If you wish to experience drama at its best, then adopt a couple of pre-teen girls for the afternoon. I recently had such an experience with my daughter and a couple of her friends.
As soon as they got into the car, I began to hear things like:
"Everybody flunked the test."
"He explained he liked me and it had been the very best day of my whole entire life."
"OMG...that was so embarrassing mom. Please don't wave at the senior high school kids."
"I will never, ever understand math."
"You NEVER take me shopping."
"I don't have anything to wear."
The drama continued for the duration of the car ride.
It reminded me of the drama queen in all of us (especially women who struggle with emotional eating and body image issues).
The developed drama queen says things like:
"I've fallen off the wagon."
"I'll never, ever be thin."
"Everybody can eat what they want but me."
"I am this type of failure."
"OMG...did you see me trying to operate? That was so humiliating."
Over time to be a female and experiencing womanhood, I have come to realize that we all have an episode queen that lives within us. It only becomes a problem when she's running the show. Dramacool
So, here are a few strategies for living at peace with your inner drama diva:
1. Go through the drama, rather than from the drama
When you discover yourself being swept up into a dramatic moment, simply notice what's going on. Observe the way the emotions build, and then notice how you're tempted to act. Could you see how drama adds a complexity to the specific situation?
2. State the Facts
Drama is judgment of the facts. Instead of saying, "I made a 74 on the math test," an episode queen says, "I am this type of failure. I will never, ever learn math." Or, rather than saying "I ate a bag of Oreos," she'll say, "I've fallen off the wagon, and I'll never, ever be thin." Try stating just the reality of the specific situation, without judgment or negativity.
3. Prove your drama queen wrong
The inner dramatic loves to sensationalize things, but why not challenge her only a little with proof. For instance, when she claims you will never, ever be thin, find evidence to prove her wrong. Find others who have done what you want to do or find reasoned explanations why you may be thin.
4. Give her the stage
Your drama queen just really wants to be heard and seen. Give the indegent thing 5 or 10 minutes each day to do her thing. I like to schedule in drama time when I can complain, exaggerate, cry, or just step out of my beautiful life for a couple moments to get completely trapped in drama, however I return and close the curtain.
5. Take her to the films
All of us crave only a little excitement inside our lives. The issue occurs once we use our lives as the stage for unhealthy drama to unfold. To entertain that element of you who craves a huge production, try taking her to see a great show or read a great, trashy novel. You can leave feeling satisfied without completing mucking up your life.
