The Dark Side of Unhealthy and Pathological Perfectionism
How to deal with unhealthy perfectionism
The concept of Maladaptive/unhealthy perfectionism can be identified by certain characteristics such as severe obsession about previous failures, questioning your abilities in terms of performing any task, and severe anxiety about the unrealistic expectations from others around you. This kind of personality trait can negatively impact your lifestyle. As this kind of perfectionism is excessive thus, it will have control over your life and will cause unnecessary distress.
Examples:
- Feeling disturbed and anxious before any important thing, for instance, an exam or presentation as there is a lack of self-confidence in your capability of performing well.
- Continuously seeking confirmation and appreciation from those around you regarding your performance and other things in your life.
How to deal with Unhealthy Perfectionism
“At the end of the day, remind yourself that you did the best you could today, and that is good enough.” ― Lori Deschene
Try not to be perfect in everything
To put it another way, avoid thriving for perfectionism and be resilient in less prioritized things in your life and only focus on the most important ones. Prioritize the most important things or activities in your life and focus on achieving perfection only in those areas.
Concentrate on the journey
In general, high performers and perfectionists emphasize the end game and outcome most importantly. This is why they suffer from an internal struggle with self-appreciation and motivation while they are trying to achieve their goals.
Small achievements should be celebrated
You have to take pleasure in your small victories throughout your journey. You can do this simply by enjoying your present and taking the time to acknowledge your achievements. Also, try to preach self-awareness which will help you to move forward with your future goals.
Avoid self-criticizing
It is one of the reasons behind pathological perfectionism. To avoid this, you can keep track of your achievements and repeat self-love affirmations. If you start saying self-loving affirmations you will eventually start to believe those things.
Make yourself a priority
It might be common for maladaptive perfectionists to compromise their personal needs to achieve excellence and strive for their accomplishments. Make time for yourself and avoid sacrificing your workout regimen, home cooking, and attending a social gathering for the sake of your certain objectives.
Bottom Line
This pathological perfectionism usually negatively impacts the individual and this type of perfectionist rarely takes care of their mental health. With professional help, this type of perfectionist can become capable of alleviating their perfectionism-related suffering.
Thank you for reading.
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Sources:
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-perfectionism-2510538
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/perfectionism-tips_n_5c014c2ce4b0d04f48b385a5
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180219-toxic-perfectionism-is-on-the-rise