Am I A Perfectionist?

Do you feel like you fail at everything you try?

Are you very controlling in your (personal and professional) relationships?

Do you have a hard time to relax and to share your thoughts and feelings?

Are you obsessed with lists and work, or alternately, become extremely apathetic?

Do you procrastinate regularly? You may avoid starting a task because you’re afraid that you’ll not be able to complete it perfectly.

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you suffer from perfectionism. A wish to achieve is good and healthy. However, an irrational wish to always be perfect is unhealthy and may cause several problems. People with perfectionism hold themselves to impossibly high standards. They feel like whatever they do, it’s never good enough. Perfectionism can make you feel unhappy, and it can even lead to depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. It can affect all aspects of life, including your relationships, work, or performance in school.

Based on your answers, you may be displaying one or two signs of perfectionism. People with perfectionism hold themselves to impossibly high standards. They always feel like what they do is never good enough. Perfectionism can make people feel unhappy, and it can have consequences for various aspects of their lives. It can even lead to depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. If the wish to be perfect is having a negative impact on your daily life, you should speak to your doctor.

Unfortunately, you are displaying the symptoms typically seen among individuals who have perfectionism. As part of your perfectionism, you may want to hide your personal problems, which makes it harder to treat. However, keep in mind that it is essential to seek help when you need it. Cognitive-behavioral therapy may help you to learn new ways of thinking about your achievements. It may also be important to work on setting realistic goals for yourself. Besides, you may try to tell yourself that making mistakes is normal, and that it presents learning opportunities. Don’t hesitate to seek help to improve your quality of life.