How do you know the difference between attention seeking and ill?

Question

how do you know if how you act and feel is due to attention seeking or there is something wrong?

and also how do you tell the difference between someone attention seeking or if they are ill?

thank you

Answer 1

Good question. It's a difficult call to make, and one that really can't be made from the outside. I'm not sure it's really a clear-cut distinction in the first place. Sick people and well people can both be manipulative. Mentally ill people (like me) need to do our best to respect other people's boundaries and feelings, just like well people.  Mentally ill people who haven't had success with treatment sometimes really can't control our feelings and behavior, and we're often pretty ashamed of the way we act.  Eventually, we come to understand that somebody else isn't going to come to the rescue in any grand sense.  The thing is, when a person is feeling desperate inside, knowing that other people care and will listen really can provide some solace.  And sometimes other people just don't hear or recognize a cry for help if the cry isn't loud enough.

If you feel unfairly manipulated, and it's something that you need to back away from, you can do that, and it's totally fair.  Your feelings count, too.  But if someone you care about is seeking attention, whether for illness or any old reason, sometimes the kind thing to do is just give them some attention.  

I really appreciate your asking this question and trying to understand in an open-minded way.

Answer 2

In my opinion there is something wrong in some way with ANYone who feels the need for excessive attention. What's wrong may just be that nobody loves them, but this can still lead to mental problems.  

Answer 3

It is wrong, the only difference is the matter of degree. If a person is genuine, honest and transparent, they have no need for attention seeking.

Answer 4

See a doctor

Answer 5

if a person is going to an extreme to get attention that is ill, but have them see a shrink...

Answer 6

I think it is attention seeking if you are trying to manipulate somebody with your behavior. Like if somebody says they are going to try and kill themselves with no intention on doing so.

Answer 7

There is no difference.

Someone who is doing unhealthy things for attention is still ill. A healthy person wouldn't be willing to sacrifice their happiness and well-being for attention. That kind of behavior is common in certain disorders, like Borderline Personality, which is a serious and very real disorder.

Answer 8

Hello well if you are ill you feel like you need someone to tell you not to worry and they will stay with you and wont get fed up with you.

And if they are attention seeking they are still not well as they too need someone with them so its all in all hard to see when one is like this sorry bit confusing but when i was unwell needed to know there were people around who would just listen to me  and was worried they would get tried of me do hope this helped have not explainned it that well