I just started watching the first season and I'm a little bothered by the way social anxiety is portrayed. I know it's n
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joekinplaya — 9 years ago(December 17, 2016 11:21 AM)
I agree with Johnny Wrong. I think you are imposing YOUR exclusive experience of social anxiety and making it the standard when it isn't. IT is actually a pretty good job for people with social anxiety otherwise they'd be stuck doing overnight jobs nonstop.
Also, Elliot is awkward. ALL THE TIME around "friends and regular people." He only seems to adopt this persona that he's not socially anxious when with fsociety. -
Tanie — 9 years ago(December 21, 2016 04:01 AM)
I am not imposing anything. As I said before, social anxiety disorder is a specific condition des robes in the DSM. Being "awkward" is not one of the symptoms
And I am not talking about the job in itself, I am talking about the workplace. There are even studies about open plan offices and their effects on stress.
You can work during the day in a little office with 1 or 2 colleagues that you know well, don't be silly!
I highly doubt this show has been praised by psychiatrists or social anxiety sufferers other than self-diagnosed ones. At least not for its psychiatric accuracy.
I loved the show myself, I'm just saying Elliot is psychotic. -
phelix-josie — 9 years ago(January 31, 2017 09:44 PM)
It's exhausting but you go it to get paid. Not everyone gets to pick and choose. I have social anxiety and got thru working in an open office with white knuckles and ear phones. And walks. And wine at lunch.
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tuning_guy16 — 9 years ago(February 11, 2017 05:12 PM)
no offense mate but if it were really bad you would be handicapt (on disabillity for life) (in europe anyway) i got aviodant personality disorder. your social axienty is one of the 7-8 symptoms i got and i swear, i rather be homeless and on the streets then work. don't get me wrong i would love to work(studied astropysics so im not the type to sit on his couch) but in an office alone or from home on the pc, no prob but not with people or around them.
it only ends once , everything before that is just progress. -
tuning_guy16 — 9 years ago(February 11, 2017 05:06 PM)
i agree that it's hell!!!!
and that it's not an accurate portrayal. some things are but then he seems to have little difficulty working or talking to people.
ive got aviodant personality disorder wich also inclused social anxiety and when i was 16 i quit school, wel i ran and never wanted to go back and got homeschooled.
afterwards i got a degree in astropysics from home/ my granddad is a proffesor in it. BUT work is impossible. it is the worst thing you can do to me.
the way elliot is shown just being able to sit down on his pc and work with a person on each side of him also on a pc and right across him. that would be F Ucking impossible for me. i would rather end up on the street then work like that.
that being said im on dissability because not only do i have that but my joints and nerves are messed up, i have a theory thats its from all the stress life gives you with a mental prob like this.
when you cant be around people, even not being able to do family parties or something. its basicly like not being ale to eat or breath. you CAN'T function, especially in our society.
it only ends once , everything before that is just progress. -
little01 — 9 years ago(November 26, 2016 02:47 PM)
He does have social anxiety but doesn't have agoraphobia. He can still be in public spaces. He doesn't interact much with his coworkers. And even has trouble interacting with Angela. He talks to people but definitely doesn't make lasting social relationships and interactions and avoids situations where he has to make small talk. He has a girl in his bed but he still has needs. She wasn't a stranger. As you learn he does get to know her and she means a little more to him than a one night stand. And as another poster said depression isn't so black and white as well. Being slightly introverted myself (maybe not to social anxiety level) but I believe he still sometimes craves the interaction, but just has trouble with it. And other times he has no interest if he thinks it is meaningless.
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ShannonTriumphant — 9 years ago(December 10, 2016 09:51 AM)
I agree that his "social anxiety" isn't that well-portrayed, especially because it seems to come and go, depending on the scene. Granted, someone who has that doesn't have a constant flow of it or they would be catatonic! But he swings too wildly between not dealing with people at all to not minding this at all. It's not realistic.
I do agree with the person who said that agoraphobia is not a necessary component of social anxiety (and vice versa). The thing that bugs me are his hallucinations (not just the ones with Mr. Robot) and how complete they are. I agree that if we are to accept that these are really happening than he would be diagnosed as psychotic.
It seems like writers now feel they MUST make their heroes hallucinate (consider the later seasons of "House"!) in order to be trendy. I could really do without them. You, as a viewer, end up asking, "Is this real?" constantly.
I followed all the rulesand you followed none of them. And they all loved you more. -
ShannonTriumphant — 9 years ago(December 16, 2016 09:29 AM)
I like what Darlene (I think) says about having panic disorder: it's more abnormal
not
to have it (in this day). It tracks with the various quirks and psychological problems that so many heroes on TV and film have. It is part of a larger distrust, especially of society and our government. It was first pointed out by "The X-files" (Trust No One) and even referred to by Santiago: "This is not 'Burn Notice'"! Re that show, the hero, Michael Westen, is a burned spy whose motives for joining the CIA came from an abusive father and generally dysfunctional family life. He also deals routinely with rogue groups inside the government who are corrupt. It was as if Santiago was really saying, "Yes, this
is
'Burn Notice', but don't expect an ending like the one they got."
Elliot's psychological problems are not that unusual, either on TV or IRL. This show is great because it also reads like a sequel to Freud's
Civilization and its Discontents
or the works of Karl Marx. For Freud, the conflict is between the individual's sense of identity and individualism, which clashes with society's need for conformity. For Marx, it's about how our society is corrupted and destroyed by capitalism and corporate greed.
I also don't think it's coincidental that Santiago shares the name of Hemingway's tragic hero in
The Old Man and the Sea
. The big question is: who are the sharks in Mr. Robot, who will destroy the marlin, the prize? And if seen through the eyes of fsociety, they are not the ones who should be pursued, who are evil; it's E. corp and the other overlords.
-Those we should know elude us. But we canlove without complete understanding. -
ShannonTriumphant — 9 years ago(December 17, 2016 08:18 AM)
Excellent analysis! The parts I find difficult to digest (not that I am saying they don't happen) are the vivid hallucinations, esp. of his father and Tyrell. Is Elliot really seeing them as vividly as we do? As for the ability to "switch off" during traumas, would you say that this is like the descriptions given by abuse victims, who "pretend" they are somewhere else?
I think Elliot
is
somewhat suicidal, but in a more passive way (like all of his reactions to past and present trauma). He is like an alcoholic who drinks enough to kill himself because he doesn't care if he lives or dies, at least sometimes. Same thing with the morphine and Adderall. His reaction to an abusive childhood is more characteristic of females, who are conditioned by culture (ours anyway) not to be violent, but rather, to turn the abuse on themselves (along with anorexia, bulimia and cutting).
Conversely, Darlene acts out her hostility toward others, such as killing the E Corp. exec and hitting her boyfriend with a bat. Her m.o. is more "masculine" in that it's externalized. I don't see Darlene as suicidal at all but Elliot is right on the edge of it, I think. Darlene seems more depressed than Elliot, though she says she has panic disorder. That's rarely shown, which I'm glad ofit's done too often in shows nowadays, such as 'Breaking Bad".
It's an interesting twist in the usual way that males and females who have been abused are portrayed. It's sad that they are both so troubled, but it's refreshing that they don't have them conform to the usual stereotypes for abused children.
-Those we should know elude us. But we canlove without complete understanding. -
Tanie — 9 years ago(December 18, 2016 10:26 AM)
is the dignosis that's wrong
I agree.
social anxiety is basicly shyness
Hum no. I have to disagree.
Shyness is a personality trait. Social anxiety is a condition with specific symptoms. One of the criteria in the DSM is that it "interferes significantly with the person's normal routine, occupational (academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia". It is not random shyness, it stops you from having a normal life and Elliot does not have social anxiety. His social awkwardness is rather a psychotic manifestation, which fits with his amnesia and hallucinations. -
k_who — 9 years ago(December 25, 2016 06:17 PM)
Like the others on this thread said - this show isn't about you and your specific situation.
The portrayal of social anxiety on this show is actually very good. It takes many forms and shapes and manifests itself differently from person to person.
I'm the only one that exists. -
Tanie — 9 years ago(December 27, 2016 03:55 AM)
God! How is it about me when there are studies and a DSM which is the Bible of psychiatrists? Social anxiety takes many forms with certain limits! Otherwise why bother with diagnosis
I am not taking my own situation as an example. As a matter of fact, I have not described my own situation at all.
I have a friend who is a psychologist, and she agrees with me! -
WalterWheyt — 9 years ago(December 29, 2016 05:13 PM)
Im suffering depression and social anxiety at times too.
I believe it is presented very well.
I was woking in offices too, i have good friends, i had girlfriends.
Depression and social anxiety are not dominant every day all day long.
I even had times in the last few years in which i felt very good and met people.
And i also keep contact with friends i know for many years.
There are people i can get along with very well, even if i dont know them very well. These are mostly people that feel soehow special or very unique. With some strangers, you can talk for a long time and have a good time. It sjust that this rarely happens and doenst repeat itself very often.
Its hard to keep contact with new people.
Depression is also not that 1 dimensional. AS i said, there are periods in which i am outgoing, happy and active.
Depression hits often spontaniously when you dont expect it. It can stay for days, weeks or month. sometimes just hours of sudden sadness.
People with these issues can also seem to be perfectly fine to other people. In a medium like film, its difficult to show what exactly is going on inside the person, because from the outside the person seems fine.
I would say the daily life can be a real struggle. It very often is. And i think that is, for me, the hardest part about it.
It is at times a struggle to even just get out of the bed thinking about work/studying or going into the public. It often feels like carrying alot of weight that slows eversthing down, that makes evers step tougher than it should be. Concentrating is tough if you drift away into overwhelming thoughts. A flood of thoughts that can come in many shapes and forms. In the form of ideas, dreams, hopes, fears. it can be creative or destructive. But it usually isnt focused.
Sometimes you feel alienated, like a silent observer. Like walking 1 step behind yourself. Sometimes it as if noone around you notices you.
It can go as far as giving you physical pain.
With all these voiceovers and contradictional action compared to his thoughts, i think they do a good job at presenting it. -
Joeyjag_97 — 9 years ago(December 30, 2016 08:32 AM)
I have to agree with you here, the social anxiety "theme" that surrounds Elliot in S1 seems to have completely died off in the second season and I'm kind of glad it has because it was giving a false portrayal of SAD. It is definitely more physcosis and not social anxiety, the symptoms he is getting will tell you that (even though some of them are the same), SAD doesn't give you hallucinations and/or serious disillusions which is exactly what he is experiencing. He also seems to be just fine speaking in a meeting and talking to total strangers on the street, a person with social anxiety disorder would never do these things let alone lead a f-cking group of hackers to take down a giant corporation.
"A man chooses. A slave obeys."