From a mile a way, the Drama Queen/King can be seen, with a trail of chaos reigning behind them. But the inclination to be dramatic involves more than volatile emotions and the desire to control. It is considered an addiction – a hook on adrenaline.

Scientists seem to always be quick to take any mental issue and turn it into an addiction or disease, but in today’s standards it might be impossible to see otherwise. Political-correctness has taken precedence over truth, and tolerance is a choice, not a behavior.

In the world of the dramatic, political-correctness doesn’t matter. This affliction has several symptoms characteristic of the soap opera life. These range anywhere from selfishness to a constant need for attention. The word “drama” comes from the Greek word meaning “to do” or “to act,” and in the case of the dramatic, putting on a show is more than a theatrical thrill – it is often what their life is focused on.

But drama is more than emotional insecurity. Feelings of anger, suppressed frustration, anxiety or depression can motivate many of the defensive actions that a dramatic person is known for. These rise out of a perceived inability to control one’s life or be in total control of all persons around them. How about the adrenaline rush? Being the center of attention for the dramatic is nearly orgasmic.

Psychologists have come up with quite an interesting theory to describe where this issue of dependency and insecurity originate. Stephen Karpman calls it the “Drama Triangle,” to explain roles within relationships and why people seek for others to fill those roles. His models are the archetype victims and rescuers.

The victims search to be protected and the rescuers enable or make themselves the martyr. An endless cycle of bad relationships follows thereafter because the rescuers think they have to “fix” the victims and the victims never take it upon themselves to step outside of what they already know. They are trapped in a need-based relationship and often take their identities from each other.

In other words, drama isn’t just addictive for the dramatic, but for those who end up in relationships catering to their significant other. Drama affects more than the people in that triangle, however, and making your friends suffer isn’t fair. For example, take the overly affectionate, mushy couple that always hangs all over each other. It’s disturbing, gross and creepy.

How does one know if they’re dramatic? It’s easy really. If the focus is on how one is hurt or affected by others and what can be gained from the relationship, then the trap has already been set.

I’m not saying that all dramatic people are crazy or needy. There are levels to the craziness and these are easily breached. If one ends phone conversations as such: “I love you more … no, you hang up …” and I have to hang up the phone myself, then there is a big problem. Drama is not recreation; it’s a character trait, and more than what is on the surface.

Amy Hoover can be reached at [email protected].