Anxiety & Perfectionism: A Messy Love Story
Ever feel like you have to do everything perfectly, or the world might just implode? Welcome to the chaotic duo of anxiety and perfectionism. They're like those two friends who crash your party uninvited and then stress you out about how clean your house is.
What’s the Connection?
Perfectionism often comes with anxiety as its clingy sidekick. It tricks you into thinking that if you just get everything exactly right, you’ll finally feel calm. Spoiler alert: It never works. Instead, you end up triple-checking an email, rewriting it five times, and still panicking after you hit "send."
The truth is, perfectionism creates impossible standards. Anxiety thrives on those because it LOVES to keep you in that loop of “not good enough.”
Why It’s Exhausting?
Decision Paralysis: Anxiety says, “What if you pick the wrong font for this PowerPoint?” Perfectionism says, “Spend 2 hours deciding.”
Never Feeling Done: Even when you complete something, you obsess over tiny mistakes no one else will notice.
Burnout City: Trying to be perfect all the time is like running a marathon on a treadmill—you’re working hard but going nowhere.
How Therapy Can Help
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a game-changer for anxiety and perfectionism. Unlike traditional therapy that tries to eliminate negative thoughts, ACT teaches you how to:
Accept Your Thoughts: Instead of fighting anxiety or perfectionist thinking, you learn to acknowledge those thoughts without letting them control your actions.
Defuse From Perfectionist Traps: Techniques like mindfulness help you distance yourself from the need to get everything “just right.”
Commit to Your Values: ACT helps you focus on what truly matters—your relationships, passions, and goals—rather than wasting energy chasing impossible standards.
With ACT, you don’t have to silence your inner critic. Instead, you learn how to coexist with it while still living a full, meaningful life.
What to Do Next
If anxiety and perfectionism are running your life and leaving you exhausted, therapy can help. ACT is just one of many evidence-based approaches that can give you tools to break free from the cycle and find peace.
Ready to start your journey toward balance and freedom? Contact us and take the first step toward a healthier, happier you.
References
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change. Guilford Press.
Egan, S. J., Wade, T. D., & Shafran, R. (2011). "Perfectionism as a Transdiagnostic Process: A Clinical Review." Clinical Psychology Review, 31(2), 203-212.
Kashdan, T. B., & Rottenberg, J. (2010). "Psychological Flexibility as a Fundamental Aspect of Health." Clinical Psychology Review, 30(7), 865-878.
