I’m very (VERY) perfectionistic and I feel that might be my biggest issue and one of the causes for my psychotic symptoms (besides trauma). I just can’t deal with failure. I’ve been like that ever since I can remember.
An example - I was a kid and at primary school we had a large test, I think it took one or two days. It’s taken everywhere in the country. I made only 1 mistake - which is an extremely rare and good result. I didn’t feel any pride or joy about that. Instead I panicked - what did I do wrong?!? What was my mistake? That’s not a healthy response…
I’m still like that, especially in social situations, only there is much more guilt, religious fears and delusional thinking involved nowadays. And I DID make some really bad mistakes in my life, exactly because I couldn’t deal with failure. E.g. I’d feel so overwhelmed by avoiding even the tiniest mistakes that I didn’t oversee the bigger picture and made a huge mistake that caused loads of trouble to me and everyone around me.
I suspect perfectionism to be a treat of more schizophrenic/psychotic people (in my case they wondered if there are some autistic traits involved as well). I’d like to get rid of it. I also at times am perfectionistic towards others, although I try not to bother them with that. but it is not a good trait.
Did anyone succesfully overcome perfectionism and the guilt that accompanies it? How? What kind of recommendations do you have?
Perfectionism is poisonous. People who waffle about looking for the perfect approach to solving their problems normally don’t accomplish anything at all, since they’re in analysis paralysis most of the time.
Living is messy, people make mistakes, just live with it!
Perfectionists are their own worst enemy.
People find them a bother until the poo-poo hits the fan and it’s essential that each and every detail is correct.
Owners of businesses, genealogists, new mothers, accountants, and the medical field love perfectionists.
There is a time and place for everything, as long as you don’t forget to have fun too.
I’d love to let go, have fun, live with it…but my system registers every detail and pattern and there is a huge anxiety response when something is incorrect/illogical/wrong. :-/ It’s not really something I’m consciously doing. It’s like a loud alarm goes of in my mind when something is not correct or logical. It became worse after trauma, when I had to fight in court to protect my son and every detail mattered and every mistake I made could mean my (then baby) son would be destroyed by my ex. I did succeed in proving the problem and protecting my son, against all odds, so yes… indeed there is a place for everything…but the anxiety and perfectionism never really went away after that.
I was wondering if therapy or an SSRI would help…did anyone try an SSRI against these type of traits?
Never tried anything, life took care of my perfectionism.
Kinda ironic that a perfectionism can’t do a good job of ‘unlearning’ being a perfectionist-eh?
Type A personality. Wanting things done right is not wrong. When the thought of wanting things done right brings stress, anxiety, and frustration then it’s time to get help. Sometimes people with this type of personality are extremely successful if they keep a balanced life. Sometimes people think that ‘having it your way’ is more important than relationships. It can cause alienation and being alone. Not good.
You may have to be the one to modify your behavior and perfectionism is deep seated and hard to lessen. You might see the play “The Odd Couple” - also a movie, - to see perfectionism at work. Perfectionists can accomplish much so while it gets in the way at times, it can also lead to breakthroughs and excellent work.