Henrik Sorensen Creative | Getty
We all know someone who always seems to be a source of drama. As a therapist and psychologist, I spent his 20 years jumping the line between being involved in drama and observing drama.
“I often crave drama,” one patient (hereafter called Helen) told me. “Sometimes I make up false stories and end up pissing people off.”
Someone like Helen may seem like a successful drama. However, a closer look reveals that some people are feeling lonely and desperate to take control of their lives.
Here are 7 harmful signs of drama addiction and what to do about them.
1. They feel threatened.
When there is no constant urgency, something always feels wrong. So, to reinforce their urgency, they create a life full of promises, projects, and deadlines.
Even the most mundane things are filled with this intensity, making the simplest tasks seem heavy and cumbersome.
2. They use exaggerated words.
They use escalating words (“very bad” vs. “bad”) and metaphors (“he seemed to see through me and I melted into the abyss of space” vs. “he said I must I may try to get your attention by adding a “say”).
And they do it with dramatic gestures and facial expressions to see if you’re paying attention.
3. They need to be the center of attention.
People with a penchant for drama rarely stay behind the scenes or on the sidelines. Even if you can control the urge to be the center of attention, you can’t do it for long.
We tend to feel important when we are in the midst of larger than life actions.
4. They recreate and retell stories with unnecessary intensity.
Retelling the same emotional story to different audiences creates a continuous outlet. It’s also common to add variations to the original situation.
5. Focus on the negative or pleasant aspects of other people’s lives.
I often see people getting into the drama of what’s going on in someone else’s life.
there is increased loneliness In this country, it is easy to get distracted by the people around you if you don’t feel like you are being watched.
6. You’re obsessed with (and can’t get out of) your own story.
Like the stars of other shows, they need a one-way dialogue from an audience, one whose only role is to witness the drama.
They also like to assign roles to the rest of the cast. And if your cast mates can’t say the right lines, there’s a good chance you’ll get in trouble.
7. You feel out of control.
Feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and victimized due to their inability to control (or predict) the outside world. This is something we all go through, but it’s serious for those with a penchant for drama.
Suppose you take the wrong exit from a roundabout. For many people it is a minor inconvenience or mistake.But for drama addicts, it’s an unfair catastrophe that happened To they.
Being able to identify the signs of drama addiction will increase your awareness and give you a better idea of how to handle the situation.
Here are some tips.
1. Reconstruct and soften the response.
When you see someone beginning to enter the drama cycle, take a step back and say to yourself:
- “They are again drawn into their thirst for drama.”
- “They’re trying to avoid something very painful right now.”
- “The reason they are showing such violent behavior is because we want you to see it.”
This is not about making excuses. It’s to help you avoid getting caught up in the drama and instead be a compassionate witness.
2. Clarify what you hear.
Explain who you are and who you don’t listen to.
- “I’m going through a tough time so I can’t reserve space for this right now.”
- “I can be present to hear what happened, but I have no ability to hear accusations as to why it happened.”
- “Now is not the time. How about after that?”
Setting firm but gentle boundaries not only makes you feel better, but it also helps lower the temperature in moments of drama addiction.
3. Keep your distance.
Truth be told, sometimes you have to walk away and end the relationship (for now).
The words “break up,” “leave someone,” and “leave a relationship” are often used, but in reality you are making a conscious choice to return your energy and attention to yourself.
Dr. Scott LyonsPhD, psychologist and author of books. “Drama Addiction: Healing Your Addiction to Crisis and Disruption in Yourself and Others” As an expert in trauma therapy, he has helped over 500,000 people de-stress and re-energize over the past 20 years. Scott is also the author of: embody lab, the largest online learning platform for body-based trauma therapy.please follow him Instagram.
Do not miss it:
Do you want to be smarter and more successful with money, work and life? Sign up for our new newsletter here
