Perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, can look the same on the outside. Both can make you want things to be just right. Both can make you check or redo things. But they are not the same.
What Is Perfectionism?
Perfectionism refers to desiring something to be perfect. You have rather high standards for yourself. You may worry about mistakes and you may feel bad if things are not as fine as you had hoped. Goals are often concerned with perfectionism. You can be motivated to succeed at work or school. But perfectionism can lead to stress, anxiety and low self-esteem.
What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
OCD is a mental health condition. It has two parts. The first part is obsessions. These are thoughts that come over and over. They feel scary or wrong. The second part is compulsions. These are acts you do to try to stop the bad thought. Checking, washing, or counting are common compulsions.
People with OCD do these acts to ease fear. The acts feel needed. They take time. They can stop you from living your life.
Key Differences
Perfectionism is a style of thinking. People who are perfectionists try to reach high goals. They can still enjoy life and stop when needed.
OCD is an illness. People with OCD feel forced to do things. The acts are not fun. They often waste time. The fear or doubt does not go away with regular reasoning.
Here are three clear ways to tell them apart:
- Why do you do it
- Perfectionism: You want to reach a goal.
- OCD: You try to lower fear or stop a bad thought.
- How it feels
- Perfectionism: It may feel driven or anxious.
- OCD: It often feels urgent and out of control.
- How does it affect life
- Perfectionism: You may avoid risks or feel stressed.
- OCD: You may lose hours to checking or repeating. Daily life can be hard.
How Perfectionism Can Hurt
Perfectionism can make you work too much. It can make you avoid new things. You may wait too long to finish a task. You may fear failing. Over time, this can cause low mood or burnout.
But with care, many people with perfectionism can learn new skills. Therapy can help. Small changes can make life easier.
How OCD Affects Life
OCD can stop you from doing normal things. You may be late to work or miss plans. You may clean or check things for hours. This takes away time with family and friends. It can make you feel lonely and trapped.
OCD can also come with other problems like anxiety or depression. It can be treated well with therapy and sometimes medication.
When To Seek Help
If your worries or checks take a lot of time each day, seek help. If you feel trapped or your life is smaller because of your thoughts, reach out. If work, school, or family suffer, get support.
It is okay to ask for help. Asking can make life better.
How We Help at Ascension Psychiatric Services
At Ascension Psychiatric Services, we offer virtual visits across Georgia. We treat OCD and other concerns you may have. We also help with medication management, depression, ADHD and more.
Our team is led by Anthony J. Hall, a board-certified nurse practitioner. He has 25 years of clinical work. We focus on people with complex needs. We listen. We make a plan with you. We can offer therapy options, medicine, or both.
We know each person is different. We will not rush you. We will describe things in easy terms. We can meet with you online so you can get care from home
Simple Steps You Can Try Today
- Name the thought
- Say the thought out loud or in your head. Give it a label like “worry” or “check.” This can help it feel less big.
- Set a small time limit.
- If you feel the urge to check, try to wait five minutes. Then add five more. Small steps matter.
- Write one kind line to yourself
- For example: “I did my best today.” Keep it short.
- Talk to someone
- Tell a friend or family member how you feel. You do not have to do this alone.
These steps are simple. They do not replace care. But they can help you start.
Final Thoughts
Both perfectionism and OCD may render life difficult. Perfectionism is concerned with high standards. OCD is regarding undesired thoughts and impulses. They each should be taken care of.
You should seek professional assistance in case you believe you have OCD. No, we won’t let you wear yourself out if perfectionism is wearing you down. At Ascension Psychiatric Services, we listen. We are providing virtual visits throughout Georgia. We’re ready to help you with kindness and clear goals.
FAQs
What can I try at home right now?
Name the worry. Wait a few minutes before acting. Say one kind line to yourself. Tell a friend.
How can Ascension Psychiatric Services help?
We offer online visits across Georgia. We listen, make a plan and help with therapy and medicine when needed.
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