4 Dangers of Perfectionism and How to Overcome Them

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4 Dangers of Perfectionism and How to Overcome Them
4 Dangers of Perfectionism and How to Overcome Them
Anonim

People with perfectionist personalities want everything to run and appear flawlessly. However, there are various dangers that lurk behind perfectionism, from depression to he alth problems

Perfectionists are people who always try to look perfect by setting too high standards for themselves and/or others, which is often accompanied by excessive criticism of themselves and others.

4 Dangers of Perfectionism and How to Overcome Them - Alodokter
4 Dangers of Perfectionism and How to Overcome Them - Alodokter

Perfectionism behavior can be seen both at young and adult ages, both at work, school, and in social circles, especially in INTJ personality owners.

Types of Perfectionists

Perfectionist personality consists of 2 types, namely:

Adaptive perfectionist

This type of perfectionist is he althy and purposeful. Adaptive perfectionists have high standards for themselves and others. They tend to be very conscientious and persistent in the face of adversity. They also don't overreact when they fail or when not all of their goals are met.

Adaptive perfectionists focus on the positive and motivate someone to do something well. This behavior also tends to be associated with good psychological he alth, as well as high achievement, both at school and at work.

Maladaptive perfectionist

This type of perfectionist is classified as excessive and unhe althy. This type of perfectionist tends to have the following characteristics:

  • Too busy and focused on the previous mistakes
  • Fear of making new mistakes
  • To think too much about other people's expectations of him
  • Comparing yourself with others
  • Fear of rejection
  • Feeling unsure of yourself
  • Not sure if his attempt was correct

Maladaptive perfectionists are said to be unhe althy because they tend to overreact, can cause stress, and lead to depression.

For example, because of the fear of not being able to live up to other people's expectations, this type of perfectionist may experience intense stomach pains when taking a test or giving a presentation.

Maladaptive perfectionism behavior is often associated with mental he alth problems, including feeling unhappy, feeling excessively low self-esteem, eating disorders, and insomnia.

The Dangers of Perfectionism

Too much desire to be perfect can cause various problems, both physically and mentally. Some of the dangers of perfectionism include:

1. Not enjoying life

The first danger of perfectionism is that the sufferer cannot enjoy life. They are always worrying about or criticizing whatever is going on around them. They also worry about the future or regret something that happened today.

2. Interference with other people

People with perfectionist personalities will judge others the same way they judge themselves. The danger of perfectionists having too high expectations of friends, family, spouse, or coworkers can add to stress and interfere with daily relationships.

3. He alth problems appear

Having a he alth problem is also a danger to perfectionism. People with perfectionist personalities can experience he alth problems, such as the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, in order to maintain a perfect diet and ideal body.

The desire to always be perfect can also cause stress that leads to depression, feeling unhappy and dissatisfied (dysphoria), excessive low self-esteem, loneliness, anger, impatience, frustration, obsessive compulsions, insomnia, to suicidal ideation..

4. Productivity decreased

Procrastinating work (procastination) until work productivity decreases can also be a danger to perfectionists. People with perfectionist personalities can think too much about how to get their job done perfectly that they don't focus on work.

Reducing Perfectionist Attitude

It is not easy to change someone who has a perfectionist nature. If you want to control it, you can start by trying the following steps:

  • Don't expect too high and try to accept other people as they are. Realize that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and can make mistakes.
  • Try not to tire yourself out, and as much as possible avoid feelings of loneliness, anger, or hunger. People with perfectionism will feel more anxious and restless in these conditions.
  • Less looking down on yourself.
  • Accept and love yourself as you are.
  • Maintain good communication with the closest people.
  • Try to set goals that are more realistic and achievable, and focus on one task at a time.

If a perfectionist already feels really unhappy, even depressed, then he needs to get further treatment from a psychiatrist.

Counseling and psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, are expected to be a solution to change the perspective of a perfectionist about his goals and achievements.

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