Stress and Worry

Perfectionism is when a person sets standards which are too high - so that they can't be reached. This in turn causes unhealthy amounts of stress to achieve. Perfectionists often find themselves measuring their self-worth by their ability to achieve these high standards and as a result, continue to experience negative outcomes like stress, anxiety, procrastination and poor health, etc. 

The good news is that there are many resources available to manage perfectionism. Challenging perfectionistic thinking, and learning to let go of self-criticism and develop self-compassion are important steps to overcoming perfectionism. However if perfectionism is something you are struggling with, seeking help is always a good idea. 

Online Resources

• Perfectionism Tip Sheet - a brief overview of strategies to overcome Perfectionism

• Centre for Clinical Interventions: free workbook and infosheets on Perfectionism

• Centre for Clinical Interventions: free workbook for developing Self-Compassion

Books

• “When Perfect Isn’t Good Enough: Strategies for Coping with Perfectionism” by M. Antony and R. Swinson

• “Never Good Enough: How to use Perfectionism to your advantage without letting it ruin your life” by M. Adderholdt-Elliott, M. Eliott & J. Goldberg

• “The Gifts of Imperfection: Let go of who you think you are supposed to be and embrace who you are” by Brene Brown

If you know that your teen is going through a difficult time, you can be on the lookout for changes in behaviour or things that might signal they’re experiencing excessive stress. 

Some signs of stress in teens include:

• difficulties with sleep

• fatigue

• being disengaged

• being anxious or panicky

• being depressed

• headaches or stomach aches

• irritability

• difficulties with concentration and focus

• school refusal

• changes in appetite

• increased use of alcohol or drugs

• withdrawal from family or friends 

• loss of interest in hobbies.

Find out more about Stress and Teenagers on Reachout.com