BPD or Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Summary

This script discusses Histrionic Personality Disorder, a condition characterized by exaggerated emotions and attention-seeking behaviors. It may be reclassified or dropped from the DSM due to overlapping with other disorders like narcissistic and borderline personality disorders. The focus is on addressing the patterns of behavior, such as the need for attention and superficial emotions, rather than the specific diagnosis. The script also touches on the potential risks associated with this disorder, including financial irresponsibility and susceptibility to manipulation.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD), its characteristics, and its potential removal from the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
• 🌐 HPD is characterized by exaggerated emotions, superficial attention-seeking behavior, and a seductive pattern of interaction.
• 🔄 There is an ongoing conversation about the future of HPD in the DSM, with the possibility that it may be absorbed into other personality disorders like narcissistic or borderline.
• 🤝 Individuals with HPD may retain empathy, unlike those with other personality disorders, but their empathy is often conditional and used to meet their own needs.
• 🧩 The overlap between different personality disorders in the DSM means that the specific diagnosis name matters less than the patterns of behavior exhibited.
• 👩‍⚕️ Treatment for HPD, even if it's removed from the DSM, will still address the same symptoms, regardless of whether the diagnosis is narcissism or borderline personality disorder.
• 🎭 People with HPD can be theatrical, attention-seeking, and struggle with deep emotional discussions, often being the center of attention.
• 💸 HPD can lead to financial irresponsibility, such as spending money recklessly or making risky decisions without considering the consequences.
• 🚨 There is a risk of unhealthy behaviors, including potentially dangerous sexual decisions, due to the seductive nature of HPD.
• 🧙‍♂️ Individuals with HPD can be very suggestible, making them vulnerable to manipulation and grifters who exploit their desire for attention and belief in the extraordinary.
• 🎈 HPD can manifest as a childlike innocence and a desire for constant fun and excitement, which can lead to a lack of maturity in certain situations.
• 🌟 The need for attention in HPD is paramount, and individuals may seek it even when it's negative, as long as they remain the center of attention.

Q & A

What is Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Histrionic Personality Disorder is characterized by exaggerated emotions, superficial attention-seeking behavior, and a seductive pattern of being in the world.

Why might Histrionic Personality Disorder be dropped from the DSM in the future?

Histrionic Personality Disorder might be dropped from the DSM because its patterns often overlap with other personality disorders such as narcissistic and borderline, making it difficult to distinguish.

How does the behavior of someone with Histrionic Personality Disorder differ from that of someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

While both disorders involve attention-seeking, individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder may have preserved empathy, which is often focused on meeting their own needs, unlike those with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

What is the significance of the DSM in the field of psychiatry and psychology?

The DSM, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals for diagnosis and treatment.

Why is the name of a personality disorder less important than the patterns it represents?

The name of a personality disorder is less important because there is often overlapping in symptoms and behaviors. The focus should be on understanding and treating the patterns of behavior.

How can the patterns of Histrionic Personality Disorder manifest in a person's daily life?

Individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder may be theatrical, seek attention, have difficulty discussing their emotions deeply, and struggle when not being the center of attention.

What are some potential risks associated with the attention-seeking behavior of individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Risks can include financial irresponsibility, making impulsive and risky decisions, and engaging in potentially harmful sexual situations.

Why might someone with Histrionic Personality Disorder be susceptible to manipulation?

They may be suggestible and easily convinced due to their desire for attention and belief in mystical or magical things, making them vulnerable to grifters or manipulators.

How can the attention-seeking behavior of individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder impact their relationships?

Their need for constant attention and validation can lead to difficulties in maintaining deep and meaningful relationships, as they may not be able to meet others' emotional needs.

What is the role of therapy in treating individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Therapy can help individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder understand their need for attention, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and learn to manage their emotions in a more constructive way.

How can someone with Histrionic Personality Disorder be identified in a social setting?

They might be identified by their loud and theatrical behavior, desire to be the center of attention, and their reactions to being hushed or criticized, which may include becoming diva-like or continuing their attention-seeking behavior.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Histrionic Personality Disorder and Its DSM Future

The paragraph discusses the concept of Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD), characterized by exaggerated emotions and superficial attention-seeking behavior. It mentions the ongoing discussions within the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) regarding the classification and diagnosis of personality disorders, suggesting that HPD might be dropped due to its overlapping traits with other disorders such as narcissistic and borderline personality disorders. The speaker emphasizes that the actual diagnosis name matters less than the behavioral patterns exhibited, and that treatment will still address the symptoms regardless of the specific disorder label. The paragraph also touches on the potential for HPD individuals to have preserved empathy, but with a focus on getting their needs met through attention. It concludes with a reminder that personality disorders are complex and not as clear-cut as diagnosing medical illnesses.

05:01

🎭 Attention-Seeking Behaviors and Their Impact

This paragraph delves into the behaviors associated with Histrionic Personality Disorder, describing individuals as attention-seeking and theatrical, often to the point of being disruptive. It contrasts this with the desire for positive attention, using the analogy of a class clown who seeks attention even if it leads to negative consequences. The paragraph also highlights the potential for these individuals to be vulnerable to manipulation due to their suggestible nature and desire to believe in exciting or mystical things. Additionally, it touches on the financial risks and impulsive behaviors that can stem from a need for constant excitement and attention, as well as the potential for risky sexual decision-making. The speaker uses the term 'baby women' to describe those with HPD, suggesting an adult with childlike tendencies towards attention and impulsivity.

Keywords

💡Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder is a mental health condition characterized by excessive attention-seeking behavior, emotional superficiality, and a pattern of being seductive or theatrical. In the video, it's discussed as a condition that may be reclassified or dropped from the DSM, the psychiatric diagnostic manual, due to its overlapping traits with other personality disorders like narcissistic and borderline personality disorders.

💡DSM

The DSM, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals. It's mentioned in the script as the manual that is considering changes in how personality disorders are diagnosed, including potentially removing Histrionic Personality Disorder.

💡Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a condition where individuals have an inflated sense of self-importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. The script describes it as a disorder that might absorb the traits of Histrionic Personality Disorder in the DSM's future revisions.

💡Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by a pattern of unstable relationships, self-image, and emotions. The video script suggests that some traits of Histrionic Personality Disorder might be subsumed under this disorder in future psychiatric diagnoses.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. The script notes that individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder may have preserved empathy, but it is often used to meet their own needs for attention, rather than genuine concern for others.

💡Attention-Seeking

Attention-seeking behavior is a pattern where individuals crave and actively seek the attention of others. In the video, it's highlighted as a key feature of Histrionic Personality Disorder, where individuals may become the center of attention in various social situations.

💡Theatrical

Theatrical refers to behavior that is overly dramatic or exaggerated, often for effect. The script uses this term to describe how individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder may act in a way that is reminiscent of a stage performance to draw attention.

💡Validation

Validation is the act of confirming or approving something as accurate or genuine. The video discusses how individuals with certain personality disorders, including Histrionic Personality Disorder, crave validation and may act out to receive it.

💡Suggestibility

Suggestibility is the quality of being easily influenced or persuaded. The script mentions that individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder can be very suggestible, making them vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation.

💡Manipulation

Manipulation is the act of influencing someone to act or think in a desired way, often for one's own advantage. The video describes how individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder may manipulate others to ensure they continue to receive attention.

💡Risk-Taking

Risk-taking refers to engaging in actions with uncertain outcomes, often for potential rewards. The script suggests that individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder may exhibit risk-taking behaviors, such as making impulsive financial decisions or engaging in potentially dangerous situations for the thrill or attention.

Highlights

Introduction to Histrionic Personality Disorder as characterized by exaggerated emotions and superficial attention-seeking behavior.

Discussion on the potential removal of Histrionic Personality Disorder from the DSM due to overlapping symptoms with other disorders.

Comparison of Histrionic Personality Disorder with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, noting similarities in attention and validation seeking.

The possibility of Histrionic Personality Disorder individuals having preserved empathy, unlike those with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

The importance of focusing on behavioral patterns rather than diagnostic labels in treatment and therapy.

The challenge of distinguishing between overlapping personality disorder traits and the need for a nuanced approach to diagnosis.

The potential for individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder to be vulnerable to manipulation due to their suggestibility.

Behavioral tendencies of individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder, such as a preference for fun and excitement, often leading to risky financial decisions.

The association of Histrionic Personality Disorder with a childlike innocence and susceptibility to grifters.

The potential for individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder to manipulate others to maintain attention.

The metaphorical description of individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder as 'baby women', highlighting their desire for constant attention.

The necessity for individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder to receive positive attention and their reaction to negative feedback.

The potential for Histrionic Personality Disorder traits to be beneficial in certain contexts, such as in celebrity culture.

The importance of recognizing the unhealthy aspects of attention-seeking behavior and its impact on personal relationships and financial stability.

Advice for viewers to visit MedCircle.com for further information on personality disorders and mental health resources.

Encouragement for viewers to continue their mental health journey with the support of MedCircle's educational content.

Transcripts

[Music]

you can watch the best parts of this

series at Med Circle calm histrionic

Personality Disorder I had never heard

of that so again it's this very

exaggerated emotion superficial

attention seeking you know sort of

seductive sort of pattern of being in

the world there is conversation as they

think about move forward in the DSM on

how they're going to diagnose the DSM is

our diagnostic manual in psychiatry and

psychology as they think about moving

forward histrionic Personality Disorder

is one of the personality disorders that

they will likely drop as they move

forward because when you look at these

patterns they often get gobbled up in

other personality disordered patterns

like narcissistic even borderline even a

little bit even gobbled up so in other

words when you when you look at a person

who's narcissistic they need lots of

attention they crave validation they

tend to be very superficial in their

emotions in their moods they tend to

only focus on people when they need them

right that's all part of history onic

personality - it could be that a goodly

chunk of that is getting tossed into the

people with narcissistic personality the

difference is people with histrionic

Personality Disorder can have preserved

empathy not always not always but they

can the problem is their empathy is

often focused on it seems genuine but

it's often to get their needs met yes

they're very focused on you but it's

because they're getting attention for

giving someone attention so a person who

has histrionic Personality Disorder

whether it's been diagnosed or not if

that disorder gets removed from the DSM

and they go into treatment

they will still get those symptoms taken

care of if they're diagnosed with a

borderline or a narcissism or something

here's the real rub in this area of the

DSM of the personality disorders is that

they're not it's not like diagnosing

someone with a medical illness like

anemia or diabetes these are patterns

and there's a lot of overlapping so the

name matters less than the patterns so

if you have someone named

matters less than the pattern absolutely

I really want our med circle viewers to

understand that because we all and I'm

included we want to be put in a box yes

I want to go all right I have political

depression so here's what I might have

these trades over here from borderline

personality I might have a little bit of

whatever right over here and instead of

saying it's from borderline personality

or narcissistic or histrionic we might

say like this person is really

attention-seeking they're not able to

talk about their emotions in a deep

manner they struggle when they're not

the center of attention they're they're

very theatrical you know they are not

able to always meet people where they're

at emotionally like that's how we'd have

to think about it so if that's what came

into my office I might use the word

histrionic as a shorthand but ultimately

it would really be about highlighting

those patterns and saying why is the

attention so important to you this this

is good for the people who go to therapy

yes you want to make sure your therapist

is inclined to that not just not just

treating the diagnosis yes no these are

patterns so you don't need the diagnosis

who the pattern is the pattern and but

this this pattern a lot of people don't

realize that this is a pattern that can

actually be quite unhealthy because we

actually rewarded a lot you know we were

to out thats great look at you you're so

outlandish yay for you no there's no

harm in that there's no harm in being

you know wanting to gussy yourself up

and really sort of dress to the nines

and have people say ooh and AW over you

but to also be able to endure those

periods when people aren't doing and

eyeing realizing that other people can

be rude and odd over and that sometimes

you just need to listen and be with

someone and life isn't always fun

there's also a tendency for them to

always want to have fun like when's the

next trip and they tend to spend money

in a ridiculous way they'll buy they'll

spend money on closing when they don't

have the money to spend or they'll do

things just because it's it's like we're

almost risk-taking like this seems

exciting so let's do this exciting thing

and that can be dangerous financially

can actually be risky because of the

seductiveness there may sometimes be

less than optimal sexual decision-making

you know getting into sexual situations

that could be risky in terms of their

own health or even in terms of danger

so it began the attention-seeking become

so important they're also very

suggestible you can sell them anything

they want to believe they want to

believe so they have a real tendency to

sort of believe in

I don't know mystical things and magical

things it's almost very childlike so you

can convince them of anything so that

makes them vulnerable to grifters or

manipulators who are trying to take

advantage of almost this innocence they

have but in the same breath they also

have the capability of manipulating

other people to ensure that they keep

getting attention so you know I've a

friend who's a psychiatrist and she once

termed the shoes talking about a woman

in this case she once termed women with

histrionic Personality styles or

histrionic Personality Disorder as baby

women because they're grown women and

beautiful and gorgeous and well put

together as a woman would be in a job

and all of that but there's this baby

equality like you know you can they're

sort of they're taken by shiny objects

and they want attention and I want

someone always pick them up and it's so

it's it it's you're you're almost trying

to adult affine

you know to say like you can't it's not

always your birthday so if these history

on people with history and a personality

disorder are attention-seeking does the

attention have to be positive

yes it did yeah the attention does have

to be positive it they'll take any

attention so almost think of the kid who

was the class clown when you were in

third grade they just wanted everyone to

look at them and ultimately they were

gonna get in trouble you know the

teacher didn't like it but they would to

get the laughs to get the fact that all

twenty kids in the classroom are focused

on them they were in some ways willing

to endure the collateral damage so this

is the person who might be talking

really loudly in a bar or a party and

people might even say and they'll say

what what don't you tell me be quiet you

know and they'll get very diva like in

the face of that so even when people are

hushing them they will continue to try

it because if they want to still remain

the center of attention I mean they're

tailor-made to become celebrities thanks

for watching your next step is to go to

med circle comm and finish watching this

series there you can also access other

series and get actionable advice and

simple explanations continue your mental

health journey at Med Circle calm and

I'll

see there

[Music]