The Centre for Clinical Intervention defines perfectionism as:
1. The relentless striving for extremely high standards (for yourself and/or others) that are personally demanding, in the context of the individual. (Typically, to an outsider the standards are considered to be unreasonable given the circumstances.)
2. Judging your self-worth based largely on your ability to strive for and achieve such unrelenting standards
3. Experiencing negative consequences of setting such demanding standards, yet continuing to go for them despite the huge cost to you
Individuals with perfectionism are often uncomfortable with being labelled as a perfectionist, protesting “I’m not perfect!” But perfectionism is not about being perfect. It is about never feeling good enough, and is linked to low self-worth.
Approach vs Avoidant Perfectionism
Approach and avoidance perfectionism are flip sides of the same coin.
Approach perfectionism is what we typically understand perfectionistic behaviours to be, for example;
- Overworking
- Cleanliness
- Orderliness
Avoidant perfectionism is when the individuals internal demands are so high that they avoid doing tasks completely, for example -
“I haven’t cleaned the house in weeks. I know if I try to clean the bench top I’ll have to start disinfecting everything and then rearrange the pantry and clear out the fridge and it’s all too overwhelming”
- P in Brisbane
Individuals with perfectionism will often swing between the two extremes of approach and avoidant perfectionism behaviours, or may be approach in some areas while avoidant in others.
When perfectionism is extreme, prominent in multiple of areas of life, and constant, it may be considered Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder.
Treatments for Perfectionism
There are a number of effective treatment for perfectionism including Compassion Focused Therapy, Schema Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy. The goal of treatment is not to let go of your standards completely, but to have high standards that:
- Reflect your values
- Are working for you
- Don’t interfere with relationship or wellbeing
- Are flexible
Perfectionism is an anxiety based illness and often the anxiety needs to be also be treated.
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
OCPD is a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with:
- Orderliness
- Perfectionism
- Mental control and
- Relationship control
At the expense of:
- Flexibility
- Openness and
- Efficiency
Beginning in early adulthood (or earlier) and presenting a variety of situations, individuals with OCPD experience:
- Preoccupation with details, rules, lists, order, organisation, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost
- Perfectionism that interferes with task completion (for example, they may be unable to complete a project because their own overly strict standards are not met)
- Excessive devotion to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (in the absence of financial necessity)
- Being overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (outside of their cultural or religious norms)
- Inability to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value
- Reluctance to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly their way of doing things
- A miserly spending style toward both self and others as money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes
- Rigidity and stubbornness
Examples of OCPD symptoms include:
- Excessive perfectionism
- Excessive studying
- Overworking
- Excessive tidying or organisation
- Emphasis on lists and routines
- Rigidity/inflexibility
- Restricting or dieting behaviour
- Compulsive exercise
- Excessive doubt
- Excessive caution
- Excessive contentiousness
While individuals with OCPD often feel positive about striving towards their goals, they also find it extremely fatiguing and are left never feeling good enough. The persistent preoccupation with productivity often leaves them:
- Feeling empty
- Feeling that their life lacks meaning
- Socially isolated
- Experiencing feelings of imposter syndrome
Treatment for OCPD
There are a number of therapies that can be used target OCPD, including Compassion Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Schema Therapy, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy.
