Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Ignore The Attention Whore
I’ve heard this term used many times: “You’re being an attention whore.”
If you’re new to this term, Urban Dictionary defines an attention whore as any person who craves attention to such an extent that they will do anything to receive it.
The woman who calls herself fat in hopes of sparking a compliment. The guy who lies to his friends in order to make himself more interesting. The person that claims no one likes them as they sit among a crowd of people, waiting for someone to convince them otherwise.
These are only a few of the ways someone could demonstrate attention seeking behavior.
The same behavior can be seen in children. When a child isn’t receiving enough love, support, or attention from their parents, they may start misbehaving or being bad in order to gain their attention.
Someone who wants attention, usually doesn’t discriminate against the type of attention. Negative or positive, it does not matter.
There are some who are so desperate for attention that they will put themselves in negative, unrewarding, and even dangerous situations to get it.
Most people push this type of behavior aside and will actively not pay attention to someone who is exhibiting attention seeking behavior. The problem with this and what people don’t realize, is that when someone wants attention, what they are really seeking is VALIDATION.
When a person presents with attention seeking behavior, what they are actually searching for is something more.
It’s not that few minutes of attention they receive as a result of their behavior. The feelings that come from those types of interactions are temporary. A fleeting feeling that only your ego enjoys, not your soul.
If you’re someone who is constantly seeking attention in shallow ways that leave you feeling unfulfilled and isolated, this is a clue that something is missing inside yourself that needs to be addressed.
What you are really seeking is a meaningful connection or conversation, meeting someone new, doing something different, or being someone different.
Wanting attention doesn’t make you a bad person. Everyone deserves to have connection, feel loved, and be passionate, but in order for these feelings to be genuine, you need to be happy with who you are on the inside first.
Wanting attention comes down to wanting to be loved. There is no shame in wanting to be loved but in order to feel that love, you don’t need to look any further than yourself.
When you are happy with yourself, you don’t need acceptance or attention from anyone to make you feel validated and worthy. Being honest with yourself about your attention seeking tendencies is the first step to overcoming them.
The people who are judging the so-called “attention whores” don’t realize that attention seeking behavior is just a cry for help. Don’t ignore these people or pretend they’re not there just because they want the attention. Give it to them!
How we help these individuals is to give them love. Talk to them, become friends with them, ask them questions, find out how they feel.
Give them all the attention, all the love, and all the kindness that they deserve. Show them what real love is instead of pushing them aside and pretending like they aren’t there.
Have you ever acted like an attention whore or called someone else out?
Show someone who needs it a little bit of attention!