TF!AJ has BPD and here's why I think so:
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, I'm simply an autistic person with a special interest in psychology, planning to go into psychology for my career, and has experiences being close with people dealing with these conditions. This is also just a headcanon, if you disagree (without reason) or come to tell me people with BPD are evil or some bullshit, i will be ignoring you <3
With each criteria, I will provide examples for why I believe AJ fits it.
The DSM-5 Criteria for BPD can be found here, but for easier comprehension I will be putting them in layman's terms. For an individual to get diagnosed with BPD, they must meet at least 5 of the criteria.
Fear of abandonment (even if unlikely) and efforts to avoid it. AJ frequently keeps people at arms length, beating herself up when letting people get closer to her. She seemingly tries to avoid connection and cut ties with people so they can't leave her first. She was upset when Drift left without saying anything to her, and holds onto it.
Patterns of unstable and intense relationships where they may go between putting people on a pedestal or demonizing them. The entire lavender field incident with Drift. How quickly she turns on people who have wronged her to some degree. How she goes from friendly to despising Ghostie. Her beef with Zam just because she switched dorms.
Identity disturbance, this one is extremely difficult to explain, comprehend, or make conclusions on. Even within professional circles, there's debate on what people consider this criteria. So I'm going to skip it :3
Impulsivity in areas that can majorly effect your life or harm you. AJ's disordered eating habits, sleeping around, and putting herself in harms way in the crypt. Her drinking and smoking habits, getting into fights to see how people react, and criminal behavior.
Suicidal behavior. Once again, disordered eating, getting into fights, trying to get herself killed, extreme substance abuse.
Inconsistently upset and unstable moods, usually lasting a few hours. I mean... need I say more?
Chronic feelings of emptiness. I'd say the way she treats herself says she's trying to feel something, wouldn't you?
Anger issues. Her frequent outbursts, whether it be to someone who wasn't trying to upset her or someone who was egging her on. How often she gets into fights and holds grudges.
Stress related paranoia or dissociation. I guess this one can be pretty easily explained by the situations she's in. My brain is fried by this point, so if you guys have examples for me, comment them and I can add them in.
So.... thoughts?? I feel like she matches 5 or more of the criteria pretty well, and with her relationship history and past (that we know of) it makes sense.
