How to Deal With Someone Who Is Histrionic

Histrionic personality disorder is diagnosed when a person displays an enduring pattern of attention-seeking and extremely dramatic behaviors. These behaviors begin in early adulthood and can be pervasive, or occur in every aspect of their lives. Coping with a family member, significant other or co-worker with histrionic personality disorder can be difficult. They may dress and act provocatively, shift emotions quickly, seek approval from others, be easily influenced and be sensitive to criticism. They also may see relationships as more intimate than they are.

Instructions

• 1

  Respond calmly to the dramatic behavior exhibited by a person with HPD. This matter-of-fact response helps to minimize attention-seeking behavior by not rewarding the person with more attention. If the person is angry, avoid engaging in an argument that will likely be unproductive. If the person is very excited about something, and is talking loudly and telling everyone who will listen, acknowledge his excitement, but do not ask probing questions or encourage the person to participate in something unrealistic or this will only exacerbate the behavior.

• 2

  Breathe deeply and slowly when your own feelings about the person's behavior makes you feel as if you might lash out. Concentrating on your breathing will allow you the time to think before you speak: Speaking in anger or frustration may lead to more problems and more dramatic behavior due to the person's hurt feelings. People with HPD are typically sensitive to criticism and may respond by yelling and screaming at you or crying and exhibiting other devastated-seeming behavior.

• 3

  Stand or sit at least 3 feet from the person and speak only when necessary, particularly if this is not an intimate or familial relationship. As people with HPD have problems identifying proper boundaries and social cues, they may see sitting in close proximity or saying "Hello" as flirtatious behavior. Adversely, they may identify this behavior as threatening or malicious. Minimizing interactions and maintaining formal conversation and behavior may prevent misunderstandings about interactions.

• 4

  Tell the person gently if her attire is sexually inappropriate for a setting such as work, school or church. To minimize the likelihood of a dramatic response, choose your words carefully, to avoid criticism. "You are so friendly and helpful with the customers, but I think some customers feel uncomfortable with the amount of skin you show. You might get more sales if you dress conservatively." Trying to focus on a strength may prevent hurt feelings.

• 5

  Observe suicidal statements and behaviors carefully. Suicidal gestures at times of extreme disorder may result in the person holding a knife to his wrist or threatening to overdose on medication. Call 911 immediately if the person is endangering herself with this type of behavior. However, if a person makes dramatic statements about killing himself, but does not actually seem sad or depressed and does not indicate a specific plan for suicide, calling the authorities may not be necessary; instead, careful observation of the individual would be adequate.