In our society, the term perfectionism can hold many different meanings. It’s impossible to name all the reasons some people strive for perfection. For some people, they need to be perfect in order to stay congruent with how others view them. Some need to be perfect in order to offset their insecurities. This blog post will explore the question of is perfectionism a mental illness.
A Mental Health Therapist’s Take on Perfection
Striving to be and do your best in this world is a powerful quality in life. However, sometimes this desire for perfection can become all-consuming and overwhelming. Sometimes people who are striving for perfection lose touch with themselves in order to appease others or gain their approval. Other times, perfection is needed so that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms can stay in check. A desire for perfectionism alone is not a mental illness. Although it can lead to tendencies such as OCD like behavior or cover up insecurities. Perfectionism is often a symptom of something larger that’s going on behind the scenes.
The Issues with Perfectionism in Life
Again, striving to be your best and do your best in this world is a wonderful quality. But human beings are fallible. We make mistakes every single day. But, ignoring those mistakes, avoiding them, or not addressing the mistakes and trying to cover them up, can create compounding issues down the road. This can then lead to higher levels of stress and a lower quality of life.
Navigating Life While Being Imperfect
Welcome to being human. No matter the reason that you’re striving for perfection in life, finding the humanism and connection to the present moment can allow for beauty, richness, and emotion to come into your world. These things may be scary, or maybe even unheard of for some people, but allowing these qualities into your life can greatly increase the quality of your life.
So, to answer the question of is perfectionism a mental illness, the answer is no. But it’s a symptom of something that’s much deeper. Individual therapy near you can help you uncover and decouple from some of these perfection urges or tendencies that are driving your life.
If you are interested in individual therapy near Kenosha, Wisconsin, please submit a form here or give me a call at 720.295.6703. Currently, I am accepting new clients.
In-person therapy sessions are offered on both Saturdays and Sundays. I found that in-person sessions work best for those who live near Union Grove, Mount Pleasant, Oak Creek, and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. On Saturdays and Sundays, I also offer virtual therapy sessions as well as during weekday evenings. Online therapy sessions work best for those who live in the states of Colorado and Wisconsin.
