I agree, the fact you are able to acknowledge it suggests to me this is a personality trait. Is this compulsive behavior? I myself in public situations want validation. I catch myself drawing things out into stories. I can't help doing this. I mentally kick myself afterwards. I suppose this falls into the category of attention seeking. I don't feel it is part of my mental illness. I think it stems from the fact that for the first 45 years of my life I was stifled and ignorred.

Again, are you aware of this as it happens? Do you make a conscious decision to do this or is it something you are compelled to do?