6 Signs That Your Perfectionism Is Affecting Your Mental Health
There’s having high standards, and then there’s paralyzing yourself from making progress.
It’s reasonable to want to put your best effort into your work, self-care, and relationships. But sometimes the fear of failure and striving for absolute perfection (which doesn’t exist) can cause mental distress.
Learn more about coping skills to relieve perfectionist tendencies here.
References
de Jonge-Heesen, K. W. J., et al. (2021). How to cope with perfectionism? Perfectionism as a risk factor for suicidality and the role of cognitive coping in adolescents. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.
Iranzo-Tatay, C., et al. (2015). Genetic and environmental contributions to perfectionism and its common factors. Psychiatry Research.
Lundh, L. G. (2004). Perfectionism and acceptance. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.
Rice, K. G., et al. (2001). Perfectionism, coping, and emotional adjustment. Journal of College Student Development.
Shafran, R., et al. (2002). Clinical perfectionism: A cognitive–behavioural analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy.
Stoeber, J., et al. (2011). Perfectionism and coping with daily failures: Positive reframing helps achieve satisfaction at the end of the day. Anxiety, Stress and Coping.
For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
