Note: My experience with anxiety may differ from yours. For example, while I can drink coffee and beer in moderation, some people with anxiety disorders can’t consume any caffeine or alcohol. Let me know in the comments how you experience anxiety and what effective ways you’ve learned to manage it. Also, Family Guy often pushes buttons about sensitive topics to make satirical points. Please proceed with caution if you think this show or descriptions of it may trigger or upset you.
For two decades, the animated sitcom Family Guy has been a source of both laughter and shock, pushing comedic boundaries with its outrageous humor. Initially, I dismissed the Griffin family as a crass imitation of the beloved Simpsons. However, upon revisiting the show, I discovered a surprising layer of emotional resonance beneath its often-vulgar exterior.
Despite the Griffins’ exaggerated and unrealistic antics, I found myself relating to many of their portrayed mental and emotional struggles. My evolving perspective on Family Guy demonstrated that self-reflection and insight can emerge from the most unexpected places.
Family Guy is known for its recurring gags, and one of my personal favorites revolves around the Evil Monkey residing in Chris Griffin’s closet. In the show’s early seasons, the Evil Monkey would frequently appear to terrify Chris with its menacing stare and pointed finger.
An example of a typical Evil Monkey scene in Family Guy, highlighting the character's scary stare and pointing gesture towards Chris.
After years of amusement at these Evil Monkey moments, I began to ponder the reason for my fascination. Then, it struck me with the force of a cartoon pie to Meg Griffin’s face: Chris’s tumultuous relationship with the Evil Monkey mirrored my own ongoing battle with anxiety.
Understanding My Anxiety Disorder
I live with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a condition that causes me to worry excessively about a wide range of things, from social interactions to the uncertainties of the future. I often find myself trapped in cycles of negative thoughts, obsessing over potential adverse outcomes of my actions. This persistent fear has, unfortunately, prevented me from pursuing numerous opportunities that could have enriched my life.
Anxiety has been a constant companion for over thirty years. As a child, I was withdrawn and fearful of my peers. In high school, the thought of attending prom filled me with such dread of embarrassment that I avoided it entirely. Even my passion for writing has been hampered by the fear of negative reception and criticism.
For years, I constructed an emotional shell around myself, a refuge from the overwhelming world. However, in my mid-thirties, I realized that this protective shell had become a prison. Desperate for liberation, I sought help from a therapist.
Therapy illuminated the extent to which anxiety had dictated my life. I had been living in a state of constant fear, much like Chris Griffin’s fear of the Evil Monkey for the first seven seasons of Family Guy. Yet, unlike Chris, who eventually confronted and captured his tormentor, I had yet to directly address my anxiety. I realized I needed to emulate Chris’s confrontation, to face my anxiety head-on and learn to manage its grip on my life.
Before delving into this confrontation, I want to explore the specific parallels between my Generalized Anxiety Disorder and the Family Guy Evil Monkey.
The Unseen Nature of Anxiety and the Evil Monkey
In Family Guy, Chris is almost exclusively the only one who sees the Evil Monkey for much of the series’ run. When Chris attempts to tell his parents about the menacing creature in his closet, they dismiss his claims or laugh at him.
The Griffin family laughing at Chris, illustrating their disbelief in the Evil Monkey's existence and mirroring the often unseen nature of anxiety.
While my family has always been supportive and never ridiculed my struggles, they often struggled to understand the constant fear that plagued me. Mental illnesses like Generalized Anxiety Disorder are not visible in the same way physical ailments are. My family couldn’t perceive the internal turmoil of my anxiety, much like the Griffins couldn’t see the Evil Monkey that terrorized Chris.
While most of the Griffin family remains oblivious to the Evil Monkey until season eight, Peter Griffin has an earlier encounter in the season five premiere, “Stewie Loves Lois” (2006). In this episode, Peter, in a state of distress, runs to his room and unexpectedly encounters the Evil Monkey outside Chris’s bedroom.
Peter Griffin's surprised encounter with the Evil Monkey in Family Guy, highlighting the rare acknowledgment of the creature by other family members.
Peter misidentifies the Evil Monkey as his daughter Meg, highlighting a distorted perception. Unlike Chris, who frequently sees the primate, Peter’s encounter is triggered by his heightened emotional state. Furthermore, his interpretation of the monkey differs significantly from Chris’s fearful perception.
None of my family members experience anxiety disorders, leading them to typically feel anxious only in overtly stressful situations. This made it challenging for them to grasp my seemingly unfounded and pervasive fear. Living with Generalized Anxiety Disorder means that fear and sadness can arise unexpectedly, regardless of external circumstances.
The Unpredictability of Anxiety and the Evil Monkey’s Appearances
The Evil Monkey’s primary domain is within or near Chris’s bedroom. However, it has been known to materialize in other areas of the Griffin household. In the episode “Dammit Janet” (2000), Chris is startled by the Evil Monkey glaring at him from the staircase while in the living room.
The Evil Monkey appearing on the staircase in Family Guy, emphasizing the unexpected and intrusive nature of both the character and anxiety.
The Evil Monkey’s random appearances disrupt Chris’s daily life at home. Similarly, my anxiety can surge unexpectedly even during mundane activities in my apartment, like doing laundry or relaxing with Netflix. Quiet moments at home, intended for peace, often allow my mind to wander, and with wandering comes the increased likelihood of encountering anxious thoughts.
While encountering the Evil Monkey at home is a recurring theme for Chris, he has also witnessed it, or its variations, in completely unexpected locations.
In “Breaking Out is Hard to Do” (2005), Lois is incarcerated for shoplifting. Following Peter’s impulsive prison break, the Griffins flee to Asiantown. Chris, hoping for respite from the Evil Monkey, is dismayed to find a stereotypically Asian manifestation of the creature.
The Asian Evil Monkey in Family Guy, depicting anxiety's ability to manifest in different contexts and unexpected environments.
Chris’s expectation of safety away from home is shattered by this encounter. Similarly, I have experienced anxiety even during activities and in places meant for enjoyment and relaxation. Whether dancing at a club or reading poolside, the familiar feeling of fear can unexpectedly emerge. My anxiety frequently interferes with my ability to relax and enjoy myself, no matter the setting.
The pervasive and unpredictable nature of anxiety, its ability to strike anywhere at any time, has often led me to seek ways to numb its intensity.
Temporary Relief and the Evil Monkey’s Coping Mechanisms
At the start of “Model Misbehavior” (2005), as the Griffins are driving to Lois’s parents’ house, Chris notices the Evil Monkey perched on his bedroom window sill.
As soon as the car departs, the monkey exhales with relief and jumps onto Chris’s bed. He puts on headphones, plays Foghat’s “Slow Ride,” and rolls a joint.
When I seek to unwind, music is also my preferred method, often choosing upbeat or calming songs.
While the Evil Monkey opts for marijuana, I sometimes turn to a few beers to relax. Though occasional drinks are fine, I recognize that alcohol is never a healthy long-term coping strategy for anxiety. Using alcohol to suppress anxiety invariably leads to a rebound effect, intensifying anxiety once the initial buzz fades. Excessive alcohol consumption can send my anxiety into overdrive.
I have limited experience with marijuana, using it sparingly to manage severe anxiety. I have used it to avert panic attacks and CBD oil to navigate particularly challenging days. Both proved more effective than alcohol in providing temporary relief. However, like alcohol, the calming effects were fleeting, and my anxiety returned with its full force.
I also experimented with Zoloft, a prescribed medication for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. While it did offer some relief, it also left me feeling emotionally numb and detached, almost like a zombie. Similar to marijuana, the medication dulled my anxiety temporarily, but its effects were transient, and I discontinued its use.
I would never judge anyone for using marijuana, CBD, or prescribed medications to manage anxiety. If someone finds a treatment that works for them, they are entitled to use it.
However, for me, these substances and medications felt like temporary reprieves, merely putting my anxiety into a temporary slumber. The underlying anxiety remained, dormant but not resolved. Just as the Evil Monkey, after his brief moment of relaxation, reverts to his usual menacing behavior, my anxiety would always return.
After years of exploring these temporary solutions, I realized the need for a more direct approach. I needed to confront my anxiety, just as Chris eventually confronted the Evil Monkey after years of fear.
Confronting Anxiety: Revealing Its True Nature
In the season eight episode “Hannah Banana” (2009), Chris devises a trap to prove the Evil Monkey’s existence. Upon capturing the creature, he presents it to his disbelieving family in the living room. Their shock and, finally, belief, validate Chris’s long-held claims.
The Griffin family's shocked reaction to the captured Evil Monkey in Family Guy, symbolizing the moment of acknowledgement and understanding of anxiety.
I couldn’t physically capture my anxiety and display it to my family. Instead, I chose to articulate my anxious thought patterns in writing, allowing them to witness the inner workings of my anxiety. One such example was:
You can’t publish your writing. No one will like it. What if you publish something and everyone hates it? What if you become a pariah because your writing is so universally despised? What if people harass you online or even in person because they hate you so much?
Through sharing these written expressions of my anxiety, my family gained a deeper understanding of how my anxiety disorder operates within my mind. They began to comprehend how it distorts my perception and makes me anticipate the worst in various situations.
In “Hannah Banana,” the Griffins uncover the most crucial revelation about the Evil Monkey: it is not inherently evil. Once captured, the “Evil Monkey” requests to be untied to explain himself. After being freed by Peter, he recounts his backstory.
The Monkey had a fulfilling life until he discovered his wife’s infidelity. The ensuing divorce led to depression, job loss, and homelessness. He sought refuge in Chris’s closet as he attempted to rebuild his life.
Peter, Lois, and Meg empathize with the Monkey’s plight, while Chris remains apprehensive. The Monkey clarifies that his intention was never to frighten Chris. His “scary pointing” was merely an awkward attempt to initiate conversation, his “evil stare” was his thinking expression, and his “weird shaking” was a symptom of a copper deficiency.
Initially, Chris rejects the Monkey’s explanation. However, when the Monkey assists Chris in achieving an “A” on a book report, Chris’s years of fear dissipate. He learns to coexist peacefully and even develops a friendly bond with his former tormentor.
Chris Griffin befriending the Evil Monkey in Family Guy, symbolizing the possibility of making peace with and managing anxiety.
While my relationship with my anxiety disorder will likely never reach a buddy-buddy status, I am learning to make peace with it by understanding its true nature. Just as the “Evil Monkey” was never malicious and had no intention to harm Chris, my anxiety is not a malevolent force bent on destroying me. It is a collection of irrational thoughts and fears that can be managed and tamed through constructive coping strategies.
Four Strategies for Taming My “Evil Monkey” Anxiety
1. Therapy
Therapy provides a safe and structured environment to process my anxiety. By discussing my fears and concerns with my therapist, I gain perspective and realize that my anxieties are often disproportionate to reality.
2. Journaling
Writing down my racing thoughts in a journal helps me to recognize their irrationality. Journaling enables me to analyze and rationalize my worries, thereby diminishing their power.
3. Grounding Techniques
My anxiety often pulls me into dwelling on the past or fearing the future. Grounding techniques, like verbally stating the current date, help anchor me in the present moment. I have successfully averted panic attacks by focusing on sensory details, such as counting colors or spelling words on signs.
4. Yoga
Yoga practice requires focused attention on poses, which keeps me present. Yoga also promotes controlled breathing. Deep, mindful breathing helps to soothe anxiety, allowing it to recede into a calmer state.
Conclusion
In the Family Guy episode “Hannah Banana”, the “Evil Monkey,” having resolved his situation, decides to move on. He packs his suitcase and leaves Chris’s closet for good.
The Evil Monkey leaving Chris's closet with a suitcase in Family Guy, representing the hope for overcoming anxiety, even if it's a continuous journey.
I once wished for my Generalized Anxiety Disorder to vanish completely. However, even if it never fully disappears, I now understand that a fulfilling and happy life is possible by employing positive coping mechanisms to manage it.
I am making progress in managing my anxiety, but the journey is ongoing. My hope is that one day, when I metaphorically open my mind’s closet, I will no longer find my “Evil Monkey” creating chaos. Instead, I envision a neat and organized space. Even if my “Evil Monkey” never truly leaves, perhaps he will learn to sit quietly in a corner, no longer disrupting my peace.
Image Sources
Family Guy screenshots from Hulu, Fox Broadcasting Company, and Fuzzy Door Productions.
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Michelle Faler
Michelle “Shell” Faler is a freelance writer, mental health advocate, and pop culture expert. She created Spring from My Shell to help destigmatize mental illness. When Shell’s not writing, she’s watching hilariously bad movies or exploring the weird side of YouTube. She lives in Northern Illinois where she spends as much time with her family as possible.
