The majority of people don’t like the thought of being labeled ‘Drama Queen’. But what exactly constitutes such a persona? In this article, we will look at the top 5 things that make Drama Queens notorious. I will then take the quality and apply it to my Borderline journey. Lastly, I will give you examples of dramatic moments from the celebrity world. So, without further ado, let’s find out what a Drama Queen actually is!
#1 Outbursts
Starting the traits with a bang, we have to talk about emotional outbursts. Drama Queens and others that like to stir trouble are known to blow the lid quite often. They tend to belong to the group of people that get triggered very easily. Be it taking upsetting them or provoking their manic side, the Drama Queen is sure to follow up with the Banshee screams. Or better yet, they turn into the Wailer, La Llorona.
It’s no secret that we Borderlines showcase this trait religiously. From door-slamming to reckless and self-destructive behavior, it’s the cornerstone of the disorder. Also known as EUPD, Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, those afflicted with it struggle with controlling their emotions. It naturally follows, that we a prone to having even violent outbursts. As such, people like me with BPD could be classified as Drama Queens, despite our efforts to be amiable instead.
A great example that sent ripples cascading across the world was Will Smith’s unacceptable behavior at the Oscars. After a joke Chris Rock had made regarding his wife, this loved long-time actor went ahead and slapped the comedian straight across the face. I understand you were angry, but the immunity of others is sacred.
#2 Controversy
Dramatic individuals tend to sow seeds of controversy where ever they roam. They thrive in conflict and disrupt the social balance between people or groups. Nothing is too outrageous for a Drama Queen, as long as it provokes others in a sufficient manner. After all, these people are all about attention, be it positive or negative.
When it comes to BPD, unfortunately, we seem to flood our surroundings with this type of behavior. With the lack of emotional management come the waves of threats, blackmail, and even public humiliation and scene-making. I’m not too proud to tell you I’ve employed some of these tactics in the past and became a master manipulator in the process. It’s easy to get what you want, if only because the people want you to pipe down.
Quite the grandiose example of controversy rises in Mr. Donald Trump. If it isn’t him offending the women of the world with his antics, it’s probably some underhanded comment about foreigners. Here’s another article about Trump’s gruff statements in various interviews and more. Enjoy the carnage!
#3 Interruptive behavior
Drama Queens are adept at interrupting events or situations to shine the spotlight on themselves. Talking to another friend at the pub? The Queen is there, budding in with something more interesting to grab the 3rd party’s attention. Celebrating your birthday? Don’t worry, your best boo has you covered. In just a few moments the Queen will make sure you won’t have to worry about that pesky spotlight for the rest of the evening. After all, there’s something way more important, mainly them.
As far as my Borderline ailment goes, I never quite liked the spotlight. I actually hated it. Yet, I often found myself inadvertently in its rays because of my lack of self-control. I am proud to say though, that I have not taken the light away from the hero of the day as far as I can remember. Of course, this led to the extreme version of that. I tend to not take what is mine, be it credit, material, or anything else. As far as the BPD stereotype goes, in this aspect, I don’t seem to fit into it.
Kanye West has become somewhat of a poster child for intense reactions and interruptive behavior. One of his more known stunts was his interruption of Taylor Swift on stage. Of course, the man then got his socks in a knot for being dismissed from the show.
#4 Public Fights
When emotions are not in check, and the person has tendencies to become disruptive in all manner of ways, it can lead to some public feuds. You can trust the Drama Queen to bring up their recent disdain without a care in the world about the setting. Grandpa’s funeral? Life is for the living, babe, and the time to settle this is now! Those prone to dramatic flair don’t seem to have a sense of properness. This makes it very difficult to handle the volatile individual, especially in settings that already have us strained.
The Borderline’s uncanny ability to dissociate makes it easier for us to fight with reckless abandon. After all, we won’t remember the event in the morning. Add any kind of substance, like alcohol, to the mix, and your evening will certainly turn out dramatic! I’m no stranger to having bashed doors, cry-shouted, and even wandered off into the distance in my rage. It didn’t matter much at the time what the bystanders thought, I was already in the gutters.
I won’t comment on the topic of the case, but I must say that Mr. Depp’s and Ms. Heard’s life was turned into a proper media circus. As the case was about the biggest sensation of the century, both actors got their fair share of attention in the process. While the pair is prominent in the public eye, and the case was an important one to have, there was no need to make it into a worldwide media sensation. Shame on all of us as well, gawking at others’ misery!
#5 Seeking Attention
The Drama Queen’s essence boils down to one thing – attention seeking. No matter what form it comes in, the avid drama-lover will find ways to direct the eyes on themselves. The more, the better. They don’t seem to mind about the nature of the attention, either. After all, there’s no such thing as negative publicity.
When it comes to Borderline Personality Disorder, I don’t believe we are doing it on purpose. Starved for the feeling of belonging, we deploy dubious methods to secure ourselves. Our Drama Queen behavior seems to stem from a place of defense and survival, rather than the need to be constantly in the limelight. At least this is my experience of it.
The culture and music these days demand shock value. If you don’t have it, the next artist will have the bigger cheers. One marvelous example of such value is none other than Lady Gaga. The artist has shown up in attires one more extravagant than the other. Here is an enlightening collection of her more unconventional get-ups.
So. Who is a Drama Queen?
As we found out, Drama Queens are people who do everything they can to get attention. They don’t bother with proper manners or controlling their emotions. Engaging in disruptive behavior, they interrupt and even stir up fights. They love to provoke people, as it brings them that spotlight they desire.
Borderline Personalities often display traits of Drama Queens’. Yet, at least in my experience, we don’t do it out of wanting to create problems for the sake of attention. We do it to survive, to not be abandoned. Of course, knowing that we have a tendency toward such traits, we need to be diligent guardians of our mental health. After all, we are all in charge of our own behavior.