Symptoms Of Histrionic Personality Disorder: When Happiness Depends On The Attention Of Others
Do you know someone who tries too hard to get attention? Discover what symptoms and beliefs people with histrionic personality disorder usually have.
We have all met someone who always wants attention. However, there are people who simply cannot live without the attention of others, without their praise, compliments, etc. Therefore, their lives revolve around this aspect, becoming their main objective regardless of the effort and price that this entails. When the search for attention becomes the main objective, relationships with others become superficial and short-lived.
When these behaviors are excessive and persist over time, it may be an indication of histrionic personality disorder. If you want to know more about this disorder, its symptoms and the differences with others, do not hesitate to continue reading this article to find out.
He meaning of histrionic It comes from the word histrión, which basically means theater actor. Therefore, the histrionic personality It is mainly characterized by this theatricality and exaggerated emotionality with the aim of making others notice him or her. According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), he Histrionic personality disorder It is characterized by the presence of the following symptoms:
They feel uncomfortable when they are not the center of attention: They present intense discomfort in situations in which they are not the center of attention and when they are not, they try to invent stories, create situations, etc. to get it.
Their relationships are marked by seduction: When they establish relationships with others, they do not do so by really caring about the other, but rather they seek their approval through behavior. seductive either provocative which can sometimes be interpreted as inappropriate according to social norms. This type of behavior does not only occur when they feel sexually attracted to someone but occurs regardless of the type of social relationship. In this sense, they tend to conceive relationships as closer than they really are since attention is the only factor they consider relevant in social interactions.
They give a lot of importance to physical appearance: They tend to constantly use physical appearance to attract the attention of others, going so far as to spend large amounts of money on clothing or beauty treatments to obtain compliments from others.
They are influenced by others: By seeking constant approval and attention from the people around them, they are easily influenced by others since not being influential could jeopardize obtaining that attention. However, although they unbridledly seek the consideration of others and seem very dependent, the reality is that they tend to quickly tire of others. They constantly seek new experiences and although this may seem like a positive thing at first glance, the reality is that they fail to maintain stable relationships.
They are theatrical: They usually show exaggeratedly emotional, dramatized and theatrical behavior with the ultimate goal of not going unnoticed by others. When they talk, it seems that their lives are much more interesting than those of others since they are always exaggerating the amount of things that have happened to them. In fact, they often exaggerate situations to show themselves as victims and, in this way, gain attention.
They have superficial conversations: Their conversations revolve around the impressions of others, highlighting their strengths and ignoring other possible topics of conversation. For example, a person with this disorder may mention that a certain person is wonderful but cannot say why or specific examples that can support that statement.
They have ups and downs in mood: The expression of their emotions is usually very superficial and changes abruptly. A person with this disorder can, for example, go from crying uncontrollably to being happy in a matter of seconds. These emotions disappear so quickly that not even the person themselves is able to identify them.
People who have a personality disorder , regardless of which one, are characterized by presenting a series of dysfunctional beliefs that are usually very stable over time and difficult to modify. The histrionic personality , therefore, is characterized by a series of thoughts about oneself, the world and others that determines the way they act and relate to others. Examples of these thoughts are:
‘I can’t be happy if others don’t pay attention to me’
‘If I can’t impress others I have failed’
‘If I don’t attract attention I won’t be liked’
‘It’s totally terrifying that people don’t listen to me’
‘If I distract others and entertain them, they won’t notice my flaws’
‘I must always be the center of attention’
‘People will only pay attention to me if I act exaggerated’
People with this personality disorder They often see themselves as charming and impressive. They conceive themselves as great, but this exaggerated self-esteem is only superficial since they really avoid knowing themselves at all costs in order to avoid those thoughts that may indicate the real dependence they have on others. Although they are capable of detecting the needs of others in order to obtain their approval, they are totally incapable of deepening relationships for fear of losing the superficiality that characterizes them.
What are the main differences with other disorders?
Given the lack of empathy, dependence on others, attention seeking, and feelings of grandiosity, the histrionic disorder It can be commonly confused with other disorders, such as:
Bipolar disorder: He Bipolar disorder It is also characterized by the presence of ups and downs in mood, which is why bipolar disorder is sometimes confused with bipolar disorder. histrionic personality However, in the case of histrionic disorder these fluctuations are not as intense, that is, there is not as drastic a mood change as in the case of bipolar disorder.
Narcissistic personality disorder: Disorder narcissistic Personality is also characterized by seeking attention, however, people who have a narcissistic personality disorder do so to be flattered for their superiority. On the other hand, people with histrionic personality disorder can alternate roles, giving a fragile and dependent image so that others pay attention to them.
Dependent personality disorder: Although people with a dependent disorder also need constant attention from others, they do not exhibit theatrical or exaggerated behavior.
Borderline personality disorder: People who have borderline personality disorder (BPD) are also characterized by the need to avoid the helplessness of others at all costs. However, BPD also stands out for the presence of self-destructive behaviors such as, for example, suicide attempts, self-harm, etc. that histrionic personality disorder does not present.
Antisocial personality disorder: People with antisocial disorder, like histrionic disorder, are also characterized by deception and lack of empathy in order to obtain something in return. However, antisocial disorder involves aggressive behaviors, failure to comply with social norms, etc. that most of the time they end up engaging in criminal behavior.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: This disorder also stands out for the presence of few deep relationships. However, the reason is basically because they spend so much time at work that they have little time for social relationships. Furthermore, people who have histrionic personality disorder often have an inability to engage in complex intellectual tasks since they are too focused on the outside and this leads them to have attention difficulties.
If you know someone who has the symptoms mentioned above or you identify with the above, do not hesitate to contact a professional so they can offer you the care and guidance you need.
