What is perfectionism anxiety

Click below to listen now. Perfectionism is often fueled by habitual negative thoughts. You can get past this way of thinking through the assistance of a psychotherapist who can help you come to recognize these patterns, understand where they come from, and help you challenge unrealistic ideals. In addition, there are some self-help strategies that can temper your perfectionism. Increase your self-awareness through mindfulness exercises.

Mindfulness can allow you to come to terms with your thoughts about perfectionism, making you more aware of your perfectionistic tendencies and allowing you to face these thoughts without reacting to them.

Through the practice of mindfulness, you can learn to let go and release the stress associated with perfectionism. If you evaluate your self-worth by how perfectly you perform various roles in your life, your self-esteem may plummet when goals and aspirations are not met. Perfectionism can be a huge contributor to your personal stress.

Feelings of stress can zap you of energy, potentially increasing your anxiety, and impacting your other panic symptoms. Release some of the stress associated with perfectionism and start feeling more relaxed now. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind.

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How to Cope. Pros Motivates you to give your best and achieve your goals Encourages self-improvement. Cons Sets you up for failure and procrastination Causes negative self-evaluation.

Perfectionism Leads to a Life of Anxiety and Stress The anxiety and stress that stem from perfectionism usually results from trying to live up to an internal ideal. Look to Imperfection as a Way to Heal So how can we ditch this negative perfectionism and anxiety spiral and replace it with the desire to attain greatness while simultaneously accepting our flaws and failures?

Take a look at these tips: Stop comparing yourself to others: No matter what there will always be someone better off then you and you will still be better off than someone else. Comparing yourself others only brings self-doubt and the need to become more perfect. Practice gratitude: Be aware and be thankful for the little things in life. Each night before bed, identify 10 things you are thankful for and pause and reflect on each one.

Notice how your daily mood shifts with this practice. Understand and recognize which aspects of perfectionism you display: Are you overly organized, a workaholic, or obsessed with your appearance? Force yourself to be less perfect: If you spend five hours getting ready in the morning, force yourself to minimize your morning routine. This type of exposure therapy works because it challenges the thoughts that perfection is a requirement. After being exposed to imperfections, you will soon realize that your imperfections do not have the dire consequences as you assumed.

Is Anxiety a Mental Illness? This type of extreme thinking increases anxiety. It leaves no room for the mistakes or roadblocks that are common in everyday life. As a consequence, when things go wrong, perfectionists are more likely to dwell on their concerns , thus feeding their anxiety.

There are a number of strategies to help manage perfectionism. While dismissing these thoughts can provide temporary relief, some people find themselves trapped in a loop, their minds continually returning to dwell on these thoughts. Making a conscious decision to accept the possibility of unwelcome events can help refocus your energy and thoughts onto what you do have the power to control.

Research has linked perfectionism to a variety of mental health problems , including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and several eating disorders. Sheila Achar Josephs. Reducing Perfectionism in Teens. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. American Academy of Pediatrics. What Creates Perfectionism. UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital is a nationally recognized leader in mental health clinical care, research, and education.