Your Daughter and Histrionic Personality Disorder …Here’s How We See It at Columbus Girls Academy
We can help your daughter with Histrionic Personality Disorder, which is characterized her extreme attention-seeking actions and excessive emotionality. This disorder can produce out of place and chancy behavior; find her incessantly seeking reassurance, with heightened sensitivity to criticism, inability to put off gratification, easily annoyed or with rapidly shifting emotional states (with feelings that may all be articulated with the same depth of emotion). In general, she may seem bored with usual routine, and come across as “fake” or shallow in her relationships.
Does she seem uncomfortable when not at the center of attention, or is she sometimes vivacious and very dramatic, showing embellished expressions of emotion? Have you seen her interactions marked by tastelessly seductive or provocative behavior, maybe even believing relationships to be more intimate than they actually are?
You may find your daughter being cunning, in order to remain the center of attention, even within the family. She may have trouble focusing on assignments and projects, and find school uninteresting. Romantic relationships may be quickly started and then discarded for the excitement of new ones. She is also at greater risk of depression and co-morbid disorders (meaning, two or more simultaneous illnesses).
This is Why We’re Here.
There is no specific test for diagnosing Histrionics, and no acknowledged origin (though the disorder may be linked to stress or childhood trauma). Her symptoms of behavior will be weighed and form the basis of evaluation.
Therapy usually focuses on working on boundaries, and self-development to counter the behaviors that often result in risky conduct. Group therapy is sometimes used, but presents the peril of providing an audience from whom your girl can seek attention and affirmation for her behavior patterns. Family therapy may have the same negative aspect, but may be useful to enable the entire family to more appropriately respond to her histrionic behaviors and symptoms so as to not encourage further bad conduct.
Approaches will likely not focus on a long-term personality change but, instead, short-term lessening of hurdles within her life. Few people have the time or cost required to fully “cure” this disorder, and this should be understood to release any thoughts of a “magical” cure.
About Columbus Girls Academy
CGA is a non-therapy alternative to therapeutic boarding schools for teenage girls suffering from life-controlling problems. We present a disciplined and controlled setting focused on whole person character development with spiritual growth, and balanced discipline along with personal responsibility, in a positive peer culture.
For parents who’ve tried everything, do consider our early intervention program that is designed to help your daughter before becoming an adult trapped in a dysfunctional lifestyle.
Set in the peaceful locale of our 200-acre campus, we offer a Bible-based curriculum, reflective thinking, and mentoring. Our program (accredited by organizations who support high educational standards) will be customized for your daughter, presenting her with the opportunity to refocus and evaluate her life decisions.
