Neurodiversity Podcast The Pressure and Peril of Perfectionism
Sep 11, 2025
Leon Garber, a licensed mental health counselor and host of the Seize the Moment podcast, dives into the myriad forms of perfectionism, including self-imposed and socially prescribed. He reveals how perfectionism can hide deep shame and is often linked to motivational factors. The discussion also touches on the balance between maintaining high standards and avoiding burnout. Leon offers strategies for breaking free from harmful perfectionism by questioning its purpose and focusing on personal values.
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Perfectionism's Many Faces
- Perfectionism appears across many diagnoses and isn't limited to neatness or high achievement.
- It splits into self-imposed, other-oriented, and socially prescribed forms that shape behavior differently.
Absolute Versus Relative Perfection
- Leon contrasts absolute perfectionism that demands being perfect everywhere with relative perfectionism that allows adaptation.
- He favors relative perfectionism but warns it can be misused to avoid risk.
Perfectionism As Shame Management
- Perfectionism often functions as a coping mechanism for deep-seated shame rather than purely ambition.
- Different personality styles hide or battle shame differently, like narcissistic versus obsessive-compulsive tendencies.