In our daily lives, we often meet people who say they are “a little OCD” to describe their preference for cleanliness, order, or structure; however, what they are often talking about is: perfectionism, not Obsessive-Compulsive disorder. While perfectionism and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder may seem similar, they originate from different forms of mental processing and have vastly different implications for a person’s everyday functioning.
Inconsistently using the term “OCD” belittles the experience and struggle of people who experience true OCD. In addition, it creates an ambiguity between a clinical disorder and a personality trait. If you have wondered whether your behavior is just perfectionism, or if you may have something like OCD, this post is for you.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that causes unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and unwanted behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that they feel they have to do. OCD obsessions include anything from the fear of contaminants (germs, dirt), to fears about suddenly acting upon intrusive thoughts of harm, or an awful feeling when things in a space are not in symmetry or order.
In response to the distress created by the obsession, individuals will engage in compulsive behaviors or rituals to contain anxiety or prevent the experience of the feared event even though these individuals know their behavior is inconsistent with what concerns them.
Compulsions can involve actions like excessive cleaning, checking. counting, or arranging (or arranging things in “order”) that the individual uses to feel they can control their obsession.
While some may think that OCD reflects a preference for cleanliness or order, for treatment purposes, OCD is defined as a mental health problem that interferes with an individual’s life, relationships, and functioning. It is a recognized clinical anxiety disorder that can be effectively treated with specialized OCD treatment in New York.
What is Perfectionism?
Perfectionism is a personality trait or mindset characterized by perfectionistic striving, or a very strong desire to complete tasks perfectly and expectations that hold higher than those that are obtainable. Although pursuing perfection can be an effective motivator, perfectionism tends to hover between healthy ambition and overwhelming pressure. There are largely two types of perfectionism to distinguish:
1) Adaptive or healthy perfectionism where people set high goals but recognize mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.
2) Maladaptive or unhealthy perfectionism where expectations move toward the unattainable and any imperfection is met with high levels of self-criticism.
Maladaptive perfectionists often procrastinate because they fear making mistakes before completing a task and may fear failing or being judged by others. Maladaptive perfectionists often severely criticize themselves for minor mistakes, associate their self-worth with their productivity and success, and worry excessively about their performance as it relates to their worth.
Prolonged perfectionism can contribute to chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, and a feeling of never being satisfied.
Difference Between OCD and Perfectionism
Despite surface-level similarities, OCD and perfectionism actually differ considerably in their roots, thought processes, and effect on day to day functioning. In OCD, most of the distress is due to intrusive and irrational thoughts that feel out of control, which often prompts compulsive behaviors to relieve overwhelming anxiety.
These obsessions are referred to as ego-dystonic obsessions because these fears conflict with one’s values or sense of self (fears of making a mistake or fear of getting an illness due to contamination). In contrast, perfectionism is driven by internal standards and an individual’s fear of failure and/or criticism. With perfectionistic thought processes, thoughts will primarily be ego-syntonic, meaning that they align with aspirations and values.
For instance, compulsive checking may be repeated in OCD to reduce anxiety or to prevent something (disaster or catastrophe) from occurring, while willful repetition in perfectionism might be geared toward living up to high expectations or getting someone else’s approval.
Furthermore, the negative impact of OCD is substantial because it hinder’s one’s quality of life in terms of a substantial investment of time and emotional distress. Perfectionism typically has an emotional toll, but will not cause ongoing or long-standing impairment unless it is endpoint severe or chronic.
Common Misconceptions About OCD and Perfectionism
A common misunderstanding is equating “I’m so OCD” with an organized or clean way of being, which diminishes the difficulty of living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
- OCD is showing distress from intrusive thoughts or compulsions that interfere with your daily life, not simply demonstrating your preference for order.
- Mental health providers often intervene when patients express regrets about delaying treatment and/or receiving misconception and misunderstanding about what their symptoms are.
- Likewise, perfectionism is not a mental illness in and of itself; however, you may have perfectionism as typically perfectionism coincides with anxiety, depression, and/or OCD.
- It is not problematic to strive for excellence, but when perfectionism becomes rigid, extreme, and detrimental impacts emotional wellness it becomes problematic.
When Perfectionism Crosses into OCD
Perfectionism can be viewed as a form of the drive toward excellence, but it can become something more concerning, which is called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Sometimes, it is important to be aware of when some high standards impose so much distress on an individual.
If you are trying to be perfect but also feel severe anxiety, or you feel as if you have to do things repetitively but the compulsions seem impossible to stop, then there is something more than just perfectionism going on. If you have unwanted thoughts and images that include failing, making mistakes, or believing that your mistakes could lead to serious trouble or catastrophes, then you may also be at risk for obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
If you have also been avoiding situations that could result in lower levels of performance because of a fear of not doing perfect work, then you might have even more to think about. If you have identified with multiple things above, please consider contacting an OCD therapist in NYC to see if traumatic experiences and/or OCD behaviors lie beneath your perfectionism
Final Thought
Perfectionism and OCD may look the same on the surface, but the causes, thoughts, and treatment are quite different. Misunderstanding either of these can create a lapse in proper care and increase suffering. Regardless of whether you have strict standards, or you find yourself struggling with compulsions that cause you distress, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
If you live in the City and are looking for next steps, there are many qualified OCD therapists in NYC who are knowledgeable on differentiating between these two and treat you. The sooner you receive help, the better your quality of life, level of distress, and motivation to pursue strategies that allow you to regain your life and your time.
References
- Clinic, C. (2024, October 11). What’s the difference between perfectionism and OCD? Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/whats-the-difference-between-perfectionism-and-ocd
- Pinto, A., Dargani, N., Wheaton, M. G., Cervoni, C., Rees, C. S., & Egan, S. J. (2016). Perfectionism in obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders: What should treating clinicians know? Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 12, 102-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2017.01.001
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – Symptoms and causes. (n.d.-b). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432
- Boisseau, C. L., Thompson-Brenner, H., Pratt, E. M., Farchione, T. J., & Barlow, D. H. (2013). The relationship between decision-making and perfectionism in obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 44(3), 316-321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2013.01.006
