The downward spiral of a cheating wife with Histrionic Personality Disorder
Acting or looking overly seductive
Being easily influenced by other people
Being overly concerned with their looks
Being overly dramatic and emotional
Being overly sensitive to criticism or disapproval
Believing that relationships are more intimate than they actually are
Blaming failure or disappointment on others
Constantly seeking reassurance or approval
Having a low tolerance for frustration or delayed gratification
Needing to be the center of attention (self-centeredness)
Quickly changing emotions, which may seem shallow to others
Treatment:
People with this condition often seek treatment when they experience depression or anxiety from failed romantic relationships or other conflicts with people. Medication may help the symptoms, but talk therapy (psychotherapy) is the best treatment for the condition itself.
Expectations (prognosis)
Histrionic personality disorder can improve with psychotherapy and sometimes medications. If left untreated, it can cause conflict in people's personal life and prevent them from reaching their potential in their work life.
Complications
Histrionic personality disorder may affect your social or romantic relationships, or your ability to cope with losses or failures. You may go through many job changes as you become easily bored and have trouble dealing with frustration.
Because you tend to crave new things and excitement, you may put yourself in risky situations. All of these factors may lead to a greater risk of depression.
If you're a man and you looked at the above information and a bulb went off in your head- That's my wife! I feel genuinely sorry for you.
I lived it for 18 years. My stbxw is a classic case and her life has been in the process of unraveling for several years. She was professionally diagnosed, so this isn't my own theory. First, she had to be placed in a psychiatric hospital after a major breakdown, then disowned her entire family (justified IMO, she was an abuse victim), turned her back on her religious convictions, and finally left me and her daughter for her AP.
I have very little contact, only the essentials involving divorce and our daughter, but what I observe is that she's dressing even more provocatively than ever (she's 43, dressing like she's a 21 yo call girl). My daughter reports on her flying into rages, especially when driving (blasted the horn for 1/2hr last night to get someone to come out and move their car which was blocking her).
And generally engaging in constant distractions like compulsive clothes shopping, clubbing, restaurants etc.
I recently got a copy of the bill for her STD test from a few weeks ago sent to me (didn't specify pos or neg), so she's either cheating on AP or she suspects he's cheating on her.
She seems headed for disaster. She has no interest in therapy. It's sad really, the need for constant excitement, novelty and validation, she's embarrassing herself and setting a horrible example for her child. I understand that the abuse she suffered contributed to this, and I do cut her some slack because of it, but this kind of person can't be fixed IMO.
I still feel the hurt of the betrayal, but the problem is no longer mine. Good luck to her AP, maybe someday I'll write him a letter and thank him for taking her off my hands.
