Histrionic Personality Disorder Symptoms

Some people are meant to be the center of attention. And there are some that NEED to be the center of attention. Everybody wants to be noticed, but these tend to go overboard. They are willing to do anything to get attention. They laugh louder, dress up inappropriately, cry at the drop of a hat, all in that desperate need for attention. And if they don't get it, they throw tantrums, are upset and angry, and make life miserable for everyone around them. These antics are signs of a histrionic personality disorder. In this article, we examine the histrionic personality disorder, one of the many types of personality disorders that affect many people today.

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)
The word histrionics means a deliberate display of emotion for effect. So a histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is characterized by excessive dramatization and over emotional behavior pattern. People with HPD traits are lively, dramatic, sexually provocative, and desperately seeking attention and approval. They are judged to be shallow and egoistic in nature, and become bored very easily. They start projects with great enthusiasm, only to lose interest, if not satisfied quickly.

A very emotional person cannot be termed histrionic. Emotional people tend to emotionalize situations because they genuinely believe in that emotion and have no shame in displaying it. Histrionic personality disorder sufferers emotionalize situations to become the center of attention. The focus must be on them and they become depressed and upset if the focus wanes. They tend to magnify their own problems, to make it appear that they are surrounded by so many difficulties and are battling through them.

People with histrionic personality disorder symptoms are relationship destroyers. They cannot empathize or sympathize and do not like listening or adjusting to their partner's issues. They love to control their partners with seductive or emotional manipulation. If confronted, they feign an "I'm not attached" attitude, but actually they are highly dependent on their partners. They are commonly termed as "drama queens". In same-sex relationships, HPD sufferers never achieve emotional intimacy as they constantly demand attention and tend to ignore their friend's needs. Their provocative, sexual style makes them competitive with friends for romance. They are compulsive liars and are often accused of faking emotions.

Causes of Histrionic Personality Disorder
No official cause exists for HPD and psychiatrists have many theories as to its occurrence. Most professionals agree on biological and childhood events. One theory is that if a parent shows symptoms, his child has a risk of inheriting it, with a slight increase in the degree of histrionics. Mother-child interaction, deaths in the family and divorce are some factors which can contribute to HPD. The degree of approval and attention given to children by parents is often debated as a direct cause of HPD.

Symptoms of a Histrionic Personality Disorder
Typical histrionic personality disorder symptoms are:

• Has to be the center of attention
• Displays inappropriate sexual or provocative behavior
• Cannot tolerate criticism or disapproval
• Changes emotions and feelings rapidly, acts very shallow
• Cannot handle frustration or delays
• Taking risks and making rash decisions
• Obsesses on appearance and has exhibitionist behavior
• Being easily influenced by others
• Being extremely dramatic and emotional, like hugging someone they've just met
• Imagining relationships are more intimate than they actually are

The onset of histrionic personality disorder symptoms is early adulthood. It seems to occur more in women than men, mainly men with such symptoms are diagnosed as having a narcissistic personality disorder. It occurs about 2 to 3 percent in the general population.

Diagnosis of Histrionic Personality Disorder
A histrionic personality disorder test is carried out by observing a patient's:

1. Behavior
2. History
3. Overall appearance
4. Psychological evaluation

Even if a patient displays all possible symptoms, there is no formal test to confirm the diagnosis. Sometimes, a genuine HPD patient will not be diagnosed while a normal person will be wrongly diagnosed. For this reason, it is best to consult with a trained mental health expert like a psychologist or psychiatrist. Family doctors and general practitioners are ill-equipped to correctly diagnose this condition.

Treatment Options
HPD patients generally do not seek treatment. A part of their condition is that they feel their behavior is normal and they hate to follow a treatment plan. It has been noted that they seek treatment only when they experience depression or anxiety from failed relationships, romantic and otherwise. Treatment forms include long-term psychotherapy or talk-therapy, to help the patient understand his feelings and thoughts, and how destructive they are for his well-being as well as others. Group therapy is another measure that can help HPD patients cut down on their dramatic gestures. Meditation also helps in calming down the individual and urging focus on others needs. Medication is prescribed only with other disorders like depression. Family therapy is also used for HPD treatment, where family members reach out to the patient and assert themselves in the patient's eyes as having needs too.

People with histrionic personality disorder symptoms are prone to taking serious risks, and hence, are a danger to others and themselves. If ignored, HPD patients can turn depressive and suicidal. The lack of any intimate relationships can isolate them further. It takes therapy, understanding and patience to overcome this disorder. If someone you know or love shows HPD characteristics, encourage them to get professional help. If you think you suffer from HPD, seek mental health care, as this disorder can seriously disturb your well-being and that of others around you.