OCD vs. Perfectionism: Where’s the Line?
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Do you identify as a perfectionist? Maybe you like things orderly, you’re naturally neat and driven, and you follow specific personal rules. If this sounds like you, you might be wondering whether your tendencies cross the line into obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
It’s a valid question. Both perfectionism and OCD can involve a strong need for order and control, but they’re fundamentally different. Understanding the distinction can help you better understand yourself and determine if you might benefit from professional support.
What Is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a diagnosable mental health condition that involves two key components: obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts that create significant anxiety. These might include fears of contamination, a focus on arrangement and order, intrusive thoughts of violence, or persistent concerns about safety. The key word here is “unwanted”: people with OCD don’t choose to have these thoughts, and they find them distressing.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental rituals that someone feels compelled to perform to relieve the anxiety caused by obsessions. Common examples include washing hands a specific number of times, repeatedly checking locks or the stove, or counting objects in a particular pattern.
What Is Perfectionism?
Perfectionism, on the other hand, is a personality trait characterized by a high drive to meet personal standards of achievement. This might show up as being highly motivated at work or in academics, maintaining a busy schedule, or consistently pushing yourself to meet deadlines.
However, perfectionism can become problematic when it involves an overly critical inner voice that constantly tells you you’re not doing enough or not good enough. You might set impossible standards that you can never achieve, creating a cycle where you feel worse when you inevitably fall short.
Interestingly, perfectionism doesn’t always look like high achievement. Some perfectionists feel so paralyzed by their impossibly high standards that they struggle to begin tasks at all. This can create the appearance of underachievement when it’s actually perfectionism holding them back.
Key Differences Between OCD and Perfectionism
While both conditions can cause anxiety and interfere with daily functioning, there are important distinctions:
Control and Choice: Perfectionists generally choose their high standards, even if they’re unrealistic. People with OCD feel compelled to engage in behaviors they don’t want to do.
Nature of Thoughts: Perfectionist thoughts typically focus on personal rules and expectations. OCD obsessions are intrusive and unwanted, often involving fears that feel irrational to the person experiencing them.
Response to Anxiety: Perfectionists might work harder or criticize themselves when they’re anxious. People with OCD engage in specific rituals or compulsions to manage their anxiety.
When Perfectionism Might Actually Be OCD
Sometimes what appears to be perfectionism might actually be OCD. Here are some signs that your perfectionist tendencies might cross into OCD territory:
Your need to meet certain standards feels completely compulsive, meaning you don’t want to engage in these behaviors, but you feel you have no choice. You experience extreme anxiety when things aren’t done in a specific way, and this anxiety feels disproportionate to the situation.
You find yourself engaging in rituals to eliminate anxiety, such as redoing tasks multiple times until they feel “right.” You spend excessive amounts of time correcting mistakes or perfecting work, not because you want to achieve excellence, but because something feels wrong if you don’t.
You engage in avoidance behaviors to prevent triggering your need for perfection, which can limit your ability to function day-to-day.
When to Seek Support
Both perfectionism and OCD can impact your quality of life and relationships with others. If your perfectionist tendencies or potential OCD symptoms are causing distress or interfering with your ability to enjoy life, reach out to us for professional help today. Our approaches to anxiety and OCD treatment will help you understand whether your experiences align more with perfectionism or OCD, and provide appropriate strategies for managing either condition.