Bojack Horseman has (BPD) Borderline Personality Disorder (2023)

I decided to start this blog by looking at one of my favorite characters, Bojack Horseman. Although BoJack meets the criteria for other mental illnesses such asMajor depressive disordermiAlcoholism, I stand firm in a final diagnosis ofBorderline personality disorder🇧🇷 I will explain my decision using the evidence from the program and the summary diagnostic criteria of DSM-5, the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the US.

In its simplest definition, BPD is an emotional dysregulation problem, and while it may share similarities with bipolar disorder, they are not the same.It is estimated that BPD affects up to 5.9% of the population🇧🇷 Not only are their emotions much more intense than the average person, but the level of emotion is often out of proportion to the event. These emotions are so overwhelming that they can make the individual feel fearful and helpless, or cause erratic and dysfunctional behavior. Five or more of the following criteria may indicate a possible diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.

1. frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-destructive behavior covered in Criterion 5.

The fear of abandonment is often associated with an exaggerated sense of dependence on another individual. This can result in sabotaging other relationships, punishment in the form of retribution ("I'll leave you before you leave me" or "I'll cheat on you before you cheat on me"); fits of jealous rage, emotional withdrawal, and self-harm (including suicide attempts). The individual may even accuse the person of being unfaithful or of loving others in an unbalanced or inappropriate way.

This type of behavior is evident in the first season when BoJack makes Todd addicted to video games, so he must continue to trust BoJack. The sad part is that he has such low self-esteem that he believes the only way people will get him is through concerted efforts of control and manipulation. Deep down, people with BPD feel worthless. and alone.

In a vain effort to woo Diane, BoJack takes up her suggestion and helps Todd develop his rock opera. When BoJack realizes that Todd's inevitable success will lead him to move, BJ hires several people to help him hook Todd up with that video game that had already ruined his life. All because BoJack can't stand the thought of being alone, and the only way to make sure that doesn't happen is to make sure Todd's rock opera doesn't pan out. 🇧🇷you are posthuman[Reddit]

2. a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation

"Either you end up hurting someone, or they hurt you."

Relationships are incredibly difficult to deal with, even for the average person. For someone with BPD, a relationship can become a minefield of unhealed trauma.Setting healthy boundaries doesn't come naturally to many, but it's especially difficult for those with BPD.. From the start, BoJack's on-off relationship with Princess Carolyn illustrates his inability to open up or emotionally engage. She describes BoJack as a "self-pitying masochist". He knows in his heart that he and Princess Carolyn have always had a relationship of convenience, and the two bonded mainly out of fear of being alone.

"It's so sad that when you meet someone for who they are, it ruins them."

Bojack Horseman also begins a relationship with his publicist, Ana Spanakopita, which he describes as "complicated". Although they have sex and she controls almost every aspect of her life, BoJack knows almost nothing about her. When she refuses to divulge any information, BoJack decides to follow her to her house, a clear invasion of privacy. He thought he had something real with her, but he only projected her own feelings onto her at a time when he needed comfort. The core of their relationship is about control and power.

BoJack liked Charlotte because she was in a dark place. Charlotte was mentally and physically outside of the Los Angeles bubble. She needed to escape from the "tar pit". She was also someone from her past; a happier time. He had a genuine connection to Charlotte, but it was a long time ago, before he was famous, and he's held onto that ever since.

Wanda is one of the few people who remembers Bojack fondly. One of the main reasons he liked her was because she didn't know her bad traits. They break up after he threatens to suffocate autoerotically if she doesn't confess her love to him.

Diane and BoJack have a friendship framed by BoJack's jealousy and his intense disgust for Mr. Peanut Butter. They meet when he assigns Diane to write the biography of her as a ghost. Since it is her job to meet the real BoJack, he quickly develops strong feelings for her. From the beginning of the first season, we know that BoJack has a crush on her, as hinted at by Princess Carolyn and Mr. Peanut Butter on multiple occasions.

BoJack also has a corrupt relationship with his mother and his former best friend, Herb.

3. identity disorder: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

Who are you? Most people are familiar with identity disorders, having experienced at least one of them, usually during adolescence. People with borderline personality disorder experience identity disturbances mineedso that people like and approve.

BoJack is constantly insecure about his own abilities, personality traits, and moral compass. In the first episode of the show, when he "finds out" that Princess Carolyn has other clients, he asks her, "What other clients? Are they more talented than me?"Your self-esteem fluctuates between inflated and non-existent.Since BoJack doesn't know how to validate himself, he seeks external validation from others to reaffirm his identity.

In Season 2 Episode 2, BoJack decides that adopting an optimistic attitude will change his life. The problems with BoJack's identity stem from his obsession with watching old episodes of Horsin' Around. When he agrees to let Sarah Lynn move in with him in the same episode, he does so under the misconception that it will make him feel less alone and solve his problems, like it does in Horsin' Around. He spends the episode behaving like he's in an episode of Horsin' Around, including a complete change in demeanor. Todd explains that this isn't a TV show, this is real life, but BoJack refuses to see past his delusions.

More horse than man, or more man than horse?

At the end of season 3, BoJack watches a herd of horses running across the open plains. This brings us to the starting point of the final theme, whose lyrics say:

so long ago

I don't think it will last

i think i'll try

and make you understand

I am more horse than man

Or am I more man than horse?

This can be interpreted in two ways. The former suggests that BoJack must choose between being a man and a coward, as horses naturally run away from perceived danger. At one point, BoJack even confesses, "I've been running my whole life." He is reaching a crossroads where he must decide whether to keep running from his problems or face them head on.

The interpretation I subscribe to is a little more literal. Rather than a metaphor for cowardice, BoJack wonders if his unhappiness stems from living the life of a man, rather than what comes naturally: being a horse. His crippling childhood never allowed him to internalize any ideas about worth and self-image, so he relies on more "measurable" external factors like talent, wealth, or relationships.

4. impulsiveness in at least two areas that are potentially self-defeating (eg, spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-destructive behavior covered in Criterion 5.

BoJack easily fits into all of the types of self-destructive behavior listed, as shown below. He is known for body modification, drug and alcohol abuse, reckless spending and driving, sexually inappropriate behavior, and binge eating.

Bills:We know right away that you are prone to throwing parties and spending a lot of money to make them a success..Even though he explicitly tells Todd that he won't buy a cotton candy machine (because he can't control himself around them), he buys one anyway.

Sexit is often used as a tool in BoJack's self-destruction. A good example of this is when BoJack has sex with Todd's girlfriend, a move that he knows would destroy Todd and effectively ruin his relationship with BoJack. Worse still, in “Escape From L.A.” BoJack almost sleeps with Charlotte's daughter, Penny, then seventeen. He thought that he might have a thing with Penny, but it was just a failed attempt to replicate what he previously had with Charlotte. even if he wishes to be better than that.

substance abuse(alcoholism) is clear in the first episode of the show, but is reinforced several times. After Diane gets engaged to Mr. Peanut Butter, Bojack goes on a two-week binge, ending up on Princess Carolyn's front lawn.A “doubler” is the state of being bent for more than one day. It usually results in memory loss, money, weird tattoos, and other things you'll have a hard time explaining.The most obvious example of this is during Season 3 Episode 3 when BoJack and Sarah Lynn do a lot of drugs and try to make up.

reckless drivingit's just the backdrop for your downward spiral. They drink and drive, as well as take a variety of drugs.

BingeIs one of newly recognized eating disorders. Most of us have done this at least once or twice. However, it can become a serious problem when someone has recurring episodes of eating large amounts of food. This "binge" is often accompanied by feelings of shame and guilt or loss of control.

We are introduced to this behavior in the first episode of the show, when BoJack breaks up with Princess Carolyn and eats nine baskets of bread. Later, in the car, he asks Princess Carolyn if he thinks he looks chubby. a whole pizza

Food is often eaten too quickly, for stress-related reasons, and often to the point of discomfort or even pain. In the same episode, BoJack admits to being alone in a corner, eating cotton candy to the point of throwing up at Todd's latest party. (This goes back to the end of the episode, where he is shown doing the exact same thing.)

This behavior is repeated over and over again, such as in Season 2 Episode 2 when BoJack buys muffins just to prove a point and then eats them all on the way home. In the third season, he burps again after breaking intodianaand Mr. Peanut Butter. These bouts of gluttony can be seen as more failed attempts to deal with your inner turmoil, making you appear reckless and repulsive to others.

5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures or threats, or self-mutilating behavior

Having BPD often makes suicide seem like a good solution when it isn't. This suicidality can show up at different times, in different ways, and for drastically different reasons. For example, some may use suicide and/or self-harm as an "escape rope" from chronic overwhelming emotions, while others may threaten suicide and/or self-harm as a means to exert control or manipulate others.

"So if you don't mind, as long as you don't love me, I'll fall into that trap."

In season 2, episode 2, BoJack casually threatens to autoerotically suffocate himself in order to get Wanda to admit that she loves him. While it's hard to tell if BoJack was serious or not, this behavior is not uncommon among people with borderline personality disorder. Suicidal gestures and threats are often used as a way to exert control when a person feels powerless or overwhelmed with emotions. The desire for control is not necessarily malicious in nature. The person threatening or attempting the behavior almost always feels a genuine sense of despair.

6. Affective lability due to marked mood reactivity (eg, intense episodes of dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety that usually last a few hours and rarely more than a few days)

In the first episode, BoJack has what a doctor later describes as a "minor anxiety attack" when he catches himself thinking that maybe he's "just a loser". The panic attack is so bad that he ends up in the hospital. When Princess Carolyn suggests that BoJack call the ghostwriter because the book deal is stressing him out, he replies, "Do you want me to call that woman on the phone?" and he proceeds to have another anxiety attack.

7. Chronic feelings of emptiness

Imagine being filled with emptiness. Bored. All time. People with BPD feel an acute sense of nothing that diminishes their worth outside of relationships with others. This feeling can turn inward and result in self-hatred, panic attacks, self-harm, etc.

bojackdissociatequite regularly, cutting himself off almost completely from his surroundings and, at times, from his emotions. The opening of the show includes the bust of BoJack, superimposed on different scenes. His face is sad, his eyes empty and lifeless. He looks totally nonchalant and indifferent.

He is also shown having flashbacks during disassociation episodes, as noted by Diane in season 1 episode 2 when she questions him about his childhood. "You just sat here for five minutes in silence and then you said, 'No incident.'"

Mr. Peanut Butter:All I ever wanted was to be your friend. And you treat me like a big joke. Do you think I don't notice? Why don't you like me?

BoJack:Mister. Peanut butter.

Mr. Peanut Butter:Do not tell me.

BoJack:Because I'm jealous.

Mr. Peanut Butter:Oh. About what? Diana?

BoJack:No. Everything. Everything comes so easy for you.

Mr. Peanut Butter:Oh, and it doesn't work for you? You are a millionaire movie star with a girlfriend who loves you, acting in the movie of your dreams. What else do you want? What more could the universe owe you?

(Video) 9 Things About Borderline Personality Disorder You Need to Know

BoJack:I want to feel good about myself. The way you do it. And I do not know how. I do not know if I can. Sorry, Mr. Peanut Butter. I can't tell you how sorry I am.

8. Intense and inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger (eg, frequent displays of short temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)

BoJack experiences intense anger in ways big and small. Small events like a missing potato chip among your regular potato chips are enough to set you off or get repeated calls from an unknown number.

Other limit behaviors:

overshare is the act of revealing personal information ahead of time. This behavior can occur for several reasons. First of all, it can be used as a "test". If the person responds without judgment, they have passed, assuring Borderline that it is safe to meet with them. Other reasons for this behavior include too few boundaries, a desire for instant intimacy, impulsiveness, and a compulsion to confess "sins."

In the second episode of Season 1, after meeting Diane at the party, he confesses to her that he uses horse tranquilizers recreationally and only takes a little to help him sleep at night, and much, much more. to spend the day. When Diane reads this to him in an email, he is visibly embarrassed.

"You ruined me, Bojack".A childhood of chronic invalidation, neglect and abuse

Borderline personality disorder develops due to a combination of genetic predisposition and life experiences (naturemiwatch out). Still, most people who experience trauma, chronic invalidation, and neglect usually do not develop borderline personality disorder. However, most people with borderline personality disorder had childhoods filled with chronic invalidation.

emotional invalidationIt is when a person's thoughts and feelings are rejected, ignored, or judged. Children who are regularly invalidated by their parents learn to mistrust their emotions, a precursor to BPD. Despite the chronic invalidation and abuse revealed by Bojack's memoirs, he describes his childhood as "normal" ("Bojack Hates Troops"). This is because BoJack, like many people in the real world, doesn't realize what constitutes abuse, especially from his parents.

When he gives his father a Father's Day card, his father criticizes him for taking the easy way out and not going all out. He also slaps him hard across the face when he replies "wrong". This type of abuse continues, such as when his father made him build his own tree house before tearing it down. His mother is equally abusive in different ways, using gaslighting and other methods.

BoJack begins to show signs of depression in early childhood. In "Yesterdayland," he sends a letter to a TV show that says:

I am a good boy and I like to play, I like to go to school, but sometimes I am sad. What do you use to do when you are sad? How are you not sad?

His parents walk in while BoJack is watching TV and fight within earshot, yelling loudly and breaking plates. His mother soon enters the room, irritated and critical. She explains to her son that before he was born she was beautiful. She tells him for him to make up for all the damage she's done, that he better grow up to be something big. This plants the seeds of BoJack's deep need for perfectionism.

In "Stop the Presses", BoJack states that he doesn't want to talk to anyone, he just wants to control his own life. Many people with BPD don't get the help they deserve due to a lack of awareness or stigma surrounding mental health issues. Bojack Horseman is one of them. Don't be like Bojack Horseman. If you identify with some or most of these listed criteria, have your head checked by a real professional.