Does Azula from Avatar have BPD? (+5 Signs of issues)
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The current blogpost will be explaining if Azula has BPD. We will also be checking out the various signs and symptoms of mental health issues that Azula portrays in the series, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Does Azula from Avatar have BPD?
No, Azula does not have BPD. In the series Avatar: The Last Airbender, Azula does not portray many of the diagnostic signs and symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder. At the same time, she definitely shows many signs of some mental health issues and emotional struggles.
In the series, Azula is the crown princess of the Fire Nation who goes on a quest to bring back her brother Prince Zuko. She also wants to capture Aang who is assumed to be a threat to the Fire Nation.
In her quest and her journey, Azula portrays a number of negative and toxic traits which have made her the ideal subject of many mental health experts and even fans who are eager to label her with a mental health disorder.
There are many complications and limitations in the same, since Azula firstly lives in a different world where the DSM diagnostic criteria and prescribed treatment may not exactly work. Furthermore, she is also only 14 years old in the series, which may be too young for diagnosis.
However, this has not stopped many fans and viewers of the series to throw various mental health diagnoses at Azula. Some of the mental health diagnoses for Azula which have been assumed by arm-chair mental health experts and keen fans have been discussed below.
- Antisocial Personality Disorder: In looking at Azula’s actual personality and characteristics, some fans of the series Avatar believe that she actually has Antisocial Personality Disorder. She easily is prone to violence and is cruel to others.
Certain antisocial personality traits of Azula can also be seen when she was quite young. For instance, she tosses whole loaves of bread at some turtle-ducks. As she grows older, these antisocial elements and traits in her personality only become more profound.
Furthermore, Azula continuously lies and emotionally manipulates others to get people to do her will. She also shows a lot of recklessness and has very few true and trusted friends, which further fuel this theory.
In the Avatar series, Azula is too young to be classified under the diagnostic criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder. As a result, many people classify her signs and symptoms under Conduct Disorder instead.
- Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is another mental health diagnosis that has been thrown at Azula. Azula does portray a number of symptoms of psychosis but these become highly deep and profound after the war.
More specifically, it can be said that Azula suffers from Paranoid Schizophrenia. As a result of this, she is highly suspicious of others and their intentions. She also experiences a number of auditory and visual hallucinations where her mother speaks to her.
Azula further depicts a variety of delusions, such as delusions of persecution, delusions of control and even delusions of grandeur, which actually explain her violent behaviors and actions very well.
Another sign of schizophrenia or psychosis which is seen in Azula is that her mood and affect can be inappropriate at times. For instance, in situations where she is supposed to be fearful or even sad, Azula shows immense enjoyment.
- Schizoaffective Disorder: Some fans who have deeply studied Azula’s personality and character also believe that she may have Schizoaffective Disorder. This is mainly because of the rapid swings and shifts in her mood.
Apart from these mood swings, Azula also experiences a number of psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and even acting on her own delusions. These symptoms also fuel the theory that Azula might have Schizoaffective Disorder.
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Another alternate mental health diagnosis for Azula is that she might have Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This theory has been assumed as a result of the high levels of self-obsessions that Azula portrays.
Azula feels that she is definitely someone very important and someone who has to be feared and obeyed by all. Apart from this, she also lacks empathy and sympathy towards others, which also points to her narcissism.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is another alternate diagnosis when it comes to Azula. However, this is not easily accepted by most since Azula does not so overtly portray obsessions and compulsive rituals.
At the same time, in a closer look, Azula can be seen pretty obsessed with control and expects perfection from those around her, and even herself. At one instance, she gets frustrated as her hair does not stay in place.
Signs of Azula’s mental health issues
While it has not been confirmed as to what mental health disorder Azula suffers from during the Avatar: The Last Airbender series, the character certainly shows a number of signs which point to her mental health issues and emotional struggles.
In the graphic novel, The Promise, which basically takes place after Azula is defeated in the Avatar series, it is seen that the character is in a mental institution for some unknown illness. Some of the signs of Azula’s mental health issues in the Avatar series are as follows,
Azula is highly manipulative
Azula is definitely a very manipulative character. She easily tends to use others for her own desires and wishes without any regrets. It is with her manipulative powers that Azula is able to easily take charge of everyone in her group.
Her very strong manipulative skills also lead to very unstable and fragile relationships with others, since this negative aspect of hers easily takes over. Manipulative abilities and tactics also point to the presence of high levels of narcissism and psychopathy.
She does show sympathy or empathy
Azula also does not show sympathy or empathy in the Avatar series. She clearly does not care about the feelings of others and expects everyone to be strong and confident like her at all times. Lacking empathy is often a sign of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Her severe lack of sympathy can be seen when she tries to get Ty-Lee to join her group. For this, she sets a bunch of highly dangerous animals loose and also sets the safety net on fire without any remorse or regret about her actions.
She is quite narcissistic
Another important sign that Azula is certainly dealing with mental health issues is her narcissism. The character is clearly obsessed with herself and does not heed to anyone else’s advice or counsel.
She also seeks admiration from others all the time and expects everyone to pay attention to her. She further feels very insulted when she does not get the approval that she needs. In many ways, this fuels most of her activities and her rages with others.
She can be perfectionistic at times
At many instances during her appearances, Azula also shows a high level of perfectionism. This perfectionism is not only expected from herself but even those in her circle. This is almost teeters on an obsession for Azula.
She has psychotic symptoms
Furthermore, a number of psychotic symptoms can be seen in Azula, which has led people to assume that she definitely might have Schizophrenia or at least a Schizoaffective Disorder. Azula frequently has auditory hallucinations and visual hallucinations of her mother.
In addition to these psychotic symptoms, Azula also has many delusions of grandeur along with delusions of persecution. These paranoid ideations further fuel the theory that Azula is certainly dealing with a psychotic mental health disorder like Schizophrenia.
Conclusion
The current blogpost has explained if Azula has BPD. We have also checked out the various signs and symptoms of mental health issues that Azula portrays in the series, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
If you like this blogpost, please leave your comments and questions in the space below.
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