However, the addiction to the drama that shows up in so many relationships may be the one that receives the least attention in our society. While drama is a valid genre of theater and film, it also refers to a dysfunctional continuous drive to repeatedly reproduce hazardous and unhealthy emotional intensity in one’s relationships.
Why is drama appealing? The adrenaline rush of relationships and individuals that seem incredibly exciting in their intensity is what the drama junkie is addicted to. But don’t confuse these “exciting” characteristics with love: lots of intense conflicts, punctuated by yelling, screaming, and throwing things, as well as verbal and physical abuse; frequent dramatic breakups and passionate makeups; ongoing lying and cheating; withholding the truth; betraying trust; emotional and/or physical affairs; spying on each other; poor or nonexistent boundaries; and racing from the height of ecstasy to the pit of despair in an out-of-control emotional rollercoaster.
It has become obvious to many people that drama addiction is fostered and even celebrated in our media. The degree of lying, deceit, adultery and overall dysfunction depicted in film and television portrayals of relationships is frequently far higher than it is in real life. And no place expresses this more overtly than talk programs, which are frequently considered the lowest common denominator of sensationalistic broadcasting.
In relationships defined by drama addiction, this is precisely what takes place. In these relationships, the ability for empathy sharing and unselfish companionship, both of which are necessary elements of true love, is quite low. Dramatic love affairs are primarily self-serving, and when the other person is unable to provide the required “high,” they are abandoned. The individuals involved ultimately experience isolation, loneliness, and unfulfilled emotional needs. However, they swiftly move on in order to discover the next addiction trigger and to divert their attention from their internal suffering and emptiness.
There is sometimes an underlying emptiness or melancholy in someone’s life when they feel the need to constantly stir up drama in their relationships and lives. They frequently still have not found their actual life purpose or inner aliveness. They could perhaps only feel alive when they get the recognizable adrenaline spike that alerts them to the realization that they have made yet another nasty predicament. It’s possible that some people who have dramatic relationships have overcome other addictions and have applied their desire for excitement and ferocity to romantic relationships.
Examine the sorts of connections you’ve built in the past and present if you think you could be a drama junkie. Have you ever confused love for ferocity, need, desire, or drama? How did you publicize the television show? How did you resolve disputes with your partner and with yourself? What details were omitted? What inflammatory language or actions did you use?
Your brain is wired to sense chemistry and attraction with someone from a similar background if you come from a household where drama runs rampant. Your route to genuine love and journey toward recovery might start once you realize that what you once believed to be love is actually drama addiction.
Also Read: Tips To Overcome Problems With Wife/Husband
