Do you exhibit overly attention-seeking behavior and a desperate desire to be in the spotlight? Do you tend to be overly dramatic and love to exaggerate when telling something just to gain approval? Do you perceive everything as solely about yourself and consider yourself the most emotional person among your acquaintances? Does your need for attention go far beyond the simple need to be seen and heard?
If you answered affirmatively to some or all of the questions mentioned above, and such behavior reaches extremes, it is possible that you have what is called “histrionic (theatrical) personality disorder.” This condition is described in the DSM-V, a manual that psychiatrists use for diagnosing disorders. Histrionic personality disorder falls under the “Cluster B” disorders, where emotional regulation and impulse control are the most problematic areas. Other disorders in the “Cluster B” include borderline and narcissistic personality disorders.
Signs of histrionic personality disorder include:
- Feeling uncomfortable when not in the center of attention.
- Often behaving inappropriately when interacting with others, being sexually seductive or provocative.
- Frequently expressing emotions superficially and sometimes shifting rapidly from one topic to another.
- Consistently using physical appearance to draw attention.
- Having vague and impressionistic speech that lacks detail, making you appear insincere and capricious.
- Being excessively dramatic, theatrical, and displaying exaggerated emotional expressions. Your reactions may seem disproportionate to the circumstances, which can make others uncomfortable.
- Being easily influenced by others or circumstances.
- Tending to view relationships as more intimate than they actually are.
To receive a diagnosis, individuals with histrionic personality disorder must exhibit at least five of these traits consistently for a certain period. There should also be a significant impairment in how they see themselves or how they function in interpersonal relationships—such as struggling in intimate relationships and friendships due to their constant need for attention.
While histrionics are often seen as the “drama queens,” they can struggle with being alone. This struggle can sometimes lead to depression, prompting them to seek help from a mental health professional. Long-term psychotherapy is recommended for individuals who recognize these traits in themselves and find that their symptoms make their life and relationships unmanageable. Psychotherapy can help histrionics understand recurring patterns in their lives, identify alternative ways to satisfy their needs, and adapt their behavior to be less off-putting to others.
