The movie I decided to analyze is Disney’s Finding Nemo. Although the characters are all ocean creatures, we can infer that the main character, Marlin, Nemo’s dad, displayed signed of post traumatic stress disorder. Post traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The event can involve “actual or threatened death, injury, sexual violence to self, or witnessing others experience trauma, learning that loved ones have been traumatized, or repeatedly being exposed to details of trauma,” (Oltmanns, 175) Marlin experienced losing his loved ones, which we can classify as a traumatic event.
Reasoning for diagnosis according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
In the movie, Marlin’s wife and babys were attacked by a barracuda. Only one baby survived and that is Nemo. Nemo is born with one irregular fin and Marlin uses this reason to treat him sensitively. Marlin rarely goes out into the ocean as he has a fear in the ocean. He also presents this fear into Nemo. He has a very neurotic and worrisome behavior and constantly worries about Nemo not swimming well, even though he can. Throughout when Nemo was a baby until he goes to school, Marlin keeps him isolated in the reef and keeps him restricted from activities. He especially keeps him away from the “drop off” because it reminds him about the traumatic event. However, when Nemo has to go there for a school trip, he panics and freaks out, which led to Nemo not listening to his father’s words due to embarrassment. When Nemo gets taken away, Marlin along with Dory, they set to find Nemo. Marlin gets stressed about this due to losing his wife and all of his kids, and he could potentially lose Nemo as well. This could lead to Marlin snapping at Dory all the time and getting constant flashbacks of the traumatic event. In the DSM V, PTSD is listed under the “trauma and stressor related disorders” section. (Oltmanns, 177) The criteria for PTSD includes, the person was exposed to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury or actual or threatened sexual violence. (PTSD and DSM-5) Marlin directly experienced his wife and baby eggs get attacked by a barracuda in front of his eyes. The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced with memories, nightmares, flashbacks and emotional distress. (PTSD and DSM-5) Throughout the movie, you see Marlin experience many flashbacks of the night and gets very worried about Nemo because of this event. Avoidance of trauma related stimuli after the trauma also occurs. (PTSD and DSM-5) Marlin rarely comes out of his reef due to this fear of the ocean. Because of this, he also restricts Nemo from doing activities outside of the reef. Negative thoughts or feelings that began worsened after the trauma including negative thoughts, feeling isolated, exaggerated blame. (PTSD and DSM-5) Marlin isolated himself and Nemo due to the event and associated the ocean with negative thoughts. Trauma-related arousal and reactivity that began or worsened after the trauma with irritability or aggression, risky or destructive behavior, etc. (PTSD and DSM-5) As seen in the movie, he also experiences anger and irritability, especially with Dory. He easily becomes agitated and yells. Since this happened when Nemo was born until he starts schools, this symptoms have been happening for a long time. Since PTSD lasts longer than a month, we can infer this as PTSD and not acute chronic disorder. (Oltmanns, 175)
Social-environmental stressors/problems, medical conditions, and functional impairments
As Marlin is a fish, it is hard to decide if Marlin had PTSD due to genetic or brain issues. However, Marlin’s environment is a huge stressor to him as he lives in the ocean and he is scared of the ocean. Because of this, he would always stay in the reef with Nemo, until Nemo’s first day of school. However, Marlin should be careful as he should not influence Nemo as Nemo would be more likely to develop PTSD as well. Marlin already has passed down his fear of the ocean to Nemo, and if it wasn’t due to Nemo’s curious nature, Nemo could be afraid of the ocean as well. (PTSD: Statistics, Causes, Signs & Symptoms)
Suitable Treatment options
Two common treatments for PTSD for humans would be psychotherapy and medication. However, since Marlin is a fish, it would be hard for him to receive both of these treatments. However, he can apply aspects of psychotherapy into this daily life to help him cure of his PTSD. One form of psychotherapy is called “prolonged exposure”. This method helps you to gain control by facing negative feelings and helps do some of the things you have avoided since the trauma. (Treatment of PTSD) Usually, one would work with an expert to go through this treatment, but Marlin can use aspects of this treatment. He can learn to slowly adapt himself in to the ocean, and learn how to let go of Nemo and give him the freedom he needs and wants. Another treatment is in vivo desensitization. This is a type of treatment where one would gradually confront fears in real life while simultaneously maintaining a state of relaxation. (Oltmanns, 61) This method would help Marlin get over this anxiety for the safety of Nemo as well as his own fears. Because Marlin’s fear are affecting his life, it’s therefore affecting Nemo’s life as well. Marlin can set out goals for himself to help him deal with the trauma and for Nemo as well. Marlin is constantly worried and anxious about Nemo and his safety, and should understand that Marlin should let Nemo be free if he wants Nemo to be his own individual. By setting out these goals, Marlin can learn about his PTSD, understand the events causing it, help him correct his thinking, and hopefully manage his anxiety and stress. He can learn various coping skills including muscle relaxation exercises, breathing exercises, swimming, and more. (Coping with Traumatic Stress Reactions)
Marlin, from the movie Finding Nemo, has PTSD from a traumatic event that a barracuda attacked his wife and most of his babies except for Nemo. Even though Marlin is a fish, we can clearly see that Marlin has PTSD. Anxiety and worry about Nemo and fear of the ocean, as well as isolation are also facts proving that Marlin has PTSD. Treatments for PTSD include psychotherapy and medication but because Marlin is a fish it is hard for Marlin to acquire them. However, he can take aspects from psychotherapy and apply it to his life to help him with his fear and anxiety. Because the fear is affecting his life, it will also affect Nemo’s life as well.