Eungi+Charlie+Fineman

=Defining a Disorder= Instructions: Set of criteria to establish a working definition of what might be considered a "behavior disorder"
 * How would you classify his behavior?
 * What sort of treatment should he be getting?
 * What could you be doing for Charlie if you were his friend?
 * **Clinical Disorder**
 * 250 to 500 words
 * Provide brief rational for diagnosis of Charlie

=Format= I. Introduction II. Body Paragraph III. Conclusion
 * Definition of "behavior disorder"
 * Thesis should include the criteria
 * Brief background of Charlie
 * Classification / Criteria
 * Treatment (as a friend) <- or should this go into the conclusion instead?
 * Repeat the definition
 * Overall diagnosis of Charlie

=Charlie Fineman's Definition of Behavior Disorder=

When a person displays disturbing, maladaptive behaviors, they are prone to having a psychological disorder, specifically, a ‘behavior disorder.’ One website proposed that a behavior disorder is a disorder “that both identify emotional problems and create interpersonal and social problems for children and adolescents in the course of their development” (Pittsburg). In the movie, "Reign over Me", the main protagonist named Charlie expresses characteristics of behavior disorder, specifically post-traumatic disorder labeled within the clinical disorder category. In Charlie’s case, his disorder had specific causes, leading to the symptoms, and ending up with therapy.

Charlie Finman was a normal man before the tragic 9/11 accident began. His family consisted of a wife, three daughters, and a dog who were all unfortunately killed on a plane. The movie depicts Charlie’s character as a person who completely shuts himself from the world and expresses childish behaviors like completely ignoring the therapist by tuning out on his i-pod. Apparently, Charlie’s disruptive behavior is triggered by anything that is related to his past family in which he resorts to verbal and physical violence, lashing out at the people around him.

But first, in order to dwell further in to the topic of behavior disorders, let’s take a specific disorder that Charlie seemed to be classified as: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). By definition, PTSD is “a anxiety disorder that develops after a severe traumatic event or experience,” in Charlie’s case, his family, that include “unwanted re-experiencing of the trauma.” Charlie shows specific symptoms such as depression, inability to express emotion, and avoidance of anything that is related to his family. This disorder is part of a psychological disorder in which it disrupts the normal behavior of the individual and is disturbing and maladaptive to others (PSYweb).

Though many types of therapies are offered for victims with behavior disorders, I would suggest Charlie to take either the behavior therapy or the transactional analysis (PSYweb). Because the problem in his case is the past experience, therapy would be needed in order to overcome the past and to look towards the future. But simply, I would try to get him out of his own world by carefully making him talk about his family. During Charlie’s therapy session with Dr. Angela Oakhurst, Charlie manages to admit to his fears by telling others about his past experiences and his family. Before, due to his PTSD, Charlie would avoid any thing that dealt with his family but he managed to overcome confront and overcome his problem.

Behavior disorder is just a difficult problem in life which starts out with a specific cause, drags the person into a constant battle with themselves and the world, and ends up with the individual managing to overcome the problem. Charlie was able to show that disorders can happen to anybody and negative views towards victims are wrong. Rather, people should help them like Alan Johnson did even it means simply reaching out their hands. They say, a simple friend might actually be the best therapy of them all.

=Work Cited=

"Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh - Behavior Disorders." __Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh - Behavior Disorders__. 3 Feb. 2008. Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. 07 Jan. 2009 . "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD )." __PSYweb complete mental health site.__ PsyWeb. 07 Jan. 2009 http://psyweb.com/. "Psychotherapy." __PSYweb complete mental health site.__ PSYweb. 07 Jan. 2009 http://psyweb.com/Mdisord/MdisordADV/AdvPsych.jsp.