Pick a character from a favorite book (fiction or nonfiction) or from a favorite
ID: 3462481 • Letter: P
Question
Pick a character from a favorite book (fiction or nonfiction) or from a favorite movie. Choose a character whom you believe to have a psychological disorder (e.g., Sylvia Plath, Antwone Fisher). Describe the character and his or her problems, using this discussion as a foundation for diagnosing the individual and planning a treatment program. Make your diagnosis using the DSM-5 system. Carefully take the reader through the steps you followed to decide on a diagnosis (using DSM-5) and a type of treatment (e.g., therapy, possible medication, referrals to other professionals). Describe any other recommendations you have, including assessments you would want completed to help accurately diagnose your character. This paper should be 6–8 pages and formatted in APA style
Explanation / Answer
Big Bang Theory is one the most watched television series which is considered to be quirky and hilarious. All the four male protagonists are quirky in their own ways. One of the characters, Rajesh Koothrapali often exhibits apprehensions when it comes to talking to a woman. In pretty much all the seasons, the struggle to go up and talk to a woman without it being awkward was very evident. Raj was seen downing a couple of shots of alcohol before he approached a woman. It seemed funny to an audience, even I would often laugh.
However, in reality the symptoms that Raj exhibited, can be diagnosed as a social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorder is a fear or a phobia of being in a social situation. It is often mistaken to be a characteristic of one's personality which is being shy or an introvert. A person who is socially anxious is nervous about meeting any new person. They would do anything to avoid being in a situation that makes them anxious. The level of anxiety is the same as it is for a regular person to be in a water body filled with crocodiles.
It makes a person with social anxiety so anxious that it tends to disrupt their regular routine life. Individuals with social anxiety disorder prefer staying home and not meeting anybody as it simply makes them very anxious. Raj would be very anxious about meeting any woman. He would often feel so helpless about his situation and would try to avoid it as much as he could. He is often seen mingling with only his few close friends and family. He would never interact with other people with the fear of embarrassing himself. He was sometimes seen to be lonely and depressed which is another symptom of social anxiety disorder since individuals diagnosed with social anxiety have a little social life and rather no romantic relationships.