American Beauty
Darrell Caturia
The film American Beauty in about a man named Lester Burnham and the problems he faces with his life as a middle-aged man married to a career obsessed woman named Caroline who does not respect him and a daughter who he feels hates him. In one symbolic scene in the movie Lester sits slouched in the back seat of the vehicle where you can see that he is becoming more unhappy and depressed with his life while his wife drives (just like she seems to “drive” the family) and their daughter Jane sitting next to her up front.
Lester seems to be in the midst of a mid-life crisis which stereotypically is the time in your life when you do outrageous, impractical things like impulsively quitting your job, buying the sports car you always wanted, or divorcing your spouse. Today the term mid-life crisis does not always fit according to mental health experts because while it can be accompanied by serious depression it also is a time of tremendous growth (Web MD), the term now used is mid-life transition. However I did find information on adjustment disorders which seem to fit these characters issues. An adjustment disorder is a type of stress-related mental illness. You may feel anxious or depressed, or even have thoughts of suicide. You may not be able to go about some of your daily routines, such as work or seeing friends. Or you may make reckless decisions. In essence, you have a hard time adjusting to change in your life, and it has serious consequences. You don't have to tough it out on your own, though. Treatment of an adjustment disorder may help you regain your emotional footing. Most adults get better within just a few months, although teenagers may struggle longer. Treatment may also help prevent an adjustment disorder from becoming a more serious problem. ( “Adjustment Disorder.” Mayo Clinic.com)
There are signs for adjustment disorders that Lester displayed in the movie like being withdrawn, blackmailing his employer when...