Perfectionism & Self Doubt

What is Perfectionism?

Perfectionism – no matter what you do, you never feel good enough. You find yourself procrastinating even the simplest of tasks because you are worried you won’t do it “right” or perfectly. It seems like the only way you get things done is when you’re up against a deadline and the pressure is on. This never-ending cycle of procrastination and high pressure work leaves you feeling burnt out and worn down.

Maybe you’ve embraced perfectionism as a part of your personality, yet it feels like it’s getting harder and harder to find motivation. You find yourself overwhelmed with negative thoughts and feelings and can’t seem to overcome them. You spend hours ruminating on seemingly small mistakes that can spiral you out of control. Even a quick dirty look from a stranger can leave you feeling devastated and upset.

Attention? Please, No

On the flip side, you feel uncomfortable and embarrassed when people compliment you. The words seem nice but can’t possibly be true. You can’t believe that anyone would see you as something special. You find yourself trying to be perfect in all situations just to avoid criticism but compliments feel almost as bad. It’s hard to think about being worthy of praise and compliments when you feel insecure deep down. Sometimes you think those who compliment you must be lying or have an alterior motive.

You often find yourself feeling self-conscious about things you say, how you look, and how people are perceiving you. Maybe you find it impossible to leave the house for even simple errands without dressing up or putting on makeup. Sometimes this is because of a negative experience in childhood (middle school, anyone?) but other times, there isn’t anything specific you can put your finger on.

IDGAF? I Wish!

Regardless of the reason, you desperately wish you could be one of those people who simply doesn’t give a fuck about what anyone else thinks. It would be so liberating to not worry about the thoughts in everyone else’s head. You’ve tried so many times to tell yourself it doesn’t matter but you just can’t move past it. You find yourself wishing you could be confident and proud like so many other people in the world but it just doesn’t seem possible.

Is Therapy Right for Me?

Perfectionism and self-doubt can often feel like a never-ending cycle:  you need the positive outcomes because you believe that is the measure of your worth. Therapy can help to help you find when and where you learned results were the whole of your worth and help you to rewrite that narrative. It helps to shut up that mean voice in your head that tells you it’s never good enough so you can stop obsessing and relax.

If you are ready to free yourself from the demands of your inner critic, schedule a free phone consultation to discuss options for treatment.