Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Healthy Ways to Express Yourself
• Method 2 of 3: Change for the Better
• Method 3 of 3: Supporting Others
• Tips
• Warnings

Any person is pleased with the attention of others, but sometimes there is an extremely acute need for excessive attention. Such people often need attention due to the need to somehow compensate for their own insecurity and low self-esteem. If the need makes you feel uncomfortable, learn to avoid this behavior.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Healthy Ways to Express Yourself

1. 1 Get creative. People who need attention are often prone to unnatural behavior. By their actions, they only try to attract attention, but do not express their true feelings. Creativity is a great way to show your personality and learn to be yourself. Choose your preferred creative activity and take up painting, literature, music, singing or making crafts.
   • Don't worry if creativity was alien to you in the past. Do what your heart is about, even if you doubt your abilities.
   • Be creative for yourself. Find ways to creatively express yourself, do not think about the evaluations of others and do not rush to demonstrate the results of your creativity.
2. 2 Use social media correctly. Often times, people with this problem misuse social media.It's okay to make plans with friends and read the news of the modern world, but if your publications are intended only to attract attention, it is better to think twice.
   • Rate how boastful your posts are.
   • You don't need to constantly feel sorry for yourself, ask for compliments or support.
   • You shouldn't write "I love having fun with the best friends in the world !!"
   • If you need support, instead of saying "Worst day in your life. I want to lie down and die" it is better to write: "Today was a terrible day. Who would not mind talking? I could use some company." It's okay to ask directly for support on social media, but remember to write clearly and go straight to private messages.
3. 3 Focus on others. A person who seeks attention is almost always focused only on himself. Try to shift the focus to other people. Use a variety of methods. Spend time with loved ones, volunteer, or try to get to know someone better to get to know the person better.
   • Do any of your neighbors need help? Offer your services in a homeless cafeteria or nursing home. Help the library staff, read books to the children, or help other students with their homework.
   • Spend time with friends and family and take an interest in their lives. Remember how dear they are to you. Do not get distracted during conversations and listen carefully to the interlocutor.
   • Come up with your own way to focus on others. For example, organize a collection of things for the homeless, or have a community cleanup in your area.

Method 2 of 3: Change for the Better

1. 1 Forgive yourself for your mistakes. It is not pleasant to dwell on the mistakes made, but often people mentally return to the moments they have experienced over and over again. Learn to forgive yourself and learn from your mistakes.
   • The past cannot be changed, but valuable lessons can be learned from the past. Appreciate your new experience and do not repeat mistakes in the future.
   • Think about situations in which you tried to draw attention to yourself, then forgive yourself for such actions. Recognize your behavior to prevent it from happening again.
   • Be kind to yourself, as you would with a friend who needs support. Say, "I know you shouldn't behave this way, but then it seemed right to me. Everyone is wrong. Next time I will try to do it differently."
2. 2 Learn sincerity daily. Choose the appropriate ways and practice being yourself every day. For example, do something that makes you happy, or repeat important positive judgments to yourself.
   • Learn to be yourself and behave sincerely without regard to other people's opinions. Get into the habit of doing a certain thing every day if at that moment you are yourself. Sometimes you just need to honestly express your opinion, which you have not done before: "I really don't like this cafe very much." You can also change the way you approach business (for example, wear comfortable rather than fashionable clothes).
   • Come up with affirmations of your own to help you accept yourself. Say: “I am a good and pleasant person in myself” or: “I accept and love myself entirely, even during times of change and personal development.”
3. 3 Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is trying to live in the moment and not get lost in your own thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness is most often achieved through meditation, but there are other ways as well.
   • Read books or websites that describe the different ways to meditate. Take meditation courses and learn the basic techniques.
   • If meditation is not for you, then practice noticing current physical sensations. Do you feel guilty, shame, or bad memories? Pay attention to how you feel the fabric from the clothes on your skin or how your feet feel in the shoes.
4. 4 Make up your mind to change. Change is almost impossible unless you consciously convince yourself of the need for change. Make a commitment to yourself against inappropriate behavior and start taking concrete steps towards your goal.
   • Write down your promises. You can take a calendar and mark the day on which you promised yourself to change.
   • Write down daily and weekly goals like “Five minutes of meditation every day” or “Every week I will devote 5 hours to volunteering and charity.”
   • Tell others about your decision. Share with close friends and family. Such people can keep track of how you stick to your promises.
5. 5 Spend time effectively alone. If you love attention, then you probably spend a lot of time with other people. Remember to be alone sometimes. Make it a goal to be alone with yourself for a certain amount of time per day or per week.
   • Do what you love alone so you don't get bored and have fun. Read your favorite books or magazines, take a walk in the park or near your home, do your favorite hobby.
   • It's okay to feel awkward at first. Do not give up and soon such moments will start to bring you joy.
6. 6 Track your progress. When you start changing your behavior, remember to evaluate all the changes and your successes. Try keeping a diary, asking for the opinions of loved ones, or analyzing the past.
   • Don't be too hard on yourself. Any change takes time.
   • Praise yourself for every success. Take pride in the work you've done. Tell yourself, "I did it. Efforts are paying off."

Method 3 of 3: Supporting Others

1. 1 Rely on friends and family. Choose people who are honest with you and who really care about your well-being. Learn to trust their opinion, as well as listen to comments that are not always pleasant. This could be a brother, sister, aunt, close friend, or coworker.
   • Choose a person with whom you constantly communicate so that he regularly notices changes in your behavior.
   • The person should be ready to share with you even the unpleasant truth.
   • Even with criticism, this person should remain kind and sympathetic to you.
2. 2 Ask for an honest look from the outside. Tell us about the behavior that bothers you. Offer to watch you. The person will always notice if your emotional reactions to situations are feigned or excessive.
   • If you are unsure about which aspects of behavior to pay attention to, explain that you are concerned about getting attention. Ask for points like this.
   • It may also be that the person has already noticed signs of this behavior behind you.
   • Say, "I am trying to shake off the urge to draw attention to myself. Have you noticed this behavior of me? Can you observe me and report this behavior?"
3. 3 Attend support group meetings. This behavior is often associated with addiction and personality type. If you do not suffer from any addiction, then there is no point in a support group, but if you have an addiction or a tendency towards compulsive behavior, this option should be considered.
   • Seeking the attention of others is often associated with addictions such as alcoholism, drug addiction and binge eating disorder.
   • This behavior does not mean that you are at risk.
   • A support group will be useful for you, even if you have already asked for help from a loved one.
   • Find a support group in your area. If there are no such groups nearby, there are online support groups.
4. 4 Therapeutic treatment. If you do not have a person to contact, then see a psychotherapist. A specialist will help you understand and eliminate this behavior, as well as solve the problems that caused this situation.
   • Schedule individual appointments or group therapy sessions.
   • Find the contacts of an experienced psychotherapist online. Many sites have comprehensive information. Look for a specialist who has experience in solving similar problems.
   • Some psychotherapists are available with insurance. Always check the price in advance.

Tips

• If you notice attempts to revert to old behavior, then don't be too hard on yourself. Change takes time. Never give up.
• If you find it difficult to fulfill your obligations, then enlist the support of a friend, family member, or counselor.

Warnings

• Such behavior can take a dangerous turn. Some go to the length of self-harm or create dangerous situations to get attention. In this case, you need to urgently seek help from a specialist.