Negative Attention-Seeker (?)

Anyone here have problems with attention-seeking? Preferably negative?

I always want to get my therapist's attention by acting out and doing things that scare him. Probably because I want someone to care about me. I've started to become anorexic, part of it is because I need something to focus my self-destructive behaviour on (I just stopped cutting) and part of it is because I want sympathy. (I'm also pro-ana, but I won't get into that)

I can't quite get over this.

I know how you feel. My mother always used to call me a drama-queen saying that I acted out for attention... and in a way she was right. I guess for me, I act out because I need that reasurance that even if I act out, people will still love me. Or that they really do care, no matter what. It's a bad thing though, because often times people won't be there no matter what, they leave or give up.

oh man... I do that so much, usually just with my family- in a way, I use my freakouts/breakdowns, whatever, to get my way (in fact, it usually works, but when it doesn't, it devastates me.) Like, when something bothers me to the point of doing destructive, attention- seeking things, people worry, and therefore try to help me. And I need it... I need to know people care and care enough to not do things that bother me. Also, I sometimes present myself as a sort of romanticized, tragically troubled girl (I know its so common for us), ESPECIALLY with men I like.

Yep thru fighting with people.

If I am hard to deal with I feel people will pay more attention to me and love me more than as if I had it all together.

It's awful but it's what I know.

yes... fighting. especially in romantic things, LOTS of fights, and freakouts over little things, but to me they're not little... they're devastating, but I also need reassurance and understanding (although apparently, when someone is a little aloof, i just want them more...)

villain.chik wrote:yes... fighting. especially in romantic things, LOTS of fights, and freakouts over little things, but to me they're not little... they're devastating, but I also need reassurance and understanding (although apparently, when someone is a little aloof, i just want them more...)

Totally!

My BPD ex finace acts out and I frequently would call him a drama queen and he would laugh as if I was praising him. He was only happy when he was the centre of attention. Also he was heavily into self sabotage and would frequently sabotage our relationship. I know its because he didn't understand happiness, didn't believe he deserved happiness so he would try and destroy it....he was more comfortable with pain. In rare moments of sanity he would admit to these behaviours. Also the more I noticed a certain behavioural trait and commented on it the more he would act out in this behaviour. One of the problems I had with him was that he would turn his phone off and ignore me for days then when I did eventually get in touch with him, if I mentioned the behaviour he would ignore me more....very childish but his emotional developement doesn't allow him to react as an adult but only as a frightened child...