Overview
Most people strive to do well in the things they do. It is normal for people to have goals that they feel good about achieving. There are some people who have a need to reach their goals with a level of perfection that is often difficult if not impossible to accomplish. Perfectionism is often seen as desirable personality trait of the successful and driven. When it is in its adaptive form it is considered to be a sign of accomplishment and high self esteem. It is not something people consider to be pathological or psychologically damaging. Those at risk for the pathological form of Perfectionism are those that grow up in environments that create a feeling of a lack of control. This includes homes where there is extreme chaos or where there is complete control by caretakers. Perfectionism is a disorder that is connected to a person’s self esteem and feelings of self worth. It can be contributed to by the behaviors of caretakers, loved ones, or by competitive situations. It can affect children and adults as well as both males and females.
Symptoms
Signs of Perfectionism might not be as obvious as one may think. Although there are instances of a person with Perfectionism becoming obsessive about a project, assignment, or goal there are also cases in which the sufferer avoids doing work due to fear of it not being perfect upon completion. Perfectionism in children may be more difficult to determine due to the child not being able to communicate their feelings effectively. Behaviors to look out for include hiding assignments where the grade is not perfect or becoming frustrated during arts, sports, or hobbies. A Perfectionist child will be highly critical of themselves with self deprecating remarks and refusal of praise. In most cases, no matter how well a task is completed they may still call themselves stupid, dumb, idiot or other negative names. In adults and children, the behavior might include self sabotage. By creating accidents or other distractions the work can be avoided or the imperfections can be blamed on outside circumstances. Deadlines may be regularly missed and the person might be labeled as lazy or slow. This could be due to the sufferer obsessing over minor details and being unable to complete the task. When this behavior persists for at least one month, it is time to seek some form of counseling to help influence more adaptive behaviors.
Treatment
Counseling is often necessary for Perfectionism. It is very difficult for someone to change their behavior on their own. Perfectionism is not a disorder that generally corrects itself without intervention. Cognitive Behavior Therapy is often used in individual and group therapy to help change dysfunctional habits. It is important that the self esteem of the client is addressed as this is usually the driving force of the disorder. Once a feeling of self worth is established it will no longer be necessary for every task to be perfect. By renewing or building self esteem there will no longer be a need for accomplishments to be the deciding factor of worthiness. If there is an underlying issue of anxiety or depression they will also be addressed in counseling. At times medication is necessary to reduce the overwhelming feelings of anxiety, obsession or depression so that the cycle of behavior can be more easily broken. Often, family therapy is necessary since the environment often contributes to the behavior. By learning effective parenting techniques it is possible that counseling can be short term and effective. If the client is willing to change, Perfectionism is a highly treatable disorder.
Image Credit: Jennifer Woodard Maderazo at https://www.flickr.com/photos/22148389@N00/440981861
