Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness defined by obsessive thoughts which lead to repetitive behaviors called compulsions. Approximately 2.3% of adults in the United States suffer from OCD which makes it one of the more common mental illnesses. Treatment for the disorder is often needed, typically through the use of cognitive behavior therapy, exposure therapy, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Despite the prevalence of OCD in the daily lives of many individuals, there are few accurate representations of the illness in the media. Characters on television who suffer from OCD usually display stereotypical symptoms such as frequent hand washing, obsessive cleanliness, extreme organization, or germaphobia. In reality, symptoms are much more complex than this, and these stereotypes perpetuate a negative perception of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Emma Pillsbury from the show Glee is a prime example of how OCD symptoms are over-dramatized for entertainment purposes. In the show she is seen cleaning the staff room tables before meals, wearing gloves for basic tasks, cleaning grapes individually before eating them, and cleaning a pencil sharpener for one hour. While these could potentially be symptoms of OCD someone suffers from, the way they are portrayed is what makes it negative. Emma is often the laughing stock among the other staff and faces constant ridicule for her behavior. Her parents even insulted her compulsions when her husband Will Schuester first expressed that he wanted to marry Emma.
She also appears to be content when she is acting out her compulsive behaviors, which is not how OCD behaviors are usually performed. Most people who suffer from OCD are aware that their compulsions are irrational, but their obsessive or intrusive thoughts force them to carry these behaviors out. Emma Pillsbury encourages viewers of the show to think of the disorder as a joke, or something to laugh about. This in turn causes people not to take OCD seriously and stigmatize it further through the stereotypes her character displays.
Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory is another character who shows OCD in a bad light. His symptoms are very stereotypical and lack depth. Sheldon structures his life very meticulously, down to his meals each day of the week, and gets extremely upset when there are any disturbances to his routine. He is also a hypochondriac and germaphobe who is excessively concerned with cleanliness. Sheldon’s character aligns with stereotypical OCD behaviors that push a false narrative of what mental illness is. It makes the disorder appear very black and white in how it affects those with it—extremely neat people who are scared of germs and love routines. It ignores other potential symptoms such as panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, compulsive hoarding, food aversions, social isolation, or ritualistic behaviors. Sheldon Cooper as a character is also disliked, frequently made fun of, and seen as odd for his compulsive behaviors. The Big Bang Theory is a poor representation of OCD, considering Sheldon’s character is made to be so unlikeable.
Another red flag that indicates the awful portrayal of OCD in media was found through a Google search. One of the first results when googling “TV characters with OCD” is Hannibal Lecter, a serial killer from the movie Silence of the Lambs. This is unideal for multiple reasons. Other than the fact that one of the few characters with OCD found in Hollywood is a serial killer, it corroborates another stereotype that people with OCD are dangerous. This is a stereotype that can be seen in many crime shows such as Criminal Minds. Inadequate examples of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the media lead to further stigmatization of the illness and other mental illnesses. This stigmatization allows for more ignorance towards mental health, making the lives of those struggling with mental illness even harder. Representation of mental illness as a whole needs to improve to dissuade prejudice and stigma surrounding the topic.