Thank goodness for WebMD. While this may not be a valid diagnosis, it does sound disturbingly familiar.
Histrionic personality disorder is a mental condition that is characterized by excessive emotional reactions, attention-seeking behavior, and personal drama. These features usually begin in early childhood.
A person with histrionic personality disorder likes to be the center of attention and is easily influenced by others. Suicidal threats or gestures, while common, are often used to seek attention rather than to succeed at suicide. Inappropriate sexual, seductive behavior is also common; so are shifting, shallow emotions and the perception that relationships are more intimate than they are in reality. Interpersonal relationships are unstable and unfulfilling. Marital affairs are common as the person with this disorder seeks excitement from new relationships rather than nurturing existing relationships.
People with this disorder are usually able to function at a high level and are successful socially and at work.
Medications are not very helpful in treating this disorder, but professional counseling might help reduce the intensity of symptoms.
Histrionic personality disorder commonly occurs with other mental disorders such as depression or borderline personality disorder.
Author Kerry V. Cooke
Author Amy Fackler, MA
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor Renée Spengler, RN, BSN
Primary Medical Reviewer Patrice Burgess, MD
- Family Medicine
Last Updated May 27, 2005
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated: May 27, 2005
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
@ 1995-2007, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Here is even more disturbing info from WebMD
People who are diagnosed with
borderline personality disorder have at least five of the following symptoms. They may:
Make frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
Have a pattern of difficult relationships caused by alternating between extremes of intense admiration and hatred of others. Have an unstable self-image or
be unsure of his or her own identity. Act impulsively in ways that are self-damaging, such as extravagant spending, frequent and unprotected sex with many partners, substance abuse, binge eating, or reckless driving.
Have recurring suicidal thoughts, make repeated suicide attempts, or cause self-injury through mutilation, such as cutting or burning himself or herself.
Have frequent emotional overreactions or intense mood swings, including feeling depressed, irritable, or anxious. These mood swings usually only last a few hours at a time; rarely, they may last than a day or two.
Have long-term feelings of emptiness.
Have inappropriate, fierce anger or problems controlling anger. The person may often display temper tantrums or get into physical fights. Have temporary episodes of feeling suspicious of others without reason (paranoia) or losing a sense of reality. [/list]
Not everyone who has five or more of these symptoms is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. For a person to be diagnosed with any personality disorder, the symptoms must be severe and must go on long enough to cause significant emotional distress or problems functioning in relationships or at work.
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See I'm new to community, but not to BPD My oldest daughter who is 14 was diagnosed with BPD last year and thats why i had suggested that maybe she was aswell, Since I had went back and read all the psot in this thread posted by people who have had dealing with her, Alot of the stuff that she has done seemed to be alot like the things I have watched my daughter deal with, extreem mood swings, among other things. I don't know you from a hole in the wall Jan, but I don't think it would hurt to go get checked out.
PMBD
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