Does Lapis Lazuli from Steven Universe have BPD? (+3 Additional diagnoses)
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This interesting article will be answering if Lapis Lazuli has BPD, by looking at the various signs and symptoms of this personality disorder that she depicts in ‘Steven Universe.’ In addition to this, we will also be describing the various other mental health issues she might have.
Does Lapis Lazuli from Steven Universe have BPD?
Yes, Lapis Lazuli has BPD. Lapis Lazuli is a gem in the ‘Steven Universe’ series, who struggles with her identity and also her mental health. Many fans and critics who have studied the character and the series have felt that Lapis Lazuli definitely shows signs of BPD.
While this is not exactly confirmed by the creators of the series, and is not mentioned in the series openly, it is still assumed that Lapis Lazuli may have some undiagnosed mental health condition due to her negative actions and behaviors.
Many fans of the series have tried their best to pin a diagnosis on Lapis Lazuli, most of them concluding that she has BPD. A few characteristic signs and symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder that Lapis Lazuli shows in the series have been discussed in the following points.
She shows instability in relationships
Lapis Lazuli goes through many unstable interpersonal relationships in ‘Steven Universe’, mainly because she does not trust others and fears being abandoned. After her traumatic past, Lapis found it very difficult to create and maintain stable relationships with others.
Her instability in the relationship can be clearly seen in her approach to Peridot, with whom Lapis found very hard to connect. However, with Steven Universe, Lapis Lazuli felt free and encumbered and actually showed positive communication.
She has a distorted self-image
It is no wonder that Lapis Lazuli has a distorted self-image and a generally very poor self-image. After all those years being trapped in the mirror and forced to do things that she did not want to do in the first place has really messed with her self-esteem.
Lapis Lazuli has been trained to keep focusing on her negatives and continues to do this even after meeting Steven Universe. She knows that she is struggling as a new Crystal Gem, and does not decide to show herself mercy, but chooses to punish herself often.
Her self-talk is not only demeaning but even degrading, and perhaps the most negative out of all the Crystal Gems. She also does not realize that her actions from when she was enslaved were not hers alone but her captors, and constantly feels guilty about it.
She clearly has a fear of abandonment
Lapis Lazuli also has an extreme fear of abandonment and does not trust others easily. Her fear stems from the fact that she was left in the mirror for ages by ‘Homeworld.’ Later on, this is again repeated by the Crystal Gems who delayed her freedom.
Therefore, she does not trust others and fears being entrapped and abandoned again. Even after getting her freedom, Lapis still feels that the other Crystal Gems will abandon her and leave her enslaved.
She shows self-harming behaviors
Self-harming behaviors are quite common in Borderline Personality Disorder and can also be seen in Lapis Lazuli. However, these behaviors in Lapis are not exactly overt and clear to see. For example, she does not cut herself and try to kill herself.
Lapis’ self-harming behaviors are more inclined toward not allowing herself to be happy and even denying relationships and their comforts. She also shows self-harming by voluntarily staying in a relationship that is not exactly good for her.
Her mood swings are quite intense
Throughout the series, Lapis Lazuli shows intense mood swings and is actually very well known for this. Those close to her , including Steven Universe, are pretty aware of her mood swings and at many times these shifts in her moods often get in the way of her relationships with others.
She is prone to impulsive behavior
Lapis Lazuli is a very powerful gem and at many times uses her powers in a very impulsive and reckless manner. One instance is when Lapis Lazuli suddenly runs away from the barn to escape Diamond’s wraith.
She seems to dissociate at times
Dissociation from reality is again very common in Borderline Personality Disorder. Lapis Lazuli can be seen dissociating at many times, and this is denoted when her eyes become mirrors. She seems to go completely blank and does not pay attention to those around her.
She experiences chronic feelings of emptiness
Lapis Lazuli also has chronic feelings of emptiness and as a result she is often depressed and anxious. Among all the other Crystal Gems in Steven Universe, Lapis Lazuli is the one with the most traumatic past which often leads her to a depressed and self-doubting state.
Lapis Lazuli’s mental health disorders
Lapis Lazuli from Steven Universe is a pretty popular character, and has been often look up to for her struggles with mental health and emotional conflicts. While her actual mental health disorder has never been properly diagnosed or mentioned, fans assume that she has BPD.
However, apart from Borderline Personality Disorder, Lapis Lazuli also shows signs that she is struggling with a number of other issues. Some of the alternate mental health disorders, that fans and critics of Steven Universe have felt that she struggles with, are:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: It is highly possible that Lapis Lazuli has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. More specifically, Lapis Lazuli might have Complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since her traumatic experiences were multiple.
Lapis Lazuli was stuck in a mirror for ages, basically trapped to prevent her from regenerating. She took a long time to be freed, often being a spectator to other Crystal Gems and Steven Universe and their lives.
Steven Universe somehow managed to free her from the mirror and allow her to be herself at last. After she finds her freedom and friends among the Crystal Gems, Lapis Lazuli is still never able to let go of the fears of her past, which is characteristic of PTSD.
She often expresses a high level of fear that she will be entrapped in the mirror again or be trapped in something or the other. She constantly tries her best to stay away from commitments that she thinks are entrapments since she feels these are also prisons for her identity.
Lapis Lazuli is a trauma-survivor and was used to create havoc and destroy other lives. Even in her new lease of life, Lapis feels enormous amounts of guilt, often blaming herself for something she actually did not do on her own, which further fuels the theory that she has C-PTSD.
- Anxiety: Lapis Lazuli also shows that she is struggling with anxiety. Some fans and critics of the show thus feel that she might be struggling with some anxiety disorder or the other. Lapis Lazuli also goes through a number of panic attacks in the series.
- Depression: Another theory regarding Lapis Lazuli’s mental health status is that she might have Depression. She often isolates herself and views her and her life as something negative, which are classic signs of Depression.
The main reason for Lapis Lazuli’s depression is her traumatic past. Unfortunately, other than the true friendship of Steven Universe, Lapis never really gets any specific help for her issues, leaving her to struggle with her emotional distress for much longer than necessary.
Conclusion
This interesting article has answered if Lapis Lazuli has BPD, by looking at the various signs and symptoms of this personality disorder that she depicts in ‘Steven Universe.’ In addition to this, we have also described the various other mental health issues she might have.
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