Does Dani from Midsommar have BPD? (+3 Possible diagnoses)

In this info-rich article, we will be discussing if Dani Midsommar has BPD. We will also be explaining the various mental health issues that Dani from Midsommar might actually be suffering from.

Does Dani from Midsommar have BPD?

No, Dani from ‘Midsommar’ does not have BPD. In the movie ‘Midsommar’ in which Dani appears as the main character, it is never properly confirmed that she has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder.

In the first few scenes of the movie, it comes to light that Dani’s sister suffers from Bipolar Disorder and is thinking of killing herself. She actually goes ahead and kills herself and her parents after filling the house with Carbon Monoxide.

This portrayal of Bipolar Disorder in ‘Midsommar’ was actually widely condemned by both viewers who have watched the movie and even those who are suffering from the mental health disorder themselves, as the movie contributed to the existing stigma around the mood disorder.

While Dani’s sister Terri is confirmed to have Bipolar Disorder, Dani’s own mental health status is not exactly confirmed by the movie. Still, Dani seems to be taking some medication, which can be seen after she reads her sister’s email.

The medication that she uses is ‘Ativan’ which is basically recommended for those who are suffering from anxiety attacks and are having trouble falling asleep. Therefore, it is mostly assumed that Dani has anxiety.

In the course of the movie, Dani can also be seen experiencing a panic attack. This panic attack is seen when Dani sees her boyfriend having sex with a younger girl from the cult they are introduced to.

Her panic attack is eventually calmed down by the other women in the cult who mimic her actions and her behaviors, leading her to a calm state after effective catharsis. Apart from this issue, Dani does not portray many other symptoms of anxiety.

Another possible explanation for Dani’s mental health issue is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This can be concluded especially considering the fact that Dani has been through a very traumatic experience of losing her entire family very recently.

Dani also does not have many people to rely on after going through this trauma. Her main source of comfort and her confidante is her boyfriend Christian. At the same time, Christian is not exactly a strong source of comfort since he originally planned on breaking up with Dani.

Since she is not able to find a positive source of sympathy and empathy in Christian and even other friends, Dani eventually let herself be inducted into the Harga commune since the members there believe truly in bonding as a group.

Dani from Midsommar’s mental health issues

In the movie ‘Midsommar’, Dani can be clearly seen struggling with a number of mental health issues. At the same time, she is not exactly given a clear diagnosis in the movie. The only actual mental health diagnosis which is given is for Dani’s sister, Terri and her bipolar disorder.

Dani as a personality has been studied closely by many fans and psychology students, especially to give her a diagnosis. The most common mental health issues which have been associated with Dani are listed as follows:

Anxiety

Dani definitely struggles with Anxiety throughout the movie and even before her sister kills her parents and herself. This is also proved by the fact that Dani actually takes anti-anxiety medication in the form of Ativan.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

It is also pretty evident that Dani is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her family, especially since it was a murder-suicide. She effectively does not have time to grieve and nor does she have the right support around her to help her through the process.

Throughout the movie, Dani essentially struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She even gets a panic attack especially after seeing a flashback of her family, stimulated by her ingesting psychedelic mushrooms.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Another common assumption is that Dani from ‘Midsommar’ actually struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder. This is mainly because Dani can be seen very attached and dependent on her boyfriend, Christian.

However, this assumption is not exactly correct since Dani does not exactly portray the many other characteristic signs of Borderline Personality Disorder in the movie, ‘Midsommar’, such as reckless behavior, emotional swings and a distorted sense of self.

Conclusion

In this info-rich article, we have discussed if Dani Midsommar has BPD. We have also explained the various mental health issues that Dani from Midsommar might actually be suffering from, as portrayed in the movie.

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