Narcissism, borderline personality disorders and sociopathic personality disorders are only a few of the disorders that can affect your divorce. For instance, a histrionic personality disorder can result in a divorce becoming an overly dramatic affair.
What Is Histrionic Personality Disorder?
Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a type of dramatic personality disorder. According to Merriam-Webster, the word histrionic means “overly dramatic or emotional, theatrical.” Individuals with this disorder often experience serious emotional swings and low self-esteem. They quickly become actors and actresses in their own screenplays to attract attention.
The Cleveland Clinic states this disorder is more common in women than in men and is usually evident by early adulthood. An individual struggling with this disorder might:
- Act out dramatically
- Become angry if they’re not the center of attention
- Ask for reassurance regarding their actions often
- Become angry when criticized or ignore criticism completely
- Ignore the needs of others and be unable to show concern
- Threaten to hurt themselves or others for attention
How Will Histrionic Personality Disorder Affect Your Divorce?
Are you considering a divorce with a spouse who suffers from a histrionic personality disorder? If so, it’s important to understand that this disorder will affect the process. Divorce is an emotionally trying and stressful time. Unfortunately, these situations can be more difficult to process for those with personality disorders.
For example, your spouse may begin to make false statements about you to play the victim. This is an effort to keep the attention on them. They may also take confrontation in court as a threat and become angry or act irrationally. These acts can delay the divorce process.
A spouse with a histrionic personality disorder may also become manipulative to skew the divorce in their favor. You’ll need to rely heavily on your attorney and avoid unnecessary communication with your spouse to protect your wellbeing.
Reach Out to the Law Office of V. Wayne Ward for Support
Does your spouse have a personality disorder? Are you worried about moving forward with a divorce? The attorneys at the Law Office of V. Wayne Ward have years of experience in these unique situations. We’re here to support you. To learn more, give us a call at 817-789-4436 or send us a message.
