Atelophobia: 6 Signs Of Having An Irrational Fear Of Not Being Perfect
What does it mean to suffer from atelophobia? Why can we fear not being perfect in certain situations or with certain people? Discover how to face this fear of making mistakes.
There are times when we may feel that we cannot do anything well or in the best way. But, this feeling is usually infrequent and temporary in the vast majority of cases. However, there are many people who may end up experiencing an intense fear of imperfection that even affects their daily lives. In these cases, we could talk about atelophobia But what does it entail and how can we deal with it?
The atelophobia It involves experiencing an overwhelming fear of imperfection. In these cases, people with atelophobia tend to judge themselves very harshly and often tend to set goals that are very unrealistic. When a person suffers from atelophobia, it can also mean that they become upset about those mistakes they made in the past or those they think they will make in the future. In fact, atelophobia can end up leading to problems of extreme anxiety, depression, low self-esteem or even cause panic attacks. We must keep in mind that atelophobia is different from what is called atychiphobia, which is the fear of failure.
Are atelophobia and perfectionism the same thing?
Although someone who suffers from atelophobia As a very perfectionist person, the reality is that these are different things. On the one hand, perfectionism is a personality trait that implies that a person has extremely high standards and always strives to be impeccable. On the other hand, atelophobia is a very deep and shocking fear of having some ‘defect’. That is, a person with atelophobia may avoid a situation in which he believes he could make a mistake, since he ends up considering it threatening.
Some of the signs that may indicate that a person suffers from atelophobia are the following:
Unrealistic goals: One of the most characteristic signs of a person who suffers from atelophobia is precisely having goals or standards that are too high, that is, they are objectives that are unattainable.
Being too critical of yourself: Atelophobia, or the fear of not being perfect, can mean that people are overly critical of themselves and end up judging themselves too harshly for not being able to achieve their own goals.
Do not tolerate constructive advice: When a person has a hard time tolerating the opinions or criticism of their loved ones, this may be a sign of having a phobia of not being perfect in front of others.
Feel fear and anguish: Stress, nervousness or fear experienced in situations where you don’t feel like you are perfect can also be a sign of atelophobia. Additionally, this can involve different physical symptoms such as anxiety, tachycardia, breathing difficulties, nausea, chills, dizziness, sweating and tremors.
Avoid situations: People who suffer from atelophobia may end up avoiding certain moments or events in their lives out of fear of not being perfect or acting in an ideal way.
Keep in mind the mistakes of the past: You may very well find yourself repeating mistakes from our past and even judging yourself for them repeatedly.
Why do I suffer from atelophobia?
Some of the main causes of atelophobia can be the following:
Trauma: If a person has experienced a traumatic event due to a mistake they made, it can end up creating emotional wounds and cause them to avoid making mistakes to avoid repeating this unpleasant situation.
Parenting style: When parents or guardians were perfectionists, this can end up generating fear in children, especially in the case that they would punish you if you did not perform correctly in a situation.
Genetic factors: Genetics can also influence suffering from the fear of not being perfect. In fact, research shows that people are very likely to have a phobia if a biological relative has it.
You are in a toxic situation: If the fear of making mistakes is new to you, or only appears in specific situations or with specific people, it is very possible that you find yourself in an environment that can be toxic for you. In this case, the problem is not you, but the environment itself.
If you think you are a person who suffers from atelophobia You can take the following into account to face this irrational fear:
Get used to making mistakes: At first you may find it difficult to get used to the idea of making mistakes. But, to leave behind this fear of not being perfect, it is important to try to be certain that there is nothing wrong with making a mistake.
Find ways to relax: You can use meditation, mindfulness, or different breathing techniques to try to calm the nervous feelings that may arise in an uncomfortable situation.
Stay away from toxic situations: If you are only experiencing atelophobia in one situation, such as at work, the best coping strategy is to find a way out of an event that makes you uncomfortable.
Build a support system: Discussing your emotions with people you trust can help you see things from another perspective, which will allow you to understand that nothing happens if you make a mistake in certain situations.
Go to therapy: If you feel that atelophobia is affecting you in many aspects of your life, it may be crucial that you go to therapy with a specialized psychologist. This specialist will help you deal with the feelings that these limitations may be creating for you.
Nobody is perfect and this is an idea that you should keep in mind in any situation or moment. So if you feel unable to make mistakes In your personal or professional life, it is important that you seek help to deal with these erroneous beliefs that are limiting you.
