The Pat Kenny Show How to manage perfectionism
Jul 7, 2025
Clinical psychotherapist Stephanie Regan, an expert on perfectionism, sheds light on its complicated nature. She discusses how perfectionism can mask itself as high achievement yet leads to personal dissatisfaction. The conversation dives into the psychological roots underlying this behavior and its gender differences, illustrating how men and women experience perfectionism uniquely. Regan emphasizes the need for self-awareness and self-kindness to combat the anxiety and strain that perfectionism places on mental health and relationships.
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Perfectionism's Dissatisfying Drive
- Perfectionism involves striving for flawlessness but never feeling satisfied.
- The perfectionist never reaches a point of "good enough" and is always dissatisfied.
Pat's Train Anecdote on Standards
- Pat Kenny shared a train experience where poor standards caused an inconvenience.
- He joked that more perfectionism is needed to avoid such shoddy mistakes in public service.
Perfectionism Masks Deeper Issues
- Perfectionism can mask deeper emotional issues and often hides behind high achievement.
- A small amount of perfectionism motivates, but excessive perfectionism causes continuous dissatisfaction.