Personality disorders are a category of mental health conditions characterized by unhealthy or rigid patterns of thinking and behaving. Individuals with personality disorders struggle to perceive and relate to people and situations correctly. Personality disorders can lead to severe limitations in daily functioning and frequently cause problems in school, work, social situations, and relationships. Harmony Hills offers many mental health treatment programs, including those that treatment various personality disorders.

If you or a loved one has a personality disorder such as histrionic personality disorder (HPD), we can help you learn the tools you need to take back control of your life. To learn more about the options for personality disorder treatment in Florida, contact Harmony Hills today at 855.494.0357.

Histrionic Personality Disorder Treatment

For diagnostic purposes, personality disorders are broken into three clusters based upon common characteristics. Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) falls under Cluster B, characterized by erratic or dramatic behaviors. “Histrionic” means overly theatrical or melodramatic. Individuals with histrionic personality disorder have:

• Intense, unstable emotions
• Distorted self-image
• Overwhelming desire to be noticed
• Dramatic or inappropriate behavior
• Self-esteem tied to approval from others

HPD usually presents in adolescence or early adulthood, and it is more prevalent in women than men. HPD is often difficult to treat in large part because those with the disorder usually do not believe they need treatment. These individuals like to exaggerate their feelings and often dislike routines which also contributes to treatment difficulties. Usually, individuals with HPD seek treatment only when their behavior leads to depression or anxiety. Psychotherapy, medications, or a combination of the two are the most effective treatments. Effective treatment for HPD can include:

• Education about histrionic personality disorder
• Changing maladaptive ways of thinking and behaving
• Social and emotional skills training
• Education and support for family members
• Improving interpersonal, communication, and coping skills
• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Providing insight into the internal nature of problems

Because individuals with HPD demonstrate attention-seeking behaviors and the desire to exaggerate feelings can be triggered or worsened when they feel they have an audience, group and family therapy is not recommended. Additionally, residential treatment is recommended for personality disorders such as HPD because the structure, routine, and supervision allow maladaptive behaviors to be mitigated and corrected in real-time. Residential treatment also will enable clients to become totally immersed in the therapeutic process without the distractions of everyday life.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder

The exact cause of histrionic personality disorder is unknown. However, mental health professionals agree that it is likely a combination of inherited traits and learned behaviors. HPD tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic component. That said, it is also possible that children of parents who have HPD may just be repeating learned behaviors. Additionally, children who are not disciplined, receive inappropriate reinforcement for behavior, or have unpredictable attention from parents are at higher risk of developing personality disorders.

In most cases, individuals with histrionic personality disorder possess good social skills but manipulate people and situations to be the center of attention. A person with HPD might also:

• Dress provocatively and display inappropriate sexual or flirtatious behavior
• Be overly concerned with physical appearance
• Make impulsive and rash decisions
• Be extremely sensitive to criticism or disapproval
• Constantly seek attention, approval, and reassurance
• Be self-centered and show little concern for others
• Be gullible and easily influenced by others

As a result of these and other personality characteristics, those with HPD struggle to maintain healthy relationships. They are perceived as being shallow and insincere. Because they have a low tolerance for frustration and quickly become bored with routines, they also struggle in school or at work.

Call Harmony Hills for Histrionic Personality Disorder Treatment

If you have histrionic personality disorder, live with someone who does, or have a relationship with someone who does, life can feel chaotic and overwhelming. In a Florida personality disorder treatment center, you can receive education about HPD that provides insight into your thoughts and behaviors. The treatment team at Harmony Hills can provide the tools needed to overcome HPD and live a happy, healthy, fulfilling life. Call us at 855.494.0357 to learn more.