THE PRICE OF perfectionism

Constantly second-guessing yourself is exhausting, but that's not the only problem when you feel you need to be perfect, writes Dr Laura Williams

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Perfectionism is one of those terms that gets thrown around too much for my liking. In recent years, it's become a popular way of describing people who strive to achieve and do their best, in a broadly similar way to how obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is now spoken of. Too often, I hear statements like, 'Oh, she's such a perfectionist,' or, 'You know how I like things to be exactly right, I'm a bit OCD.' Incidentally, psychological research has long noted the relatedness of perfectionism and obsessive compulsive disorder. But the point I want to make is that speaking about perfectionism in this way diminishes the very real suffering it can cause individuals. Perfectionism has been linked to many psychological disorders, but for many people like me, it shows up in what may at first seem like relatively benign ways.

When asked about perfectionism, most people will tell you it's when we strive to do things 'just right' or correctly; that it's about making sure whatever we do is done to the very best of our ability. And if this is perfectionism, it doesn't sound that terrible, does it? Often, it isn't. Perfectionism, as far as psychological traits go, can be helpful, up to a point. In fact, early research previously categorised perfectionism as either positive and healthy, or negative and pathological. It can allow us to meet the standards set for us and sometimes even exceed them. This can have a positive impact on our scholastic record, our career, and even what people think of us.