HPD and age

Here's a question that I haven't been able to find much information on.

Do HPD traits/behavior change with age? For example do they become milder? Can people with PD's learn/change, to the extent they can, over the decades?

I ask because the HPD woman I know is in her early 50's (as am I) and seems somewhat atypical (from everything I've read about HPD).

Of course everyone is different but as humans we all seem to mature/change with age so I'd guess it's the same for those with a PD.

Cluster B(and C) personality disorder tend to get milder with age.

But yes, specifically about HPD, there is a tendence that attention to be gathered towards more 'parent like' behaviour than sexual behaviour.

I do wonder if my mon is HPD, or just mildly hysterical. She is a bit obsessed with weight, but doesnt behave in typical bodily histrionic manner. Nevertheless she is graduated on physical education and used to be much thinner. Anyway, she is much more of the appeasing type.

creative_nothing wrote:But yes, specifically about HPD, there is a tendence that attention to be gathered towards more 'parent like' behaviour than sexual behaviour.

I'm not 100% sure but I think the woman I know is more into subtle teasing (she does it to me) than actually sleeping with every TomDickHarry. Of course both get attention so... She doesn't wear what I'd consider provocative clothing but does dress up and put on makeup at social events.

I'm not sure what "'parent like' behavior" is. Could you elaborate?

Taking care of others. I need to elaborate more.
http://www.health.am/psy/histrionic-per ... -disorder/

PERSONAL VARIABLES. Researchers have found some connections between the age of individuals with HPD and the behavior displayed by these individuals. The symptoms of HPD are long-lasting; however, histrionic character traits that are exhibited may change with age. For example, research suggests that seductiveness may be employed more often by a young adult than by an older one. To impress others, older adults with HPD may shift their strategy from sexual seductiveness to a paternal or maternal seductiveness. Some histrionic symptoms such as attention-seeking, however, may become more apparent as an individual with HPD ages.

Thanks. The woman I know was/is big into her 2yr-old grand-daughter. Not sure if that's "maternal seductiveness" or not.

I wouldn't think small children/animals (she has plenty of those too) would be a good source/supply but then I don't have HPD

I guess playing with someone else's dog is a good way of getting their atention.
Similary walking your beautiful dog is a good way to draw attention to youself.

Edit:
Children, specially babies, would work the same way.

I personally thing so, but I can't prove it, so it's just an opinion.

I think a couple of key reasons why:

First, we people tend to choose the paths of the least resistance in life; we do what works. As someone ages, lets be honest, odds are she is increasingly likely to be rejected if she has been dependent on being sexually proactive as a means to obtain attention/approval (it's a means to an end). So it makes sense that she'd shift from what is no longer working as well to some other means.

Second, just generally I think our hormones tend to 'cool down' if you will as we age. The flood of emotions we experience when we are younger, that are biological in nature, tend to slow down. I do understand that not everyone agrees with that, but it's also not hard to find articles about how our testosterone and estrogen levels slowly lower as we age, or articles on how these hormones in particular seem to affect our emotions strongly.

On the flip side, depending on her age, she might also be someone who is aware on some level that she/life is changing, and actively fighting to keep a grip on her past. Will power is a very powerful thing. So it's possible too for someone's symptoms to increase, at least for a time.

I agree with xdude, people are going to behave in the manner that gets them the most for the least amount of effort. So if a HPD is still making gains behaving in their typical manner, it's unlikely they will change. Social media also has a hand in prolonging HPD behaviors, I often see older women posting sexually provocative pics. Instagram filters are very kind to an aging women. This is the new norm in life.

I was hoping to get an answer also. I am 30 years old and my HPD has never been worse than it is today.

Evelyne_ wrote:I was hoping to get an answer also. I am 30 years old and my HPD has never been worse than it is today.

Evelyne, just some questions: how do you feel in this moment of your life? Happy, depressed, bored...?
Also: were you diagnosed as HPD by some therapist?

Anyway, the fact that you know you are HPD and you know which are you Achille's heels is an extremely good thing, since it points out you're introspective enough and you can work on yourself to get better. Many HPDs don't know to be so and they are not interested in changing.

Perhaps you could find interesting to read this document, especially the part where the goal of a person with HPD should try to achieve is to shift the "disorder" into a healthy personality "style":

http://maretwebproject.com/users/docs/histrionic.pdf

Have a nice day!