Something I touched on in my last posted fic is that- I think Yesod's physical self-harm is focused on because it's easy to see? It's shown.
The mental/emotional side is something that takes more effort and reading comprehension, because he doesn't point out what's going on in the same way. But once Ayin in the flashbacks describes what Gabriel went through, thats when things that have already happened can be recontextualised.
"He slowly became expressionless. He wouldn’t allow himself to have even a paltry joy."
So - the way that he pushes people away after James dies because he was lax with the rules (echoing Elijah) and warns the Manager to not make connections, so that he isn't hurt. The way he says he doesn't care what happens to Netzach when he's in danger of being caught drugged up.
It shows him - as Gabriel had in the past - not allowing himself to enjoy anything, or get close to anyone.
It's just - it's easy to see that he's still at risk of backsliding with one, because he outright says to Roland that sometimes he's tempted to. But the urge to withdraw from everyone and be cold?
Yes, he says that he's "allowing himself to feel" but how easy must it be to just keep to one's own self on their own Floor? To hide his emotions behind "proper behaviour"? To hide how much he wants to be part of something silly and fun, because he's still held back by old thought habits?
There's a lot of potential there.
