This post was written by Undergraduate Student Chloe Eades.
I have always appreciated the depth and emotion portrayed within the film Perks of Being a Wallflower, which hits on uncomfortable issues in a beautifully cinematic way. While there are a multitude of scenes Icould analyze, I’d like to focus on a clip towards the very end of the movie, in which Charlie (the main character) experiences a flashback that, in my interpretation, can be attributed to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Charlie Kelmeckis is a high schooler dealing with the usual interpersonal struggles of being a freshman, whilst battling the tumultuous symptoms of PTSD. Charlie has suffered multiple traumatic events; his Aunt Helen molested him as a child, which was followed by her sudden death in a car accident on his birthday, as well as the more recent trauma of his best friend’s suicide. It is important to acknowledge how his best friend’s death catalyzes the complete manifestation of his PTSD. Though his death is not emphasized throughout the film, it is what seems to stir the traumatic memories of Charlie’s youth back up to the forefront of his mind. Interestingly, even an event that is not directly related to one’s PTSD can serve as a trigger [1].
With that, the scene I have attached is the final display of Charlie’s traumatic memories, presented in an all-consuming flashback that leads to an implied suicide attempt. To me, this clip represents elements of PTSD, as it not only shows his present distress and panic-like symptoms, but also various memories (recent and old) that are tied to his deep-rooted trauma. Charlie’s mental state begins to decline when his friends leave for college, perpetuating his feelings of emptiness and loneliness, since he has fewer distractions from the trauma he carries with him. This clip also depicts sexual problems tied to his PTSD, as the intimate interaction with Charlie’s current crush is paralleled by the memories of his aunt showing the same type of intimacy towards him. Charlie bangs his head against the wall and is angry with himself as he repeats “stop crying.” During this, troubling memories flash through his mind, including his intense physical aggression towards bullies in the lunchroom (which he had not remembered up until this point), being socially rejected by people he thought were his friends, and watching his sister’s boyfriend physically abuse her. While elements of the flashback are diverse, each one is connected to Charlie’s Aunt Helen; he repeatedly hears her voice saying “it will be our little secret/don’t wake your sister.”
The DSM-5, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, is a manual specifically designed for professionals to utilize when diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. Within the DSM-5, a diagnosis of PTSD involves eight main criteria, all of which have varying symptoms that may qualify, expressing the polythetic nature of the disorder. To briefly highlight Charlie’s symptom presentation and thus qualifying criteria for a formal disorder, first, Charlie has recurrent distressing memories, dissociative reactions (his flashback), and psychological distress in response to a trigger [2]. These symptoms align clearly with the DSM-5’s Criterion B, which is that the traumatic event is repeatedly experienced via episodes such as flashbacks, distress, etc. [2].
Additionally, the clip of Charlie’s flashback denotes negative beliefs about himself (as he shames himself for being distressed and blames himself for his aunt’s death), detachment (as he self-isolates), self-destructive behavior (suicidal/self-harm ideations), and angry outbursts (as he blacks out and gets physically aggressive with classmates in the lunch room) [2]. All of these experiences can be seen as qualifying symptoms for Criterion C (avoidance of anything that reminds one of the traumatic experience), Criterion D (negative thoughts/feelings that began after the traumatic event), and Criterion E (arousal and reactivity related to the trauma, beginning after trauma) [2]. It is also critical to note that Charlie experiences distress in various settings: at home, at school, in social gatherings, etc., which is necessary for a formal diagnosis of PTSD [3].
I appreciate writer and director Stephen Chbosky’s depiction of Charlie’s all-consuming distress and avoidant behaviors, which strongly imply the potential for a PTSD diagnosis without much of the stigma associated with that diagnosis. Context clues throughout the film, primarily the flashbacks to Charlie’s younger years, suggest that these distressing memories have bothered Charlie for much longer than a month. This supports the theory that he suffers from PTSD, as opposed to Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). ASD presents for a few days to a month after a traumatic event, while PTSD is enduring, potentially lasting for years [2]. Additionally, there are other elements throughout the film that could affect his diagnosis, such as his illicit substance use (alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs), as well as potential comorbid disorders (as he presents with symptoms of anxiety and depression) [4]. Comorbidities, such as anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder (SUD), are present in nearly 80% of PTSD diagnoses [5]. Therefore, it is quite possible that Charlie is experiencing additional disorders.
Despite my best attempts to find inaccuracies or excessive dramatization in this scene regarding the presentation of PTSD, I simply cannot. In fact, I believe the exaggeration of the flashback (depicted via chaotic scene changes and rapid inner dialogue), as lines are blurred between Charlie’s reality and imagination, expertly captures the viewer’s attention, encouraging empathy and understanding for Charlie. Speaking from personal experience, I felt extremely empathetic for Charlie as I watched those around him deem him weird, antisocial, damaged, etc. Even his own family members didn’t fully understand the depth of his struggles until his suicide attempt. As his symptoms go unnoticed by most, Charlie internalizes the judgments of others; this internalization presents itself through self-stigmatization and blame, ultimately in effort to avoid facing his trauma [6]. Finally, I would like to draw attention to the chaotic nature of the clip, which helps to properly communicate Charlie’s flashback. A flashback can be distressing, disorganized, and intense [2]; watching Charlie’s flashback is like watching a tornado demolish every object in its path — extremely destructive and gaining momentum as his thoughts intensify. This visual presentation is messy and full of discomfort that viewers can feel through the screen which aids in understanding Charlie’s PTSD.
The societal implications of this internalized judgment and stigma are quite significant, as the film works to connect viewers to Charlie and reduce the stigma surrounding PTSD [6]. Especially in recent years, media (particularly social media) has begun to shift from public stigma towards acceptance and awareness. Hashtags have been created on social media platforms, such as “#stopthestigma,” empowering those that feel weighed down by societal labels [6]. I believe that this film, particularly at the time it was released, helped to scratch the surface of reducing stigma surrounding mental illness, specifically PTSD, by showing viewers that they really aren’t that different from Charlie, and that others around them may be struggling with issues we cannot always see.
With that, I commend Perks of Being a Wallflower for its accurate depiction of a high schooler struggling with PTSD. I hope that viewers of the film take notice of Charlie’s symptoms that are disregarded by most (both due to stigma and lack of understanding of how personalized symptom presentations can be) and that they recognize the need for showing empathy towards those who are struggling with such a complex disorder.
References:
[2] Barlow, D. H., Durand, V. M., & Hofmann, S. G. Psychopathology: An Integrative Approach to Mental Disorders (9th ed.). Cengage, 2023.
Acknowledgements:
As this is my first ever ScIU post, I would like to acknowledge Professor Alexandra Moussa-Tooks for pushing me to submit my article during her Abnormal Psychology course. I quite enjoyed writing this article and I hope to continue writing more!
Edited by Jonah Wirt and Robert Howard
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