Firstly I am not a medical doctor. The following is for informational purposes only. It may serve as a starting point if you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed. It should not replace any professional advice you have received.

The reason I include such blogs is because of my own experiences regarding diagnosis in the past. I received a diagnosis about one of my children but no one told me what it meant or where to seek help. I felt like I was drowning and I don’t want anyone else to every experience that again.

What Is Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Histrionic personality disorder is part of a group of conditions called Cluster B or dramatic personality disorders (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) V). This group of personality disorders also includes antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder.

These disorders feature behaviour that are emotional, dramatic, erratic and have distorted self-images. People who suffer from histrionic personality disorder need other people to approve of them in order to raise their self-esteem. Their desire to be noticed leads them to behave dramatically or inappropriately to get attention.

Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder?

In many cases, this disorder is more common in women and is usually evident by adolescence or early adulthood. People with histrionic personality disorder have good social skills but they tend to use these skills to manipulate others in to giving them attention.

Other symptoms might also:

• Being uncomfortable unless they are the center of everyone’s attention
• Dress provocatively or inappropriately
• Behave inappropriately in situations e.g. use seduction or flirtatious behaviour
• Shift emotions rapidly
• Act very dramatically i.e. as if performing for an audience
• May appear to lack sincerity when interacting with another
• Preoccupied with their physical appearance
• Constantly seeking reassurance or approval from another
• Easily influenced
• Over-sensitive to criticism
• Easily frustration and bored
• May begin a project but doesn’t finish them
• Act before thinking
• Makes rash decisions
• Be self-centered
• Rarely shows concern for others
•  Difficulties in maintaining relationships
• Can threaten or attempt suicide to get attention
• Depression
• Anxiety
•  Other mental health conditions may develop
• They will have no clear boundaries
• Stress and stress related health issues may develop
• Social isolation will become a problem

What Causes Histrionic Personality Disorder?

The cause of histrionic personality disorder is unknown. But it is thought that it may be a learnt and/or inherited condition. There is a tendency for this condition to run in families but no gene has been identified as yet.

Other factors may include:

1. a lack of punishment as a child
2. reinforcement of behaviours which develop because the child only receives approval for certain types of behaviour
3. unpredictable attention from parents
4. how the child’s coping mechanisms developed in relation to stress.
5. All of these lead to confusion as to what type of behaviour is acceptable to earn parental approval.

Another factor may be the person’s temperament.

How Is HPD Diagnosed?

The person’s doctor will refer them to a psychiatrist for evaluation, after ruling out any medical problems. This evaluation will take into account a complete medical and psychiatric history of the person and their family.  The psychiatrists will run a complete series of tests before making a final diagnoses.

Complications that might arise from HPD include:

A person’s social, professional, or romantic relationships will be affected. How they handle loss or failure will also be affected and people with HPD have a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety and social isolation.

How Is HPD Treated?

People with histrionic personality disorder do not believe they need therapy. As they tend to exaggerate their feelings it makes treatment planning difficult but not impossible. They are more likely to seek help for depression or grief associated with a loss or a failed relationship.
Treatment will be tailored to the individual’s needs.

In general treatment will include:

1. Psychotherapy: To help the person uncover the fears and motivations behind their behaviour. Plus to learn how to relate in a more positive manner to other people.
2. Insight and cognitive-oriented approaches are generally ineffective and are generally avoided by therapist as the sole focus in therapy, they may be used to supplement instead.
3. People with HPD will usually only present when other factors become present and they are unable to cope. So they can also be treated for stress, stress related conditions, depression, Suicide threats and self-mutilation behaviour may also be present and should also be taken seriously, plus any other conditions as they are uncovered.
4. Family therapy may also be needed as HPD does affect people’s relationships. This may prove difficult due to the individual’s need to exaggerate their feelings, etc.
5. Medication might sometimes be used to treat other conditions such as depression and anxiety.

With treatment people with this disorder are able to go on to be able to function well socially and at work.

If you find yourself in any type of relationship with someone like this you will need support. Whether that is in work, as a parent, sibling or partner. It can be highly stressful to deal with someone who has a personality disorder. You may lose trust and confidence in yourself. It can be an emotional roller-coaster.  I would highly recommend you enter therapy immediately as this will begin your recovery process, aid you in building healthier boundaries and your trust in yourself again.

Work With Me.

Remember you are allowed to ask for support. No one is an island. If you need extra support then you can also work with me. We all struggle with stress and overwhelm from time to time. If you find this has become a problem for you and you’d like some support then schedule an appointment with me.