Histrionic Personality Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Hysteria is generally classified as a mental illness that causes disturbances affecting the nature and form of a patient's emotional responses. It is thought to result from dysfunction in the nervous system responsible for sensation and movement. Through Tatmeen, we explain how this dysfunction can develop into a psychological disorder called histrionic personality disorder.

What is histrionic personality disorder?

It is a psychological disorder that drives a person to seek others' attention constantly and strive to become the center of every discussion or gathering they attend. A person with this disorder tends to think in an overly emotional way, prompting emotional responses to the situations they encounter. These reactions may reach the point of excessive emotionality. They may also exaggerate their descriptions of situations and the reactions of those around them.

Symptoms of histrionic personality disorder

1. Constantly seeking attention..
2. Being easily influenced by other people's opinions.
3. 
   
4. Focusing on physical appearance as a way to attract attention.
5. Displaying emotions excessively.
6. For example, the person may laugh conspicuously and theatrically at something trivial, or cry and scream loudly at a funeral without being affected to that degree by the loss. They may also dance conspicuously throughout a celebration to hold the guests' attention and display exaggerated happiness about the wedding without genuinely feeling that way.
7. Extreme sensitivity to criticism and interruption.
8. Their speech is superficial and lacks detail.
9. Feeling uncomfortable in situations where they are not the center of attention.
10. For example, a woman with this disorder may choose clothing and makeup that make it impossible for any man or woman to pass without noticing her. She may also create scandals involving herself on social media so that she remains the center of public discussion and people continue talking about her everywhere.
11. Low motivation and endurance, and becoming bored quickly.
12. This is accompanied by short-sightedness, a limited ability to look ahead and prepare for the future, and a failure to reflect on the past and benefit from its lessons.
13. A lack of patience and perseverance, and an inability to tolerate delayed results.
14. When faced with psychological pressure, crises, or frustration, the person noticeably seeks others' sympathy and attention.
15. Probing other people's feelings and interests and learning what impresses them.
16. The person also identifies what repels or angers others, observes it closely, and uses that knowledge to attract attention and gain the interest of as many people as possible. They go along with what viewers and listeners want, but in their own way and according to their own understanding.
17. Using seductive behavior toward the opposite sex.
18. If religious restraint is weak, this may include excessive adornment and coquettish speech and behavior. She may be among the women most sexually provocative to the opposite sex, yet at the same time experience sexual frigidity. Her husband may suspect that she is involved with someone else because of her intense interest in being provocative outside the home and her coldness within it.
19. Seeking happiness through other people's admiration and approval.
20. The person sees themselves as sociable, cheerful, and well-liked, believing that they agree with others, that others agree with them, and that they make others happy and earn their admiration.
21. Overlooking one's own faults, having little insight into them, or making no effort to correct them.
22. Spending money wastefully and scattering effort and energy to gain people's approval.
23. Being preoccupied with hollow, glittering appearances while overlooking the realities, hidden aspects, and essence of matters.



Treatment of histrionic personality disorder

The most common methods used to treat histrionic personality disorder are:

1. Psychotherapy.

In this context, psychotherapyis the most common and effective treatment for histrionic personality disorder. It aims to create a dialogue and discussion that enable the person to recognize their illness by examining their behavior and the true motives behind it. During these conversations, the therapist is responsible for guiding the patient away from devoting all their efforts to attracting attention and helping them understand appropriate ways to become closer to others and form healthy social relationships.

2. Medication.

Certain medications may be selected to treat symptoms of histrionic personality disorder or conditions that may accompany it, such as depression or anxiety, by prescribing medications that target them. These medications can reduce the severity of the disorder's symptoms.

If someone around us has been diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder or displays most of its symptoms, it is advisable to show them support and care. Avoid criticizing or trying to direct them, and instead focus on the positive aspects of their personality so that their negative feelings about themselves do not worsen.

Avoid engaging them in excessively logical discussions or arguments. Because they think emotionally, too much emphasis on logic may make them feel that you are being cold and do not care about their feelings.