Please note that this is an Archived article and may contain content that is out of date. The use of she/her/hers pronouns in some articles is not intended to be exclusionary. Eating disorders can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Rec Therapy

Striving for excellence and setting goals are healthy pursuits. When, however, expectations become unrealistically high, one starts to reach for the unachievable and impossible notion of perfection. A study out of Virginia Commonwealth University found that “perfectionism appears to increase the risk of developing eating disorders.” Perfectionism has been shown to inhibit creativity and decrease productivity. Often, those who struggle with perfectionism obsess with outcomes and details to such a degree that they have difficulty staying in the moment and/or enjoying the journey. Additionally, self-criticism, comparing, competitiveness, fear of rejection, fear of failure, avoidance, procrastination, and feelings of inadequacy are common.

This week Recreation and Experiential Therapies will explore and discuss different types of perfectionism, creative problem solving, embracing mistakes, overcoming fears, setting realistic expectations, and the link between perfectionism and procrastination.