe Buffay – a masseuse and musician, notable for her offbeat and

sometimes ditzy behavior.■ Chandler Bing – sarcasm as a defense, goofy, and lovable.■ Joey Tribiani - dim-witted, skirt-chasing actor, and adorable.

FRIENDS Monica and Rachel are room mates

on the show.

Rachel doesn’t understand cleanliness.

Monica’s OCD effects are mostly taken out on Rachel.

But not just Rachel all 5 of the others feel the heat every once and awhile.

CONNECTION

CONNECTION■ Monica is a

perfectionist■ Obsessed with

cleaning, “neat freak”■ Everything has to be

her way or she's upset and bossy

■ Always has to be in control of the situation.

CONNECTION■ Rachel cleans and rearranges the house and Monica cant take it.

CONNECTION/VALIDITY■ Dealing with OCD

– Monica suffers from 4 major types of OCD

– CHECKING : rituals such as ; locks, appliances, mistakes, etc…

– CONTAMINATION : pervasive sense of having some undesirable object(s)

still on one’s body, even after washing.

– HORDING : distress at the thought of getting rid of the items.

– RUMINATION : mental act whereby a person thinks carefully and deeply

about a subject.

Dealing part two:■ Monica relies on her friends and her husband; relationships and

people she chooses to surround her as a “drug” to keep herself inline and not out of control because everyone excepts her disease and “tell her how it is”

People with OCD not only use Medication and Cognitive therapy but emotional support from loved ones.

Valid - YES

MY TAKE■ The writer of the sitcom enhanced a lot of strange behaviors in all 6 of

his stars but by far did a phenomenal job showing the effects of OCD and the multiple ways it is portrayed because it isn’t just cleanliness it is a lot of other things too that I had learned about from doing my research on this project.

■ There may be some instances where they just didn’t get it quiet right but overall the physiological disorder was done right.

Refrences ■ WebMD– http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/obsessive-compulsive-

disorder?■ MAYOCLINIC– http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-

disorder/