Why do I have an obsession with being perfect?

Smith said perfectionists are born with the tendency to want things to be in order, and that circumstances such as family trauma, addiction, marital troubles or poverty can magnify the compulsion. “For children who are in these circumstances, they will often start to use order to comfort themselves,” she said.

What is it called when you are obsessed with being perfect?

Just Right obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an OCD subtype that is characterized by ongoing intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors around organization, perfection and making things feel “just right.” People with Just Right OCD experience frequent intrusive thoughts around organization and symmetry, and they …

How do you deal with a perfectionist feeling?

How to Overcome Perfectionism

1. 1- Become More Aware of Your Tendencies.
2. 2- Focus on the Positives.
3. 3- Allow Yourself to Make Mistakes.
4. 4- Set More Reasonable Goals.
5. 5- Learn How to Receive Criticism.
6. 6- Lower the Pressure You Put on Yourself.
7. 7- Focus on Meaning Over Perfection.
8. 8- Try Not to Procrastinate.

Why do I freak out when things aren’t perfect?

Having unrealistic expectations about the self can contribute to increased feelings of anxiety, dissatisfaction, and difficulty coping with symptoms. Perfectionism is usually the result of trying to live up to an internal ideal, but it can also be motivated by fear, such as worrying about how others perceive you.

Can perfectionism lead to OCD?

OCD is therefore tightly linked to anxiety but is no longer classified as an anxiety disorder in the DSM and is not directly linked to perfectionism.

Do perfectionists have OCD?

Perfectionism is considered a personality trait and is not considered a personality disorder of its own however perfectionism is a trait often seen in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder which is similar to OCD except that the individual is fully supportive of this behavior; identical to individuals who are …

How do you get out of an obsession with something?

Read a gripping novel, watch an entertaining movie, help a friend in distress. Do something that takes you out of your own head. Accomplish a task that helps put your obsession behind you. Sometimes an obsession holds us in its power and refuses to let us go because we simply haven’t finished with it.

What is it like to be obsessed with something?

At first, like all addictions, obsession is intoxicating. It fills us up, and what a relief that feeling is (especially if we felt empty before). But even if we didn’t feel empty, obsession makes us feel potent, capable, and purposeful. But also like all addictions, with time obsession unbalances us.

Can obsession lead us to greatness?

In fact, when properly harnessed, the increased energy, drive, determination, and resiliency obsession brings can be highly adaptive. Obsession, when made to serve us, can bring out our most capable selves, motivating us to find the creativity and ingenuity to solve incredibly difficult problems. Obsession, in short, can lead us to greatness.

Is perfectionism bad for You?

Perfectionism can be a healthy trait. The problem comes when it’s taken to the extreme. Many of the issues I shared in parts 1 and 2 are the result of neurotic perfectionism, which is the extreme, maladaptive form of perfectionism.