We all require and need some form of attention at various times and oftentimes, from different people.
Getting attention of any kind can be very comforting. But attention-seeking and ego are also connected in such a way that the egomaniac May only be comfortable when the attention is on them.
Attention can be like an addictive drug. And like any drug addict, when the attention junkie is not getting attention, they will have to do everything they can to get their dose of attention. The bigger the ego of the attention junkie, the more soothing attention is to them.
But seeking attention is not only linked with the ego, it is also an in-law to conflict. There is a reason why attention and conflict are so interlinked. You ask how; well, an excessive need for attention is problematic and causes internal conflict in the attention junkie.
For instance, what motivates a person to be gallivanting from one fora to another arrogating themselves as the guardians of truth or knowledge on all things when their character belies all that they claim to stand for?
More, what motivates anyone to be portraying themselves as an expert on all things knowing very well they know so little. It is not mere arrogance, it is not just a mere desire to feed their ego, it goes much deeper. It is what is referred to as Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD). It is a sickness.
As the name implies, histrionics simply means melodramatic (Kufang na, nit ku opal). Now imagine someone with a disorder that overdoes everything to get attention! That’s HPD! It is a sickness. A disease. It is a kufangnna on an overdose of attention!
The person suffering from HPD has some serious internal conflict raging within them and this is exemplified in the way they seek attention just to be noticed. They often have a distorted sense of self. They may think they’re super intelligent and no one can tell them anything they don’t know about. They are often very manipulative. They will do anything for attention. If you are their significant other, they will feign sickness for some attention.
In public, they will do anything to be the center of attention at every gathering. They can be loud, obnoxious and downright dramatic. They will do anything to be the center of attention because it’s should always be about them. They will cook up arguments in public and speak very loudly so as to get others to notice them.
In our little Gambia, some of these attention junkies cloak themselves in the raiment of intellectualism and befuddle their gullible followers and beguile themselves into thinking that they have a monopoly over the truth and everything else. While people laugh at them or some of us feel sorry for them, they think the world revolves around them. Talk about cognitive dissonance at its very extreme!
And guess what is one of the ways to treat people with this disorder? TALK THERAPY… Yes, talk therapy. So let them talk…. Just remember that they have serious issues and if you can’t do anything for them, be like me, feel sorry for them and continue to ignore them… They will take your ignoring of them as a sign that they are right but you must remember that once you start arguing with them, people may not be able to tell who among the two of you has this disorder.
So please let them talk mein… It is therapeutic… Don’t deny anyone their potential therapy; that is callous! And all this is from one who is no psychologist or psychiatrist; not even a quack one at that. Just an observant fellow who feels sorry for the attention junkies!
