The relationship between dysfunctional perfectionism, anxiety and depression

In a society that constantly emphasizes the importance of effort and a hard work ethic, it's often assumed that being a perfectionist is, by default, a positive thing. However this is not entirely true. Psychologists know that there are several forms of perfectionism, and some of them are dysfunctional, wearing down a person's mental health and their quality of life in general.

For example, this is what happens when the quality standards that we set as a reference are given to us above all through social pressure, and when we are more motivated by the fear of being left behind in front of others than by the desire to do things well because of the satisfaction generated by that task itself same.

Considering this, It should come as no surprise that dysfunctional perfectionism is linked to disorders such as generalized anxiety and depression.. In this article we will see how this type of link takes place between apparently very different psychological elements.

• Related article: "The 3 types of perfectionism, and how they affect us"

How can dysfunctional perfectionism favor the appearance of anxiety problems?

Dysfunctional perfectionism is characterized by the establishment of very high demand or performance standards, to heights that are often unattainable, in a field of life or in the face of day-to-day obligations and responsibilities in general.

Said requirement, both in the academic and work spheres or in interpersonal relationships, originates from a behavioral dynamic in which the demands of the environment and self-demand are mixed and become confused because of the biased way in which the person interprets what life expects of them.

Next I will talk about how this way of being a perfectionist can lead to physical and psychological exhaustion through the accumulation of anxiety.

1. excessive control

One of the main ways in which dysfunctional perfectionism can lead to a case of anxiety in the person who suffers from it is through excessive control of any activity that is carried out, and the permanent search for "excellence" (in quotation marks because the person assumes it as something objective and external to himself, even though in reality it is not).

Constantly trying to be in control in any daily activity ends up being exhausting for the person at the psychological and is a situation that usually generates pictures of generalized anxiety or even syndrome of Burnout.

• You may be interested: "Self-control: 7 psychological tips to improve it"

2. Fear to fail

The fear of failure is another of the main generators of anxiety in people who present a profile of dysfunctional perfectionism in any area of ​​their day-to-day life.

This permanent fear of failing or simply not achieving the success that was thought in a certain job, an exam, a physical test or any other activity ostensibly affects the person from the psychological point of view, and with the passage of time the effects of discomfort or anxiety can still be worse.

In the most extreme cases, this psychological element also favors the appearance of another class of anxiety disorders: phobias.. And it is that the fear of failure can paralyze the person, to the point that he enters into a dynamic of avoiding what he feels the need to do.

3. obsessive thoughts

Another of the classic characteristics that many people with dysfunctional perfectionism present are obsessive or ruminative thoughts that constantly repeat themselves in their head.

These recurring thoughts have a very negative effect due to their eroding effect on mental health: nobody feels good having to deal with the same kind of disturbing mental images, catastrophic predictions, etc. over and over again. They are of the type: "I have to achieve success in my project or nobody will respect me anymore", "I have to be the better to make a living” or “I have to improve my performance a lot to be accepted in my circle of friends".

• Related article: "Obsessive thoughts: why they appear and how to fight them"

4. Burnout syndrome

Burnout Syndrome consists of a chronification of work stress and is strongly related to the anxious symptoms of dysfunctional perfectionism.

This syndrome is suffered daily by thousands of workers in our country and is characterized by a general state of physical and mental fatigue and by dissatisfaction and discomfort with the work being carried out and the results obtained.

• You may be interested: "Burnout: how to detect it and take action"

5. Eating Disorders

Another area linked to dysfunctional perfectionism consists of constantly reviewing and judging one's personal or physical image. This leads many people to try to relieve their discomfort by entering a spiral of over-exercising and worrying about body weight, something that occurs especially in women.

People who worry excessively about their weight or who spend all day thinking about exercising and burning calories can lead to the development of an eating behavior disorder, with anorexia and/or bulimia being the most usual.

• Related article: "Why are eating disorders among the most dangerous psychopathologies?"

How is dysfunctional perfectionism related to depression?

Dysfunctional perfectionism can also be related to the appearance of cases of depression; here we will look at some of the ways this can happen.

1. self esteem issues

Low self-esteem in people with dysfunctional perfectionism is related to excessive self-demand and in the belief that one will not achieve anything that one sets out to do. This occurs in part because the person learns to value himself only from the objective results in what he wants to excel in, without considering everything else.

By not reaching the quality standards or proposed objectives, the person ends up thinking on a recurring basis that he is not worth the job. since it has been assigned to him, that he is not as good as he thought or directly considers him to be a fraud, suffering from Down syndrome impostor.

• You may be interested: "Do you really know what self-esteem is?"

2. Frustration

Dysfunctional perfectionism also fuels ongoing feelings of frustration, which can lead to depression. This happens when the person had internalized a series of unrealistic expectations about a promising future that awaited them.

This frustration usually extends to all areas of the person's life, both personally and at work or academic and social.

3. Demotivation

Demotivation is also related to frustration, and is a very characteristic state of dysfunctional perfectionism that leads to a lifestyle marked by passivity.

Many people who feel dissatisfied or frustrated with their performance will also end up feeling demotivated or sad because they believe they haven't done as well as they set out to do. In turn, the passive and sedentary lifestyle, linked to social isolation and physical exhaustion, facilitates the appearance of depression, among other things because it does not provide incentives or experiences exciting.

4. negativity

People who present a dysfunctional perfectionism profile tend to have very negative thoughts about the future, and to consider that everything will go wrong for them. They adopt a mus pessimistic framework of interpretation of reality, which leads them to go through more unpleasant situations that, in turn, confirm that pessimism.

This way of thinking also contributes to general negativity and can eventually lead to depression.

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I am a psychologist with more than a decade of experience in the field of mental health and I serve adults, adolescents and couples; I offer online therapy sessions by video call.