Analysis Of Just Checking By Emily Colas

Just Checking by Emily Colas showcases what it’s like to live with an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Written in a journal-like format the reader sees what her day-to-day life is like from her perspective. One of the most significant hindrances to her disease is the affect it has on her relationship with her husband. Certain aspects of her disease make it difficult for her and her husband to maintain a healthy and normal marriage.
One hindrance that affects her relationship is her need to count stars when people are speaking. In her head, Colas draws one line of a star for every word the person she is talking to says, “our conversation has to end in a multiple of 5, a complete star” (3). This ritual makes it challenging for her to pay attention

to what the other person is saying. Good communication is crucial to any relationship. By not listening and often being unresponsive she is causing a lack of decent communication between her and her husband.
The couple’s first fight was a result of Colas being incredibly controlling. She did not want her husband to take a specific job because she didn’t want to have to her about what it entailed, which was AIDS. Her husband called her controlling after she said, “I forbid you to take that job” (16). This caused the husband to express his anger in a violent way. Colas’ needs were selfish as she thought her worries were more important than her husband having a job he wanted. There was no compromise and in the end he took the job anyways, which led to them participating in couples counseling.
Another way that Colas’ disorder damages her relationship is her need to move constantly. Because her attention span is so short she often feels as though she needs to live somewhere else. After moving into her husband’s apartment she soon felt like it wasn’t “their” place so they found a new one together. She eventually decided that place was too small and once again they moved. This went on for several years and they moved to variety of different places, breaking their lease each time. Colas constantly came up with an excuse to move and this eventually led to her divorce, “A few months later we separated. My husband got his own place…” (23).
Colas’ obsessive-compulsive disorder hindered her relationship with her husband. Numerous other examples of this can be found throughout part one of her novel. Aside from the above mentioned, she didn’t eat particular foods, disliked going to certain places, and constantly worried about things that usually do not cause other people troubles. Her lack of communication, need to control certain situations, and inability to stay in one place for a specific amount of time greatly affected her marriage.