A preoccupation with perfectionism is actually applauded by our society. Someone who may be privately crippled by this form of addiction typically performs superlatively in the sports, social, academic and occupational world. In fact they may go through their whole lives without anyone realizing the secret bargain that the perfectionist has struck with her soul in order to achieve the unachievable.

To understand this insidious form of addiction it is necessary to examine the general characteristics of addiction itself. This way it is possible to discern if the perfectionism is just a streak or a full-blown addiction.

In order to classify as an addiction, perfectionism needs to be followed slavishly to the exclusion of all else. This means that certain things are sacrificed. In the case of the perfectionist these things may not be as obvious as they are with other addictions. Externally observable things like work, school and other obligations do not suffer as they do with other addictions.

The sacrifices that the perfectionist makes are on the personal front. The perfectionist may struggle to maintain relationships because neither they nor their loved ones can meet expectations. The perfectionist is also prone to severe inner turmoil, a fact that in itself may lead to other self-destructive behaviors. People who suffer from eating disorders are often perfectionists. Nothing is good enough, including themselves.

Someone who suffers from perfectionism cannot survive the realities of this imperfect world. Their perfectionism hides a deep underlying sense of inadequacy and no treatment for this condition will succeed without plumbing to the profound cause of this, one of our world's most socially acceptable addictions.
 

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