Histrionic Disorder Tendencies

Tonight at group we talked about our tendencies toward Histrionic behaviors.
First...what is it?

Basically, it is a specialized version of Narcissism. The Histrionic wants all the attention, it is not necessarily that they feel like they are better than everyone else, but they want everyone to know how they are feeling and what they are doing. This usually occurs at the expense of everyone listening.

There were a few attributes that we went over at church yesterday: They

1. must be the center of attention.
2. have strange ailments when they are not getting enough attention
3. have disproportionate responses. They are more important than everyone else, so when they talk to people, they always respond with a selfish response.
4. tempt people.
5. are skin deep. Everything is a drama.

If I were to relate to any of these, I think it would be the third one. I am not prone to want to be the center of attention (unless I am around friends, perhaps), but I know that I often do not know how to respond to people when they are telling me a story. I am often thinking about the next thing that I am going to say so that there is not that awkward lull in the conversation or so that I can have my part in the conversation.

1 Timothy 4:7-8. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

If I were to pull anything away from this week it would be to really listen to people when they talk to me and allow the conversation to flow as it may. This way my responses can be a little more genuine.

We discussed at group today a challenge: celebrate someone who does not usually get attention. I know that I have loads of opportunity at school to do this, there are many kids that just allow life to happen around them instead of engaging and while I do make an effort to talk to each kid in each class (I have very small classes) I imagine that I could make an effort to really talk up someone's art or character in front others in the room.