Anxiety/Toxic Perfectionism

I like to think of anxiety as the constant overestimation of the severity of threat, paired with an underestimation of our ability to cope with said threat. Anxiety manifests in all kinds of different ways. For some of us, it is intrusive thoughts that interrupt the rhythm of our day to day lives. For others it might be increased irritability and agitation, or nagging worries keeping us awake at night. Anxiety can cause us to second guess ourselves and our decisions, leaving us plagued with self-doubt.

In addition to general anxiety, I also work with anxiety that is the result of toxic perfectionism. Toxic perfectionism is the drive to be perfect in mind, body, career, relationships (and on and on). Because perfection is impossible, perfectionists often feel that they are constantly letting everyone down and falling short of their own expectations. SIgns that you might be struggling with toxic perfectionism can include: an all or nothing mindset, constant self doubt, self worth that is based on what you acheive, the need to overperform, difficulty acknowledging sucess or feeling satisfied with accomplishments, and intense fear of real or perceived failure.

In treatment, I rely on an array of evidenced based practices including a blend of psychodynamic and humanistic therapies while integrating cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness work, distress tolerance, and whole-body wellness. In session we will identify the sources of your anxious response and develop skills and strategies to cope more effectively with anxious feelings. We will examine what these feelings are trying to tell you, when it's worth to it to listen, and when to tune it out.