OCD in North 24 Kaatham is portrayed through the character of Harikrishnan, a socially withdrawn software professional played by Fahadh Faasil.North 24 Kaatham is a Malayalam movie released in 2013. Fahadh Faasil plays the role of Harikrishnan, a software professional whose character exhibits behaviors that are far from “normal.” However, the Malayalam audience largely viewed his character’s quirks with humor and laughter. To some extent, this reaction can’t be entirely blamed, as historically, mental health and mental illnesses have often been perceived in a negative light by the Malayalam community.
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Harikrishnan and OCD
In the movie, Harikrishnan is portrayed as experiencing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). However, the audience found it challenging to recognize and understand the nuances of OCD as a mental health condition. At the time, OCD was relatively unfamiliar to many, and North 24 Kaatham helped initiate a conversation about the disorder among the Malayalis. The film, in its way, opened the door to discussions about OCD, a condition that had previously been less understood or acknowledged in the community.
Harikrishnan’s life, the transformative journey he embarks on, and the challenges OCD creates in his daily life are all portrayed brilliantly in the film. Although the movie doesn’t explicitly state that Harikrishnan has OCD, it subtly conveys his struggles through various scenes.
- It also depicts how he occasionally seeks professional help and how his OCD impacts not only his day-to-day life but also the people around him.
- In the film, which keeps the audience engaged throughout, Harikrishnan is shown maintaining a distance from his family and colleagues.
- He perceives everything around him in a highly objectified manner. Harikrishnan, who rarely speaks to anyone, begins his day with a meticulous cleaning process involving three or four steps.
- Wherever he goes, he carries tissues to clean surfaces before sitting, and his strict orderliness and rigid routines are clear indicators of the symptoms he experiences.
- For instance, before using the toilet, he meticulously cleans the seat with tissue paper. During train journeys, he wipes down the seat before sitting and is so disturbed by the lack of hygiene around him that he cannot even bring himself to drink water.
How much the average Malayali audience can connect to such a character is uncertain.
- Harikrishnan even exhibits repetitive behaviors when visiting his doctor.While OCD traits are present to some degree in everyone, it becomes a clinical problem when these repetitive actions and thoughts start interfering with your daily life and the lives of those around you.
- In the film, Harikrishnan’s OCD is portrayed as significantly impacting not only his daily routines but also his relationships with his family, colleagues, and others around him in various ways.
- While sitting in a meeting at the office, Harikrishnan finds himself unable to get up and open the door to leave. He waits for someone else to open it for him.
- This is because the repetitive thought that touching the door handle will make his hands dirty, requiring him to wash them again, holds him back. Such hesitation in performing simple, immediate tasks can lead to various complications in life.
- Similarly, the yoga and laughing therapy that Harikrishnan performs every morning after waking up significantly disrupts the rest of his family, who are still asleep.
However, for Harikrishnan, not sticking to this routine at the exact time causes him immense anxiety. As a result, he continues to engage in these rigid and repetitive thoughts and behaviors, no matter what.
- If we consider Harikrishnan from North 24 Kaatham, he experiences significant discomfort while traveling by train. For an average person, traveling by train typically involves adjusting to the available amenities and focusing on reaching their destination.
- However, in Hari’s case, he avoids interacting with fellow passengers, responds indifferently or rudely to those who try to converse with him, and refuses to drink water because he perceives one of the passengers as unhygienic.
- When a woman traveling with him hands him her baby, Hari treats the child as though he were handling an object rather than a human being.
- Hari is portrayed as someone living entirely in his world, unwilling to compromise or deviate from his strict routines and orderliness.
- Even minor disruptions to his routines make him highly uncomfortable, which is a key aspect to note. OCD, as depicted in such cases, is not something to be taken lightly or dismissed with humor or casual indifference.
Myth v/s OCD
Many of us often make jokes about people who clean their tables meticulously, arrange books neatly, or organize clothes in wardrobes with precision, calling them “OCD” in jest. However, OCD is a serious condition that needs to be understood in its true depth. As mentioned earlier, when such behaviors begin to interfere with daily life and affect those around the individual, OCD becomes a clinical problem. In such cases, seeking professional help, therapy, and counseling is the most critical step.
- People commonly associate OCD with issues like frequent cleaning, repeatedly checking if the door is locked, or verifying whether the gas has been turned off.
- While these can be considered symptoms of OCD, repetitive thoughts and actions are observed in a large section of the population. Therefore, such behaviors cannot always be classified as a clinical problem.
- However, if these issues start interfering with a person’s daily life and affecting those around them, they should be considered symptoms of OCD, and seeking professional help becomes essential.
- Recognizing that you are dealing with a problem you cannot handle on your own and seeking the necessary clinical support is the best course of action.
- In some OCD cases, compulsive counting is observed, which can create significant challenges for individuals.
- For instance, if a person has the habit of counting shop signs while traveling on a bus and loses track at some point, they may feel the need to start the entire process over again. This repetitive behavior can result in significant time loss and difficulties in their daily life.
Many of us often make jokes about people who clean their tables meticulously, arrange books neatly, or organize clothes in wardrobes with precision, calling them “OCD” in jest. However, OCD is a serious condition that needs to be understood in its true depth. As mentioned earlier, when such behaviors begin to interfere with daily life and affect those around the individual, OCD becomes a clinical problem. In such cases, seeking professional help, therapy, and counseling is the most critical step.
- People commonly associate OCD with issues like frequent cleaning, repeatedly checking if the door is locked, or verifying whether the gas has been turned off.
- While these can be considered symptoms of OCD, repetitive thoughts and actions are observed in a large section of the population. Therefore, such behaviors cannot always be classified as a clinical problem.
- However, if these issues start interfering with a person’s daily life and affecting those around them, they should be considered symptoms of OCD, and seeking professional help becomes essential.
- Recognizing that you are dealing with a problem you cannot handle on your own and seeking the necessary clinical support is the best course of action.
- In some OCD cases, compulsive counting is observed, which can create significant challenges for individuals.
- For instance, if a person has the habit of counting shop signs while traveling on a bus and loses track at some point, they may feel the need to start the entire process over again. This repetitive behavior can result in significant time loss and difficulties in their daily life.
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If that’s the case, shouldn’t we understand in detail what is OCD ? We all have our unique ways of doing things in our daily lives. For example, we might follow a specific routine, such as taking a particular route to work or school, spending free time in a certain way, or reading specific sections of the newspaper first. Many people can provide clear reasons for these habits. However, some individuals experience these habits and routines to an extreme degree.
- Some people might feel compelled to wash their hands 40 times a day, while others might repeatedly check if the gas is turned off, unable to leave their house without doing so.
- Many individuals experience anxiety that something terrible will happen if they don’t follow their specific routines. This is known as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or urges (obsessions) that drive individuals to perform repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions). These thoughts and actions often cause significant distress and interfere with daily life.
1. Obsessions:
These are intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses that repeatedly enter the mind. They often feel uncontrollable and can cause anxiety or discomfort. Examples include:
- Fear of contamination or germs.
- Worries about harming oneself or others.
- Intrusive thoughts about symmetry or order.
2. Compulsions:
These are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to obsessions in an attempt to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome. Examples include:
- Excessive handwashing or cleaning.
- Repeatedly checking locks, appliances, or doors.
- Arranging items in a specific order.
- Counting or repeating certain words silently.
Treatment:
OCD is treatable. Common approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Specifically, a technique called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is highly effective.
- Medication: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed to help manage symptoms.
- Lifestyle Changes: Stress management, mindfulness, and regular routines can also help reduce triggers.
- Online counselling in kerala
OCD is not just about being overly neat or organized, as it is sometimes misunderstood. It’s a complex condition that requires empathy, understanding, and appropriate treatment. Usually, when we see people who are extra meticulous about cleanliness, those who keep their belongings organized and tidy, arrange their books neatly, or insist on things being perfectly in order, we often jokingly say they have OCD. However, what we casually refer to as OCD might simply be a part of the personality of individuals who desire to do things with perfection.
Understanding this difference is important for OCD awareness in Kerala. Rather than making jokes about OCD, we need to promote empathy, awareness, and encourage people to seek OCD treatment in Malayalam counseling or therapy. With proper help, individuals can learn to manage symptoms and lead fulfilling lives.
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