Yes, doesn't everyone have versions of this, with Ts and others? I sometimes did with the Ts pretty much what I tend to do with other people for attention. Come up with something that I think is kinda cool and sophisticated - like observations, ideas, elaborate complex analyses... typically via email (because writing is a better medium for this, given I have time to compose and edit). Also did this in person, although that way I never truly felt it was for attention since I already had that time fully focused on me. What I did with the emails tends to work really well with certain kinds of people (usually the kinds I want to draw attention from) and worked with the Ts as well, for a while. Until they figured it out (especially the second), but we discussed it explicitly as well, I wanted to. Another way is emphasizing how I resolved an issue or overcame something difficult, and reporting about it. I know these are a bit narcissistic, but so are all the methods of attention seeking, if we want. Another kind was usually when I was drinking: similar to the above analytical stuff but much darker, brooding and surreal.

Emotional outbursts, temper tantrums, directly emphasizing my pain and suffering are not my style (I think I would have done therapy better if they had been) but the above are. Usually my good friends also figure these out about me and then we mostly just joke about it. I try to pay attention not to do these things merely for the sake of attention now (as opposed to, say, in my 20s-early 30s) but sometimes it's irresistible. But when I really want something from someone now, I usually force myself to be more upfront and simple, it has better outcomes.

I think the ways we tend to reach out to others for attention can reveal quite a lot about our personalities and defenses. I think that part of the reason the Ts were puzzled about me and found it hard to help me was those indirect, often overly symbolic and intellectualized expression styles. Some people can break through this effectively or communicate with me in similar ways (usually those that are prone to the same) but my Ts did not do that.