Anxious Perfectionist: How to Cope with Anxiety Caused by the Pursuit of Perfection Using ACT

If you identify yourself as a perfectionist, you may not see perfectionism as a problem. You might even view it as an advantage. However, the pursuit of unrealistic standards and defining your self-worth based on compliance with them often leads to anxiety, stress, emotional burnout, and dissatisfaction. How can you distinguish between helpful perfectionism and harmful perfectionism and stop imposing excessively high demands on yourself and others?

In the book "Anxious Perfectionist," psychologists Clarissa Ong and Michael Tuhig shed light on the hidden costs of striving to be the best. They offer exercises based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you cope with the anxiety caused by perfectionism. You will learn how the need for perfection can reduce your productivity and hinder goal achievement. Learn to interrupt negative inner dialogue. Free yourself from useless and limiting labels like "success" or "failure." Give yourself and others permission to make mistakes. And all of this — while maintaining faith in yourself and your high aspirations!