Being the center of attention can prompt an array of emotions. Some people become nervous or embarrassed, while others enjoy the occasional opportunity to bask in the proverbial spotlight. In some extreme cases, though, a deep-seated need for the adulation of others can prompt people to engage in a variety of questionable attention-seeking behaviors.
When Is Attention Seeking Considered a Disorder?
Attention seeking can be annoying, off-putting, and offensive. But at what point does it cease being simply inappropriate behavior and become a symptom of a mental health condition?
Attention-seeking behaviors can be associated with several mental health disorders, including:
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Oppositional-defiant disorder
- Histrionic personality disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Narcissistic personality disorder.
In today’s post, we’re going to focus on just one of these conditions: histrionic personality disorder.
According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the difference between exhibiting various attention-seeking behaviors and having histrionic personality disorder is that the symptoms of the mental health condition are “inflexible, maladaptive, and persisting, [causing] significant functional impairment or subjective distress.”
Someone who only seems to seek attention in certain situations is unlikely to have histrionic personality disorder. For example, if they attempt to be the center of attention when with family or with a specific friend group – but they realize that doing the same thing at work could be disastrous – this awareness and flexibility would be inconsistent with a mental health diagnosis.
If, on the other hand, they show no ability to control their compulsion or modify their behaviors based on where they are or who they’re with, this could be a sign of a mental health condition.
Mental health disorders that involve attention seeking can be treated, but people who have these conditions are unlikely to seek care on their own. In cases like this, a loved one may need to convince the individual to consult with a mental health expert, as they may not realize that their behaviors are problematic.
Why Do People Seek Attention?
It would be impossible to list every reason why some people feel the need to seek attention, but the following are examples of some potential causes of this behavior:
- They have low self-esteem and need continuous praise and reassurance from others.
- They are jealous of someone else, so they attempt to divert all attention to themselves.
- They are lonely and feel like their only option is to call attention to themselves.
- They have unmet emotional needs that they are incapable of expressing in a healthier manner.
- They have suffered a great loss (such as a divorce or the death of a loved one) and are feeling disconnected or unmoored.
- They have a history of abuse, neglect, or other untreated trauma.
- They were raised in a dysfunctional environment.
- They have poor communication and/or socialization skills and thus find it difficult to engage with others in more appropriate ways.
- The have insufficient stress management skills, and use attention to distract themselves from their emotional distress.
- They have histrionic personality disorder or another mental health condition.
Signs of Histrionic Personality Disorder
The DSM-5 describes histrionic personality disorder as “a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking.”
It is categorized as a Cluster B disorder, along with antisocial, narcissistic, and borderline personality disorders.
To meet the criteria for a diagnosis of histrionic personality disorder as established in the DSM-5, a person must exhibit at least five of the following signs:
- Being uncomfortable when they are in situations where they’re not the center of attention
- Frequently engaging in inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behaviors when interacting with others
- Displaying a rapidly shifting, shallow series of emotions
- Consistently using their physical appearance to draw attention to themselves
- Employing a speech style that is excessively impressionistic and lacks detail
- Expressing emotions in a dramatic, theatrical, or exaggerated manner
- Being easily influenced by others
- Considering their relationships to be more intimate than is actually the case
Most people who have histrionic personality disorder begin to exhibit the signs and symptoms of this condition in late adolescence or early adulthood.
How to Treat Attention-Seeking Behavior
Treatment for attention-seeking behaviors can take many forms depending on a host of personal factors, such as:
- The person’s age and developmental level
- The underlying cause of their attention seeking
- If they have a history of trauma or other mental health concerns
- If they have developed an addition to alcohol or another drug
- How the person’s life has been affected by their behaviors
Once a treatment professional has reviewed these and other relevant factors, they may recommend one of the following levels of care:
- Inpatient treatment
- Partial hospitalization/day treatment
- Intensive outpatient programming
- Outpatient treatment
If a person’s attention seeking is related to anxiety, bipolar disorder, or certain other mental illnesses, they may receive prescription medication to ease their symptoms as well as therapy to help them make necessary behavioral changes.
There are currently no medications to treat histrionic personality disorder, but the following types of therapy may be beneficial for people who have this condition:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Clarification-oriented psychotherapy
If a person’s histrionic behaviors are related to untreated trauma, they may also benefit from eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
Histrionic personality disorder is a chronic condition. This means that a person is unlikely to ever be considered cured. However, with proper care and continued effort, they can learn to manage their symptoms and adopt healthier behavior patterns.
Contact Montare About Our Behavioral Health Treatment Center
If someone in your life has been exhibiting the symptoms of histrionic personality disorder or another mental health condition, Montare Behavioral Health is here to help.
We offer a full continuum of life-affirming care at multiple locations throughout Southern California. In every program at each of our treatment centers, your loved one can expect to receive customized services and close personal support from a team of skilled and compassionate professionals.
To learn more about us, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
