Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a mental health condition that affects behavior, emotions, and relationships. An individual’s symptoms can feel uncomfortable and negatively interfere with many facets of one’s life. Knowing it can be challenging to cope with the effects of HPD, it can be helpful for one to learn to recognize the warning signs of their symptoms to better manage their mental health effectively.
Fortunately, working with a team of professionals, such as the staff at Wisconsin Wellness, can help individuals prepare and participate in therapy to help manage their condition. Combining self-help strategies with therapeutic techniques at Wisconsin Wellness can help one identify and treat their HPD for overall happiness and life satisfaction without needing constant reassurance.
What Is Histrionic Personality Disorder?
A wide body of research indicates that HPD is a chronic, long-lasting mental health condition that can be defined by one having a persistent pattern of pervasive attention-seeking behavior. An individual diagnosed with HPD may commonly display exaggerated emotions. The onset of HPD may emerge in an individual’s late adolescent or early adulthood years.
Those facing challenges with HPD can be described as self-indulgent, narcissistic, extroverted, dramatic, or highly flirtatious. Many individuals having problems coping with HPD often feel undervalued when they are not the focus of attention in the room. This can lead to engaging in alarming behavior to consistently fight to gain some sort of validation for reassurance. HPD is a life-long condition, yet most individuals with this psychiatric disorder are commonly treatment-resistant.
How Common Is HPD?
Although HPD is a serious psychiatric disorder, it is one of the least common personality disorders. As stated by the aforementioned study, research has estimated that approximately nine percent of the U.S. population is affected by at least one personality disorder. The prevalence of HPD ranges from 0.4% to 0.6%. Studies have found that the highest rate of those affected by HPD includes 1.8% of the general population. Research has highlighted that female HPD diagnosis is about four times higher than males with the mental illness.
How Does One Know if They Have HPD?
The emotional and dramatized presentation of certain behavior is commonly done to draw attention to oneself for various reasons due to HPD. Although there is no known cause of HPD, an individual’s upbringing or genetic makeup may play a wide role in the development of the mental health condition. Clinical professors have determined that males may be underdiagnosed.
Knowing HPD is a less common mental illness also means there is less awareness of the condition. Thus, it can be difficult for an individual to detect their symptoms and gain proper management. Certain symptoms may present in an individual’s late teens to early 20’s. Such individuals diagnosed with HPD generally function at a high level. For example, many individuals with HPD display impressive work performance with great interpersonal skills but still struggle to function in many different aspects of their lives. Although HPD symptoms can be different for everyone, common warning signs and symptoms of this disorder include:
- Being easily influenced by other individuals
- Acting or looking overly seductive
- Blaming disappointment or failure on other individuals
- Being overly concerned with their physical appearance
- Constantly seeking approval and overall reassurance
- Being overly sensitive to disapproval, criticism, or rejection
- Feeling overly emotional or dramatic
- Believing that certain relationships are more intimate than they are
- Experiencing a low tolerance for frustration or delayed gratification
- Quickly changing emotions that may seem shallow to other individuals
- Having the urge to be the center of attention
How Does Untreated HPD Affect an Individual’s Lifestyle?
Although many individuals with HPD may obtain good interpersonal skills, they may be exaggerated. Therefore negatively impacting relationships. Those with HPD may experience poor social and romantic relationships with others. This may often leave one with this disorder feeling left out. The effects of their condition may cause difficulty coping with specific losses or failures to maintain healthy connections with other individuals.
Failures and losses can lead to an increased risk of developing co-occurring mental health complications such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. As a result, many individuals with HPD may frequently change jobs due to the inability to manage their frustrations, preserve co-worker relations, or cope with excessive boredom. Some individuals with this disorder commonly crave new and exciting opportunities. This can often backfire and, unfortunately, lead to risky situations, events, and behavior.
Understanding the Link Between Addiction and Mental Illness
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there is a strong link between addiction and mental illness. Substance use disorders (SUDs) also co-occur at a high prevalence with psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and certain personality disorders. A dual diagnosis is where one is experiencing problems with two different conditions. Managing two conditions or more can also be even more challenging to treat. Recent data analysis from a decent nationally representative study pronounced that those experiencing problems with personality, mental, and SUDs were at an elevated risk for recreational opioid abuse.
The Link Between Histrionic Personality Disorder and Substance Use Disorder
It is common for those with HPD to misuse harmful substances such as drugs and alcohol in hopes of coping or masking their mental health condition. SUD can interfere with many different areas of one’s life, such as academic success, professional performance, and relationships with peers and loved ones. Although misusing drugs and alcohol may provide temporary relief, substance use can worsen the individual’s state of health and often lead to SUD. Therefore, abstaining from illicit or prescription misuse is advised.
Early life drug exposure and drug use puts one at risk for developing SUD down the road. Substance use does not cause HPD, but it can be a strong risk factor for developing the condition in the future. With continuous usage, an individual may fail to know how to engage in a social setting without depending on harmful substances to cope.
Understanding the onset of HPD typically occurs in late adolescent or young adult years around the age of 20, SUD is a common complication as society typically normalizes recreational substance use. It can be difficult for such individuals with HPD to respond to peer pressure, but understanding the risks involved may help one maintain abstinence from substance abuse.
Self-Help Strategies to Effectively Cope With Histrionic Personality Disorder Without Substance Abuse
It can be tough for an individual having issues with HPD to remain calm, personal, and content in social settings. Although this may be true for a majority of those experiencing issues with HPD, fortunately, incorporating new self-help strategies into one’s routine can help one effectively cope. Practicing new strategies may also help one with HPD maintain healthy relationships on a day-to-day basis to gain subjective well-being.
Those experiencing problems with HPD often feel uncomfortable when they do not receive attention from others in a social environment. This can result in extreme or volatile emotional reactions. It can be helpful for one with this disorder to do some research on their condition to learn more about how the effects of their condition. Other tips to help manage HPD include:
- Learning to recognize what triggers their extreme behavior
- Maintaining and setting certain boundaries
- Attempting to communicate with others in a calm manner
- Taking breaks as needed in social settings
- Challenge attention-seeking behaviors
- Staying honest and kind yet informative with others
- Leverage support networks
- Involving family to aid in management
Why Are Some Individuals With Personality Disorders Treatment-Resistent?
Although emotional support from family and friends can be helpful and following different strategies can be beneficial, some individuals with HPD require further assistance. It can be challenging for one with this disorder to surrender to professional care. This can be due to a wide number of factors.
Some individuals facing challenges with their mental health may find it difficult to separate from family and friends. Leaving loved ones behind for treatment can increase feelings of guilt and shame, further worsening depressive and anxiety symptoms. Some individuals with HPD may be reluctant to make life changes as treatment changes and behaviors can potentially alter their path ahead. It can seem unsettling to not know the end result. Some individuals with personality disorders do not believe they need emotional or professional support or fear failure.
It is common for those facing challenges with their mental health to find it difficult to recognize their inappropriate or odd behavior. Therefore, they may not see any reason to get help. Those with personality disorders may also find it extremely challenging to accept there is something wrong with them. Others may not care to fix their behavior as they may lack empathy for others. Some individuals experiencing problems with their mental health simply do not want to discuss the root cause of their condition. Oftentimes, their past can be a sensitive topic to converse about. Thus, those with HPD may strictly avoid treatment altogether.
Benefits of Pursuing Professional Mental Health Treatment
It can be tough for one to hear how their behaviors affect their surroundings. The thought of knowing one may have a mental illness can also feel unsettling. Many individuals with HPD already fear judgment from others and only want others to view them in a positive way. However, surrendering to mental health treatment can change life for the better.
Light encouragement from family and friends can help one with HPD understand the benefits of professional support to effectively transition into mental health treatment. Transitioning into mental health treatment can feel like an overwhelming process. Discussing the pros and cons of treatment can also help one with HPD make the wisest decision to move forward with professional care. Benefits that can come from receiving psychotherapy for this disorder include:
- Improved ability to make and maintain relationships with family and friends
- Reduced depression or anxiety related to HPD
- Decreased probability of co-occurring health complications
- Developed coping mechanisms
- Ongoing assistance for long-term recovery
- Effective relapse prevention
- Stress management related to the effects of HPD
- Enhanced trauma recovery
- Greater insight and increased self-awareness
- Holistic care for a natural approach
- Increased productivity for continuous success
How Can Therapy Help Individuals With HPD Identify Their Condition?
Knowing that unaddressed HPD can impair emotion regulation, behaviors, and relationships, working with a team of professionals can be highly beneficial to an individual’s recovery. It can be helpful for one to take time to research local treatment centers to find an appropriate mental health care facility that suits their needs. Choosing a leading outpatient mental health practice, such as the staff at Wisconsin Wellness, can help individuals with HPD prepare and participate in therapy that will help manage their symptoms. Their team understands that confidentiality is important. Each specialist works closely with their clients to tailor their services to the individual’s specific needs for enhanced care.
Although taking some prescription medications can be helpful, talk therapy alone can sometimes be the best treatment option for the condition itself. Outpatient therapy can be a convenient option for those who are seeking more flexibility for less disruption in their life. For example, outpatient dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be a cost-effective option for managing HPD. This type of therapy helps one with HPD work on gaining acceptance and positive change for ongoing personal growth. Consistent participation in DBT can help one gain a better quality of life.
What to Expect at Wisconsin Wellness
Wisconsin Wellness includes both individual and group DBT for personalized attention and support. Our mental health treatment program also includes family education to inform individuals’ families of their loved one’s condition and further promote additional support and care for sustained treatment. It can be helpful for one to work closely with a trained specialist to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Doing so may enhance an individual’s potential to gain long-term mental stability.
DBT at Wisconsin Wellness includes four key elements: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Continuous participation can help an individual with HPD get integrated into daily life and maintain daily responsibilities without enduring further challenges. Wisconsin Wellness’s DBT approach includes a variety of techniques to assist one with HPD in gaining mental stability. Each technique provides a nonjudgmental stance for a more comfortable experience. Special therapy techniques include:
- TIPP Skills: Quickly changes body chemistry to reduce extreme emotions for one with HPD – Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing, and Progressive Muscle Relaxation
- DEAR MAN: Helps one with HPD ask for what they want and effectively respond to certain requests – Describe, Express, Assert, Reinforce, Mindful, Appear Confident, Negotiate
- GIVE: Provides certain skills to help one with HPD maintain relationships – Gentle, Interested, Validate, Easy manner
- FAST: Provides certain skills to help one with HPD maintain self-respect – Fairness, Apologies (few), Sticking to values, and the truth
The Importance of Incorporating New Skills Outside of Therapy to Identify and Treat HPD
Combining self-help strategies with the techniques learned in therapy can further enhance an individual’s treatment progress and contribute to gaining a better future. It can be helpful for one to journal their progress to better report any new symptoms or concerns to a chosen specialist. Doing so may assist an individual in gaining the most out of DBT.
Knowing that those with HPD can get bored easily, changing up coping strategies can help. With the support from Wisconsin Wellness staff members, an individual with HPD can effectively maintain strategic coping mechanisms. Everyone deserves to heal. Certain strategies learned within each DBT session that can help one with HPD maintain mental stability include but are not limited to:
- Engaging in the present moment to gain ongoing benefit
- Making observations for continuous self-awareness
- Focusing on one thing at a time during treatment and maintaining stability
- Engaging in enjoyable activities to decompress from distressing thoughts
- Using the five senses to soothe oneself for reduced stress
- Weighing the benefits of tolerating stress for increased motivation
- Practicing radical acceptance to fully accept reality for what it is and reduce the suffering caused by resistance
- Gaining emotion Regulation within each therapy session
- Naming emotions as they occur for mental stability
- Practicing self-care within each session and outside therapy to reduce feelings of vulnerability
- Developing effective solutions for conflict resolution and improved relationships
Wisconsin Wellness is an outpatient mental health practice designed to improve the lives of individuals, their families, and the community who are struggling with mental health challenges within Central Wisconsin from all walks of life. Everyone deserves to have their lives enhanced, improved, and catered to in their own way. Our team is dedicated to providing high-quality, personalized care to help individuals lead fulfilling lives. We understand that HPD can be challenging to treat. The goal of DBT is to alleviate the intense emotional pain associated with the manifestation of trauma and attachment wounding, including personality disorders. Call Wisconsin Wellness at (920) 404-2100 to gain professional support for histrionic personality disorder.