Center of Attention
Introduction
Do you ever find yourself seeking control of social situations and wanting to be the center of attention? If you feel that this is a part of your personality that is taking away from a balanced self you can learn how to take control of this desire and turn it into something that is more contributive toward relationships.
Desiring to be the center of attention is also known as a Histrionic personality disorder. This consists of attention seeking behavior and extreme emotional reactions. Those who have this disorder often want to be the center of attention regardless of their environment. They might feel uncomfortable if they aren't getting all of the responses that they want in a social situation. Behavior can range anywhere from lively to rebellious or dramatic. The person affected might have a hard time being in an environment when the attention isn't focused exclusively on them. People who have this disorder are thought to be shallow, selfish and more prone to engaging in provocative behavior to gain attention.
How Center of Attention Becomes Unhealthy
It's common that this disorder causes people to have a difficult time being emotionally intimate in relationships. They may be unaware of this detachment and it can cause them to act out as the controller or the victim. The affected may seek control of their partner through emotional manipulation or seduction. This can cause some people to have impaired relationships and unreachable standards. Histrionic personality disorder makes it difficult to maintain friends because of an interpersonal style and obtrusive expression. Alienating others for attention might cause you to lose relationships which can lead to confusion and depressive feelings. If you find that you crave more stimulation and excitement it is also a symptom of this disorder. Many people won't seek out treatment because they are unaware of the behavior. If you find that this expression is interfering with your personal life and a modest personality you can work with a therapist who will help treat this problem on a deeper level. If there are reasons behind the behavior the counselor will work to identify them and teach you how to overcome fears or emotions so that you can manage social situations.
Center of Attention and External Relationships
Underneath this style there is conflict in forming healthy and lasting relationships. People who hold this perception are more likely to betray their loved ones. They might choose to hang out with friends and large groups instead of spending time with their partner or spouse. The behavior is often to gain both admiration and attention using explosive behavioral patterns. It cannot be predicted as to when the person will act out and do something dramatic toward others for attention. They are likely to exaggerate on stories, respond dramatically or create a scene in public. There are some with Histrionic personality disorder who may use others to build up their own validation and self-esteem. This type of behavior can lead them to feel disoriented in who they truly are. With this personality disorder people are more likely to chase others off if they feel threatened by their presence. It is necessary to become aware of these intentions so that healthy relationships can be formed. Without awareness it might be difficult to change reactions and reduce the want for attention. A counselor will help you understand how this is hurting external relationships and why it's important to eliminate the purpose behind expressions. By coming to recognize the want for validation the person affected can learn how to adopt a new rationality that is more consciences of others.
How Therapy Can Help
Treatment teaches you how to adopt a new function and cope with desires that may be stemming from an emotional conflict. Psychotherapy can be used to approach your personality and make you more aware of these exaggerations. The patients tend to feel high emotions and are unaware of behavioral subtleties. Therapy provides you with a supportive and safe environment where you can learn how to establish a new expression that is mutually fulfilling toward yourself and others.
If you are going through this disorder you may have a hard time seeing these unconscious motivations on your own. The counselor will help you identify with these and make healing the pain apart of the treatment plan. When you are able to examine your own interactions objectively and look at possible explanations, you will clarify some of the emotions that are causing you to act this way. Treatment allows you to learn and implement productive methods in dealing with social situations. You can learn how to engage with others safely and regain trust by changing the way that you seek validation. After learning more about empathy and how your actions affect the feelings of others, you'll feel more inclined toward eliminating the behavior and need for gratification.
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