Perfectionism is the idea that there should be no mistakes or errors in anything you accomplish. Making a mistake can even make you feel unworthy, less likeable, or like a failure. A perfectionist always strives for excellence since they don’t allow any room for error. Your health could be harmed by this style of thinking.
Signs and symptoms of perfectionism
In certain areas of their lives, a lot of people are perfectionists. You might be a full-time perfectionist if you find that you strive for excellence in the majority of your endeavors. These are some blatant indications that you might be a perfectionist:
- Before beginning a task, you must be confident in your ability to complete it perfectly (procrastination).
- Compared to others, you take a lot longer to finish the same work.
- You consider the final result to be the most important aspect of an activity.
- If you don’t think a task is ideal, you might not consider it finished.
Types of perfectionism
Perfectionism can come in three different forms. There are some significant discrepancies despite the types’ similarities. The following three types:
Perfectionism in personal standards: Because you are driven to meet your ambitious personal goals, this kind of perfectionism is primarily beneficial. As a result, your risk of stress or burnout is minimized. Stress from striving for perfection makes you less likely to injure yourself. Your standards may be perceived as being excessively high by others, but that only serves to inspire you.
Self-reproach and perfectionism: Your feelings of intimidation or hopelessness may be exacerbated by this kind of perfectionism. This can make you feel hopeless, which can induce stress, anxiety disorders, self-loathing, and avoidance.
Perfectionism as it is viewed in society: Thus, perfection is required by a third party. This may result from working in a profession like law or medicine that demands the highest level of accuracy. Individuals who work in these fields are more prone to experience stress, suicidal thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, and self-harm. Socially dictated perfectionism may also affect people who are subject to high social or cultural demands.
Coping with perfectionism
You may moderate or end the cycle of perfectionism by following a few useful ideas. A few things to think about are as follows: Become conscious of your ideas and inclinations
According to Jason Drake, a certified clinical social worker in Katy, Texas, in order to overcome or manage perfectionism, you must become conscious of your thoughts and behaviors related to it. You can recognize these ideas and actions by journaling. Choose a situation where you struggled with perfectionism, and write down any ideas that came to mind about the task you felt you needed to complete flawlessly, whether they seem logical or not. What themes begin to emerge as you put down your thoughts? Once you’ve determined the themes, behaviours, and thoughts, you can change.
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