Are you involved with someone who has to be the center of attention at all times? Someone who engages in overly dramatic, highly emotional, volatile, excitable, or erratic behavior? If so, your romantic partner, family member, or friend may have histrionic personality disorder. Although these people can seem like the life of the party, their behavior can be exhausting for anyone who loves them. How can you cope when a loved one has this mental health condition?
WHAT IS HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY DISORDER?
Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by extreme attention-seeking behavior and exaggerated emotions. The word
histrionic is defined as “dramatic or theatrical.” One of 10 types of
personality disorders recognized by mental health experts, histrionic personality disorder falls within the “Cluster B” category of personality disorders. Cluster B disorders also includes
narcissistic personality disorder,
borderline personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder.
People with histrionic personality disorder have a constant need to seek approval from others. They employ charm, seduction, manipulation, and flirtatiousness to draw attention to themselves. These larger-than-life types tend to get upset or feel depressed when they are overlooked or aren’t in the spotlight.
An estimated 2-3% of the population has histrionic personality disorder, and women are 4 times as likely to have the condition than men. However, experts suggest women may be over-diagnosed with the disorder while men may be under-diagnosed.
SYMPTOMS OF HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY DISORDER
There is a wide array of symptoms associated with histrionic personality disorder, including:
- Attention-seeking
- Approval-seeking
- Exaggerated emotions that can shift rapidly
- Overly dramatic
- Charming
- Manipulative
- Dressing provocatively or wearing colorful clothing
- Inappropriately flirtatious
- Excessively concerned about physical appearance
- Upset or depressed if not the center of attention
- Impulsivity
- Being gullible or easily influenced by others
- Sensitive to criticism
- Seeming shallow or insincere
These symptoms can interfere with daily life and cause trouble in relationships, at work, or in school. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can lead to other mental health problems, such as
depression,
anxiety, or
substance abuse. In some instances, people may even threaten or attempt
suicide to gain attention.
WHAT CAUSES HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY DISORDER?
It isn’t clear what causes histrionic personality disorder, but mental health experts suggest that several factors—both inherited and environmental—contribute to the condition. Among the factors believed to increase risk are having a genetic vulnerability, experiencing
childhood trauma, over-indulgent or inconsistent parenting, or having a parent who acts in an overly dramatic fashion.
HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY DISORDER AND THE BRAIN
Early
research on Cluster B personality disorders (histrionic, narcissistic, borderline, and antisocial) revealed significant neurocognitive impairment in these individuals in multi-step behavior planning. Newer research, including a
2021 functional brain imaging study in the
Journal of Neuroimaging, shows that each personality disorder is associated with unique patterns of activity in certain brain structures and neural networks. Abnormal activity within the limbic and paralimbic systems, sometimes referred to as the emotional centers of the brain, was noted in several personality disorders. Despite these findings, the authors of this study point to a need for more neuroimaging studies to explore the specific brain changes associated with conditions such as histrionic personality disorder.
DEALING WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY DISORDER
Individuals with this condition are ego-syntonic, which means they believe their behavior is normal, so they have a hard time admitting they have a problem. Because of this, it can be challenging to get these people to seek psychiatric treatment, which often centers on
psychotherapy. This leaves loved ones struggling to cope with their overly dramatic and emotional behavior. For this reason, it is often the spouse or other family members who go to psychotherapy to learn how to handle everyday life.
Some of the strategies that can help you cope with a loved one’s histrionic personality disorder include:
Get educated.
Learning as much as you can about histrionic personality disorder can help you understand why your partner or family member acts the way they do. This can help you avoid taking their dramatic antics personally.
Suggest couples therapy.
Although a person with histrionic personality disorder may not be aware that they have a problem, they may be willing to go to
marital therapy if they think it is intended to help you. Once in the safe space of a therapist’s office, you may be able to explore your loved one’s troubling behaviors.
Make time to shine.
When your loved one constantly steals the spotlight, it can leave you feeling underappreciated. Be sure to schedule time with friends or other family members—
without the person who has histrionic personality disorder—so you can step out of the background.
Set boundaries for children.
If you have kids, set boundaries to limit their exposure to the drama created by the parent with histrionic personality disorder.
Recognize if it’s time to move on.
When a loved one’s attention-seeking behaviors leave you so physically exhausted and emotionally depleted that it is disrupting your ability to parent your children, feel your best, or perform at work or school, it may be time to end the relationship.
Histrionic personality disorder and the anxiety, stress, and depression it can cause others can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
