Atelophobia is a psychological disorder described as the irrational fear of imperfection. People who suffer from atelophobia may feel great anxiety or distress when faced with situations that are not perfect or when they perceive that they themselves are not perfect. It is a newly named disorder, so there is not much information about it.
Precisely for this reason, in this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the Atelophobia (fear of being imperfect): symptoms, causes and how to overcome it. Discover the most effective methods to overcome this unpleasant disorder.
What is atelophobia
Atelophobia is the irrational fear of not being perfect and make mistakes. According to its etymology, the term comes from Greek and is made up of the root “ateles”, which means imperfect, and “phobia” which means irrational fear. People with atelophobia suffer from a terrible fear of not doing things well at all times, that is, of not being valid enough in everything they do.
The phobia of imperfection comes from an obsessive and continuous self-analysis of oneself and a very high degree of self-demand. As a consequence of these high levels of personal self-demand, atelophobia or the fear of not being good enough arises due to the difficulty of achieving the high self-imposed expectations of perfection.
Thus, the fear of being imperfect constitutes a serious psychological disorder that can generate very harmful effects on physical, psychological and emotional health of the people who suffer from it. The continuous and exaggerated self-evaluation and permanent negative judgment about oneself causes panic to simply BE. This leads these people to avoid and flee from situations in which they may be subject to social exposure.
In cases where the situation is unavoidable, they can become blocked and paralyzed by fear. This makes it difficult to establish good social relationships, which can cause feelings of resentment, loneliness, incapacity, low self-esteem, etc.
Symptoms of atelophobia or fear of being imperfect
The symptoms of fear of imperfection that could indicate that a person suffers from this disorder are the following:
- Great mental and behavioral rigidity.
- Minimal or no spontaneity.
- High levels of self-demand.
- Self-observation and permanent critical self-evaluation.
- .
- Irritability.
- .
- Anxiety.
- Rigidity and/or body and kinesthetic blockage.
- Low self-esteem.
Causes of fear of being imperfect
The main cause of atelophobia disorder is having experienced not being valid as a child, or good enough for their parents or reference adults. This belief is installed in the subconscious as a result of different and very varied experiences of neglect and/or conscious or unconscious rejection by one or both parents.
Therefore, the person grows up with the idea that he will never be good enough for anyone. In an attempt to survive unpleasant situations experienced, individuals affected by this disorder feel compelled to prove themselves in everything. Even so, no matter how much effort they invest in doing everything as well as possible, they always have the feeling that it is never enough.
This continued self-sabotage causes exhaustion and greatly conditions the existence. It causes fear of exposing yourself to someone and reliving the pain caused by that limitation.
How to overcome atelophobia
As with any other psychoemotional disorder, there are ways to overcome the fear of being imperfect, no matter how difficult the process may be to overcome this irrational phobia. It can affect people of all ages and can have a negative impact on your self-esteem, confidence and ability to achieve your goals. Here are tips to help you overcome atelophobia:
- Identify and recognize your fears: The first thing you should do to overcome atelophobia is to identify and recognize your fears. Make sure you understand what is worrying you and how it affects your life.
- Analyze reality: Irrational fears are often exaggerations of reality. Analyze the objective facts and try to see the situation from a realistic perspective.
- Set realistic goals: Once you have analyzed the situation, set realistic and achievable goals. Try to focus on the small steps you can take to achieve your goals.
- Practice and train: Practice makes a master. The only way to improve your skills and overcome atelophobia is through constant practice and training. , keep practicing and improving.
- Surround yourself with positive people: Surround yourself with positive and supportive people who help you maintain a positive and motivating attitude.
- Seek professional help: If your fear of not being good enough is seriously affecting your quality of life, consider seeking professional help. A psychologist or therapist can help you identify the underlying causes of your fear of being imperfect and develop strategies to overcome it.
Remember that overcoming atelophobia can be a difficult process, but it is possible. With practice, perseverance, and support, you can learn to overcome your fear.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Notpro, F. (sf). “Atelophobe.” Recovered from: https://es.scribd.com/document/435525915/atelophobia#