It’s a matter of degree.
Aperfectionisthas “excessively high personal standards and overly critical self-evaluations.
“They insist on perfection and accept nothing shy of flawlessness.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
This can manifest as criticism of self and others and in attempts to control situations and people.
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All-or-Nothing Thinking
Perfectionists, like high achievers, set and work hard toachieve lofty goals.
“Almost perfect” is seen as a failure.
A perfectionist focuses on imperfections and has trouble seeing anything else.
Theyre morejudgmentaland hard on themselves and otherswhen “failure” does occur.
Feeling Pushed By Fear
High achievers are oftenpulledtoward their goals by a desire to achieve them.
They are also happy with any steps made in the right direction.
Having Unrealistic Standards
Another sign of being a perfectionist issetting goalsthat may not be reasonable.
Perfectionists often set their initial goals out of reach.
Conversely, perfectionists see the goal and nothing else.
They struggle to move on when things don’t work out the way they had hoped.
Fear of Failure
Perfectionists have a greaterfear of failurethan high achievers.
This procrastination can then lead to greater feelings of failure, further perpetuating a vicious and paralyzing cycle.
Low Self-Esteem
High achievers tend to have equally high levels of self-esteem.
This isn’t the case with perfectionists.
Perfectionists can also be lonely or isolated due to their critical nature and rigidity pushing others away.
Are You a Perfectionist?
Unhealthy perfectionism is characterized by an excessive focus on control.
This can take a toll on interpersonal relationships.
It can also contribute to higher levels of stress.
Recap
Unhealthy perfectionism can make it difficult to achieve your goals.
It can also lead to worry, stress, anxiety, and depression, among other negative outcomes.
If you see some of these perfectionist traits in yourself, dont despair.
Recognizing that a change may be needed is a very important first step.
This constant worry can contribute to feelings of anxiety, particularly when perfectionism tends to focus on being self-critical.
There are a number of strategies that can help a child who exhibits unhealthy perfectionism.
Parents and other adults should have reasonable expectationsand focus on praising their child’s efforts rather than outcomes.
Perfectionism is a personality trait versus being a mental health disorder.
That said, people with certain mental illnesses may have perfectionist tendencies.
One example of this is individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Some research suggests that narcissists may be more prone to perfectionism.
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