What is atelophobia?
Atelophobia is an overwhelming fear of imperfection. People with atelophobia judge themselves very harshly, often setting unrealistic goals. They may get upset about mistakes they’ve made in the past or mistakes they’re afraid of making in the future. Atelophobia often leads to extreme anxiety, depression, low self-esteem or panic attacks.
Atelophobia is different than atychiphobia, which is a fear of failure.
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Are atelophobia and perfectionism the same?
Atelophobia and perfectionism are different. Perfectionism is a personality trait. You hold yourself to extremely high standards and strive to be flawless. Atelophobia is an actual fear of flaws. Someone with atelophobia may avoid a situation in which they think they could make a mistake, seeing it as threatening. The fear can affect every aspect of their lives, from school and work to family life and social situations.
What is a phobia?
A phobia is an extreme fear or sense of panic about certain activities, objects or situations. Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder. Examples of common phobias include claustrophobia (fear of crowded, confined spaces) and ophidiophobia (fear of snakes).
How common is atelophobia?
There are few studies about the prevalence of atelophobia, but phobic disorders are fairly common. Research suggests that about 12% of adults and 19% of adolescents in the U.S. experience a specific phobia at some point in their lives. They’re about twice as common in females as they are in males.
FAQs
Atelophobia is an extreme fear of imperfection. Someone with this disorder may be terrified of making mistakes, or go to great lengths to avoid new situations because they can't guarantee that they'll succeed. It can lead to depression, anxiety, panic attacks and a negative outlook on life.
Is atelophobia a form of OCD? ›
Is Atelophobia a Form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? Atelophobia can be a feature that is present in some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), says Dr. Daramus.
How do you cure Anthrophobia? ›
There is no one specific treatment for anthropophobia. Some treatments for specific phobias may help: Exposure therapy is often the first treatment for specific phobias. Up to 90% of people who consistently practice exposure therapy have a decrease in symptoms.
What are solutions for Atychiphobia? ›
How is atychiphobia managed or treated?
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps you change negative thinking about failure. ...
- Exposure therapy: Gradually exposing yourself to the source of your fear can help you overcome your fear response.
They often feel something is “off” about certain events or objects, leading them to perform compulsions such as rearranging, organizing, or mental rituals. Common triggers experienced by people with OCD and a fear of being imperfect include: Guests coming over and feeling the need to have things “just so”
How to get rid of atelophobia? ›
Lifestyle modifications: A healthy diet and regular exercise can help improve your mood and diminish feelings of depression or negative thinking. Deep breathing, yoga or meditation may help you manage anxiety and keep panic attacks at bay.
How to stop worrying about imperfections? ›
Facing Imperfection Directly
- Make sure your exposures are planned and predictable. ...
- Stay in the situation until your discomfort has decreased or until you learn that your feared consequences don't occur. ...
- Practice exposures frequently. ...
- Don't take an easy way out. ...
- Expect to feel uncomfortable.
Learning relaxation techniques can help you with the mental and physical feelings of fear. It can help just to drop your shoulders and breathe deeply. Or imagine yourself in a relaxing place. You could also try complementary therapies or exercise such as massage, t'ai chi, yoga, mindfulness techniques, or meditation.
How do I stop fearing anxiety symptoms? ›
10 ways to fight your fears
- Take time out. It's difficult to think clearly when you feel scared or anxious. ...
- Breathe through panic. ...
- Face your fears. ...
- Remember that anxiety isn't harmful. ...
- Challenge unhelpful thoughts. ...
- Don't try to be perfect. ...
- Visualise a happy place. ...
- Talk about it.
Atychiphobia is an extreme fear of failure that affects a person's ability to function in daily life. The person may avoid or postpone tasks because they are afraid of not achieving them. It is a specific phobia, a type of anxiety disorder. Atychiphobia is not a distinct medical diagnosis.
Others benefit from mild sedatives to help them remain calm in anxious situations. Benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may also be prescribed to treat the symptoms of atychiphobia.
Is fear of death anxiety? ›
Thanatophobia is an intense fear of death or the dying process. While it's natural to feel anxious about death from time to time, thanatophobia is an anxiety disorder that can disrupt every aspect of your life.
How to practice imperfection? ›
With this in mind, here are some mindset tips for overcoming perfectionism.
- Strive for Excellence, Not Perfection.
- Focus on the Journey, Not the Outcome.
- Try, Tweak and Try Again.
- Practice Gratitude.
- Let It Go.
- Set Time Limits.
- Show Yourself Compassion.
It can start as stress. Over time and left unchecked, stress can turn into anxiety or anxiety disorder. Anxiety can also be triggered by trauma. This can be recent, like an accident or shock bereavement.
What is hyperawareness anxiety? ›
Hyperawareness anxiety is a form of heightened awareness where an individual becomes overly conscious of their surroundings, body sensations, or thoughts. It can be a distressing experience as it may lead to increased anxiety and restlessness.
What is the difference between atelophobia and perfectionism? ›
With atelophobia, individuals tend to fear any type of imperfection in their lives. It is an extreme form of perfectionism, leading to various psychological disturbances such as negative self-judgement, anxiety, stress, inadequacy, low self-esteem, and depression.
Are phobias considered OCD? ›
Phobia and OCD differ according to how stimuli are processed. In phobia, the complete category of object is feared (e.g. big and small spiders are feared), while in OCD specific types of objects are feared, mostly for their symbolic meaning (e.g. germs may be feared on glue and mud, but not on door handles).
Is fear of saying the wrong thing OCD? ›
Fear of Saying the Wrong Thing
These fears can even have a magical quality, and as such they might worry that saying certiain words will make something bad happen. Conversely, some people with OCD have a fear of not saying just the right thing, and then worry about not being perfectly understood by others.
Is fear of heights OCD? ›
Intrusive thoughts in OCD
Though intrusive thoughts are typically not a sign of mental illness, they are one of the primary symptoms of OCD. People with this condition experience intrusive thoughts about a variety of topics, including fears about high places.
