If someone displays these 8 behaviors, they’re an overly dramatic person

We’ve all met someone who seems to turn every small hiccup into a full-blown crisis. 

You know the type: They have a flair for the dramatic and can make even the most ordinary day feel like a rollercoaster of emotions. 

But how can you really tell if someone is overly dramatic or if they’re just passionate and expressive? 

This question popped into my head recently after a simple coffee outing with a friend and one of her friends felt more like an episode of a reality TV show. 

I started to ponder what behaviors could serve as a ‘tell’ for overly dramatic people. Here are 8 signs to watch for.

1) They make a grand entrance

Picture this: you’re sitting in a cozy café, sipping your coffee, and chatting with a friend. Suddenly, the door bursts open and in walks a friend of a friend. 

It’s as if they’ve just stepped onto a Broadway stage, complete with exaggerated gestures and a booming voice that announces their arrival. 

They make sure everyone notices them, and the atmosphere instantly shifts from relaxed to electrifying — or overwhelming, depending on your perspective. 

Well, that’s exactly what I experienced during my coffee outing. This person walked in like they were accepting a lifetime achievement award, taking their sweet time to greet everyone individually, but loudly enough for even the barista to hear. 

It’s not a bad thing to make an impression, but some people zoom right past being memorable into turning their entrance into a performance.

In their world, even a casual meet-up can feel like opening night, and it’s both a blessing and a challenge. They certainly bring a unique liveliness to any situation.

2) They love to gossip

Just as I thought the initial fanfare was over, this person dove headfirst into the juiciest gossip. 

Before I’ve even had the chance to ask how they’re doing, they were already spilling the latest “scandal” about someone else in their social circle. It’s as if they’re reciting headlines from a tabloid.

The details were so elaborate and shared with such fervor that you would think they were discussing international espionage.

While it’s human nature to be curious about other people’s lives, a constant need to share gossip can indicate a love for drama. 

Especially if the gossip seems embellished or shared with a level of excitement that feels disproportionate to the situation. 

In these moments, it becomes clear that some people relish the storytelling aspect, the ups and downs, perhaps even more than the actual content of the conversation. It’s a reminder that drama doesn’t just happen; sometimes, it’s lovingly crafted.

3) They frequently use superlatives

When you’re with an overly dramatic person, life is full of “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences and “unbelievable” moments. 

Their language is like a roller coaster, always reaching new peaks of “amazing” or plunging into valleys of “disastrous.”

During our coffee outing, this friend of a friend didn’t just like their vacation; it was “the adventure of a lifetime.” Their sandwich wasn’t just good; it was “a taste sensation.” Waiting a few extra minutes for coffee wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was an “agonizing ordeal.”

While their choice of words can add a layer of excitement to the mundane, it can also make you wonder what really moves them. 

What are the things that genuinely matter to them when everything is described with such intensity?

Their penchant for superlatives may feel like living in a never-ending movie trailer, but it’s also a window into how intensely they experience life’s ups and downs. It’s equal parts engaging and perplexing, a reminder that some people truly live life in bold strokes.

4) They overreact to small issues

We all know life has its ups and downs, but for the overly dramatic person, even the tiniest issues become monumental crises. 

During our café outing, for example, I had a slight redness on my eyelid due to an allergic reaction to some makeup. It was so minor you’d have to be looking for it to even notice. 

Yet, this person caught sight of it and reacted as if I’d suffered a major injury. “Oh no! What happened to your eye?” they exclaimed, eyes widening in horror.

Even my friend, who knows this person well, was surprised at the depth of their concern. 

While it’s good to show concern for others, blowing things out of proportion can inadvertently add unnecessary stress and, you guessed it, drama. 

5) They get easily offended

Being sensitive to the feelings and viewpoints of others is a virtue, but being overly sensitive can become a breeding ground for drama. 

It’s like they live life under a magnifying glass where every word and action is amplified. While this can make them passionate friends who care deeply about issues, it can also mean that casual conversations feel more loaded than intended. 

This friend of a friend in particular, seemed to take even harmless comments or actions as personal affronts. 

When my friend politely declined a second round of coffee, for instance, the person looked visibly taken aback.

Being around such individuals can sometimes make interactions feel like tightrope walks, where you’re trying to balance both honesty and sensitivity. 

It can sometimes create a tension-filled environment, where simple conversations feel like complex negotiations. 

But it’s also a reminder that we all perceive and react to the world in our own unique ways, each with our own set of sensitivities.

6) They thrive in chaos

Some people find their balance in calm and tranquil environments. Others seem to thrive amidst turbulence and unpredictability — like moths to a flame, they’re drawn to chaos. 

While this quality can bring a dose of excitement and unpredictability into our lives, it can also make everyday experiences feel like roller-coasters of emotion.

In our coffee meet-up, whenever the conversation was flowing smoothly, it felt like this friend of a friend would instinctively shift topics or bring up an issue that stirred the pot. 

For them, it seemed, tranquility felt unnatural; they gravitated towards topics that triggered spirited debates or tension. 

It’s not that they necessarily have a destructive urge, but rather, they find a certain comfort or identity in environments that are in constant flux. 

This might come from a place of genuine passion or perhaps a need for validation through conflict. 

Either way, it adds layers of complexity to social interactions that would otherwise be straightforward and demanding your emotional and mental engagement at every turn.

7) They interrupt conversations

We all have those moments when we’re so eager to get our point across that we might accidentally interrupt someone. 

But for overly dramatic individuals, interrupting seems less like an occasional misstep and more like a regular pattern. 

It’s as if they can’t wait for their turn to contribute to the conversation; their ideas and emotions have to be front and center — now.

At the coffee meet-up, it was noticeable how this friend of a friend seemed to cut in quite frequently. 

Whether it was to share an anecdote, provide unsolicited advice, or switch topics entirely, the interruptions were frequent enough to make you wonder if they were actually hearing what anyone else was saying. 

Of course, it wasn’t done out of malice. Perhaps they were simply so caught up in the drama of their own stories and ideas that they momentarily forgot the social choreography of a group conversation. 

And while such interruptions can bring a dynamic spark to social interactions, they can also serve to derail conversations, making it difficult to delve deep into any topic. 

8) They have love-hate relationships

The emotional roller coaster is in full swing when you’re dealing with someone who’s overly dramatic.

One minute, they’re head over heels in love with someone, and the next minute, they’ve completely fallen out of favor with them. It’s like living in a soap opera where the plot twists are constant and the emotions are always dialed up to the max.

Remember that friend of a friend? At one point, they described someone they had met recently as their “soulmate,” gushing over how perfectly aligned their interests and life goals were. 

But only a week later, the very same individual sounded like their worst enemy, subject to a string of criticisms that seemed to come out of nowhere.

This pattern extends beyond people. Dramatic people may share with exuberance about a new hobby they are totally engrossed in, only to abandon it a week later for something else that catches their fancy. 

While this intensity can make life with them quite colorful and full of surprises, it can also be emotionally draining. 

You may find yourself wanting to keep a certain emotional distance to avoid getting pulled into their drama, or you might tread carefully, unsure of where you stand from one week to the next.

Dealing gracefully with overly dramatic people

Being around overly dramatic people can be both mentally and emotionally draining. 

Yet it’s crucial to remember that their flair for drama is usually about them, not you. 

When finding yourself in their emotional whirlpool, the key is to set healthy boundaries. Know when to participate and when to keep a distance — it’s okay to safeguard your emotional space. 

On the flip side, these individuals often bring a unique vitality and passion to life that can enrich ours, if we navigate it wisely. 

So the next time drama comes to your coffee table, take a deep breath. You can’t control their reactions, but you can certainly control yours. 

It’s a part of the complex, beautiful tapestry of human interaction, and who knows, their impassioned approach to life might even add a splash of color to your own.