Is it a normal teenage thing to be obsessed with perfection?

64% Normal
3 Comments

So I am like straight up obsessed with perfection. Everything has to be the way I like it or I lose my mind. I'm gonna be straight up, I have an eating disorder (diagnosed, I spent some time in the hospital for it, not gonna go into it.) So I have an extreme desire for perfection when it comes to my body, to the point where I obviously do harmful things like restricting, over exercise etc. I know that is a tendency but lately, it's expanded to everything about my life. Like my grades, my relationships, my hair, my clothes, the way I talk, the way I act, my skin etc. I have this tendency to pick and pick at any blemish to the point of where I get huge sores and scabs because I've convinced myself if I don't pick it, it won't go away. Like I claw at it as if that will remove it. It's like I need people to think I am perfect and I feel like no one will ever like me if I'm not perfect in every aspect. I mean, I know It's not normal but would you say it's common for people to have tendencies like this. My doctor said she was concerned I had OCD but I want to avoid another diagnosis as much as possible.

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64% Normal
Based on 11 votes (7 yes)
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Comments ( 3 )
  • Boojum
    5 years ago

    Teenagers can be obsessed with how they appear to others. If you think about that, it's kinda ironic: if everyone you know is preoccupied with how they appear to others, then obviously they don't have much time to think about how others look.

    But of course the other characteristic traits of teenagers are being highly judgemental and very insecure, which leads them to be nasty to others who are lower on the whatever social pecking order the local mob mentality has decided on.

    Sooner or later, you'll probably realise that the only person who truly notices all your flaws and failures is yourself. Sooner or later, you'll hopefully realise that the opinions of others don't really matter all that much.

    If someone only likes people who are perfect, then they're pretty damn stupid and they're destined to never have any friends. If you will only like yourself when you're perfect, then you're never going to like yourself. It just ain't gonna happen, girl, because you just ain't God.

    You saying you want to avoid another diagnostic label is nonsensical. Do you honestly believe that if nobody ever writes "OCD" in your medical record, that means you don't have that problem?

    From what you say, it sounds like you're not enjoying life very much at the moment, and you are definitely a long way from being comfortable in your own skin. That's a problem, and it is completely irrelevant how common or rare your issues are amongst your peers. I don't know what label should be applied to your difficulties, but it's pretty clear that you need assistance. If that's available to you, then you owe it to yourself and to those who care about you to at least try what's on offer.

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    • RoseIsabella
      5 years ago

      BRAVO!!!

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  • TerriAngel
    5 years ago

    I agree with 90% of what boojum
    had to offer.
    Yea, I avoid B.S. labels too.
    You sound like a teenager to me.
    Weight issues, Ill be polite and leave that alone.
    Relationships?
    Focus on perfect grades, youll have more to show for it.
    Knowone is perfect.
    Knowone knows your flaws as well as you.
    Knowone knows your qualities as well either.
    It may or may not help, but.
    When I feel self absorbed, I focus on others.
    Your world cant revolve around 2 things at once.
    If you make helping others the center of your world.
    That blackhead on your nose, really wont matter.

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