Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder - A Compulsive Desire For Attention

Introduction To My Blog Series: Living Successfully With Borderline Personality Disorder & Histrionic Personality Disorder

I was 27 years old when I entered into the realization that there was something wrong with me and one of the original diagnosis was Borderline Personality Disorder, BPD.

I say something wrong with me because I was just not able to manage my life on my own and somehow knew there was something wrong with my mind.

Back then, not a lot was known about this horribly stigmatized disorder because BPD patients were considered impossible to treat or wrongly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.

Along with BPD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS) were also added to my diagnostic mix.

ADHD was quickly debunked and over the past two decades most professionals leaned towards my having PTSD or a Dissociative Disorder – but something about these disorders never seemed to fit.

Add menopause to the mix and the confusion became even more confusing.

Anxiety

Here are past blogs I’ve written about my struggles with anxiety and what felt like PTSD or DDNOS:

My Struggles With Alcoholism

Present Day

On February 9th, 2022, I had a thorough psychological assessment by a seasoned psychiatrist. At long last, at 52 years old, I was finally properly diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder.

This blog series called Owning and Unraveling Borderline Personality Disorder & Histrionic Personality Disorder is my way of processing and understanding these complex personality disorders and how they manifest, interfere with and enhance my life.

Perhaps, as it has been said to me from friends who have family members with Borderline Personality Disorder, I can help dispel misconceptions and stigmas associated with these mental illnesses.

And hopefully I can shed some light and more personal information on what living with Histrionic Personality Disorder is like as I review each symptom and diagnostic criteria and how they show up (past or present) in my life.

With hope,

Stephanie, 🩵🌻

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria For Histrionic Personality Disorder

According to Theravive :

DSM-5 Category: Personality Disorder

Diagnosis Criteria For: Histrionic Personality Disorder Symptoms:

Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder include the following:

Shallow, changeable emotions
Assumed intimacy with others
Hypersensitivity to criticism
Manipulative behavior
Disproportionate emotional reactions
Sexually provocative behavior
A compulsive desire for attention
Preoccupation with appearance
Suggestible and easily influenced

Diagnosis Criteria For: Histrionic Personality Disorder:

In order to make a diagnosis of histrionic personality disorder, a psychological examination is necessary, along with a general evaluation of the patient’s behavior and overall appearance.

There is no set test to determine whether someone has histrionic personality disorder. Previously, a number of pointers were specified in an earlier edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in order to help clinicians make a diagnosis3).

At least five of the following traits needed to be recorded for a diagnosis to be indicated:

A compulsion to be the center of attention that results in discomfort if unmet
Inappropriate sexual, seductive or provocative behavior when interacting with others
Shallow, rapidly shifting emotions
The use of physical appearance to draw others’ attention
Dramatic, impressionistic speech that lacks detail
Exaggerated, theatrical emotional expression
Easily influenced by others or situations
Assumes relationships are more intimate than they are

A Compulsive Desire For Attention

One Yellow Daisy in a Field of White Daisies

While growing up, I have select memories of being told by those around me that (as a result of my behaviour) I was looking for attention.

As an adult, I still struggle with a compulsive desire for attention.

I struggle to feel second to someone.

I have this compulsive need for approval, that what I am doing is the right way and that I am the best at it.

I want to be noticed for what I am doing, and a big deal made out of it.

I want to shine like a superstar.

I imagine winning awards with everyone telling me how great and wonderful I am.

There is no “I” in team – because I want to be the best.

I internally process this compulsive desire for attention – especially in the workplace and in social situations.

I internally compete with the women around me. Wanting to be the prettiest, best dressed, most in shape, and so on.

Women are my biggest threat for attention.

I do not attend a lot of social situations, however I do attend 12-Step Meetings.

I am acutely aware of my desire to be the centre of attention during these meetings – the one with the best message during the meeting. The need to be the prettiest and the best.

I become aware of my thinking, and strive for humility. I can even share my desire to be the centre of attention during the meetings, and get honest about it – because we work a program of honesty, and recognizing character defects.

I have no idea if my internal processing of this compulsive desire for attention is apparent to those I work with.

Maybe it is?

Just the thought of that humiliates me.

But, I am not pushing people out of the way to openly be the centre of attention.

I recognize when these thoughts of wanting to the superstar happen.

Sometimes I struggle.

Other times, I once again strive for humility, instead.

The Other Side Is Humility

I want the best for myself and everyone around me.

I want to encourage and learn from others.

I want to laugh and have fun with people.

I want to shift from one yellow daisy in a field of white daisies – to a field of yellow daisies – where everyone shines.

S, 🌻

Everyone is a Yellow Daisy - Shining in the Sun — Everyone is a Yellow Daisy – Shining in the Sun

Quick Links To The Blogs In This Series Living Successfully With BPD & HPD:

Borderline Personality Disorder

Forget Everything I’ve Said – I’ve Borderline Personality Disorder & Histrionic Personality Disorder

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Introduction to Symptoms & Causes

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder & Histrionic Personality Disorder – Rambling Through Confusion Towards Clarity

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Bits On Biosocial Theory & Learning To Ride Out Intense Emotions Rather Than Focusing On Why I Am Having Them

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Strong Opinions & Identity Crisis

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Not PTSD – It’s Emotions – Borderline Style

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Empathic Abilities & Intentional Interventions

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Overlapping Symptoms & What Type Of & How BPD Am I?

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – DBT’s Mindful Breathing & Participating With Awareness – Grounding Words

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder & Histrionic Personality Disorder – The Stigma & Social Pariah Of Personality Disorders

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Is This Effective & Willing Hands Half Smile & The Middle Path

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Starting EMDR – Creating New Pathways To Calm

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – The Pros and Cons of Medical THC & CBD

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder & HistrionicPersonality Disorder – Amber Heard VS Johnny Depp

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Gratitude For A Wild & Crazy Life

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Anxious – Ambivalent (Preoccupied) Attachment Style & Fear of Abandonment

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Behind My Mona Lisa Smile – What BPD Feels Like For Me

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – The Hulk Uses Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – DBT Skills Need Time & Everyday Practice To Become A Part Of Me

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Coping With The Inner Critic

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Unstable & Fragile Identities

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Highlights Of DBT’s Mindfulness & Distress Tolerance Skills

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Highlights Of DBT’s Emotional Regulation Skills

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – My Ability To Self-Validate Grows When I Live In Alignment With My Values

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Highlights Of DBT’s Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills

Living With Borderline Personally Disorder – DBT – Skills Thermometer – A DBT Skills Anchor Chart

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Introduction & Symptoms & Diagnostic Criteria

Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Shallow, Changeable Emotions

Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Assumed Intimacy With Others

Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Hypersensitivity To Criticism

Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Manipulative Behaviour

Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Sexually Provocative Behaviour

Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – A Compulsive Desire For Attention

Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Preoccupation With Appearance

Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Suggestible & Easily Influenced

© Stephanie Wells – Joyful Stephanie – Living an Authentic Life – 2014-2026. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

2 Comments Add yours

Hazel says:

April 6, 2025 at 12:02 am

You’re amazing, Stephanie. I have a heart for all those who have mental illness. I always pray for them.

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1. joyfulstephanie says:
  
  April 6, 2025 at 9:40 am
  
  Thank you Hazel…. 💛
  
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