What is perfectionism?
Perfectionism is the desire to appear and perform perfectly (or without error) and the belief that perfection is achievable. Perfectionism is typically understood as a positive quality and is often associated with traits such as hardworking, dedicated, and responsible. For example, someone who has perfectionist tendencies may spend hours rewriting something (such as an email or a text) to be perceived as perfect. Perfectionism is a cognitive distortion because it is impossible to live life without error, so perfectionist goals are often unattainable. Research suggests that there are three types of perfectionists: Socially Prescribed Perfectionists (people who worry about criticism from others); Other-Oriented Perfectionists (people who have high standards for others); and Self-Oriented Perfectionists (people who have high standards for themselves).
How does perfectionism affect me?
Perfectionism is a cognitive distortion in which people not only desire perfection and unattainable goals, but also believe they are achievable. These distortions stem from core beliefs we might have about self-worth and failure. This is not a healthy way of thinking because most things in life are not free of error, and failure is a plausible outcome we all experience from time to time. Because of these rigid ways of thinking, people with perfectionist tendencies often experience excess stress. They may be overly critical of themselves and of others, or may feel that others are overly critical of them. These added stressors are why perfectionism has been linked to having poorer self-esteem and poor relationship actions, as well as depression, anxiety, OCD, and even eating disorders.
Find the Best Therapist in Chicago to Combat Perfectionism
There are many ways to combat perfectionism and perfectionistic tendencies. Because these are cognitive distortions, cognitive-behavioral treatments are effective. One of the first things you can do is become self-aware of some triggers and cognitive beliefs so you can begin challenging them. Next, become comfortable with receiving constructive criticism and with failure. We all experience failure from time to time, but that does not mean you are a failure. Failure is a rest stop, not a destination. You can also help yourself by avoiding negative self-talk and criticism, and by setting reasonable, attainable goals for yourself. Finally, therapy can help, as your therapist can guide you in challenging these thoughts and core beliefs through guided exercises.
At Roamers Therapy, our psychotherapists are here to support you through anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues, race-ethnicity issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, ADHD, Autism, or any challenges you encounter. Our psychotherapists are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Gottman Therapy.
Whether you’re seeking guidance on a specific issue or need help navigating difficult emotions, we’re ready to assist you every step of the way.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and schedule a session with our mental health professionals to begin your healing journey. To get started with therapy, you can fill out our inquiry form. You may use this form whether you plan to use insurance benefits, self-pay, or out-of-network benefits, and to receive details about your out-of-pocket costs and our therapists’ availability. Once your appointment is confirmed, you’ll receive intake documents to complete before your first session.
This page is also part of the Roamers Therapy Glossary; a collection of mental-health-related definitions that are written by our therapists.
While our offices are currently located at the South Loop neighborhood of Downtown Chicago and Lakeview on Chicago’s North Side, Illinois, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more. You can visit our contact page to access detailed information on our office location.