Anxiety, Perfectionism, and Chronic Stress
Empowering you to manage anxiety and stress through personalized therapy and coping skills
Understanding Anxiety, Perfectionism, and Chronic Stress
Anxiety and stress can feel like a constant hum in the background of life—sometimes loud and overwhelming, other times subtle but persistent. When perfectionism is layered in, it often drives self-criticism and a relentless pressure to perform. Therapy offers a compassionate space to slow down, understand what's happening beneath the surface, and begin to shift out of survival mode.
What Are These Patterns?
These experiences can show up as overthinking, physical tension, fear of failure, and difficulty relaxing—even in calm moments. They often come with a sense of urgency, guilt, or not being “enough.”
▸ Recognizing the Signs
Social withdrawal or avoidance
Chronic fatigue or burnout
Difficulty sleeping or relaxing
High-achieving with internal distress
Cycles of procrastination and self-criticism
How They are Interconnected
Perfectionism can heighten anxiety by creating impossible standards. Chronic stress wears down the nervous system over time. Together, they form a cycle that feels hard to break—until you bring awareness and compassion into the process.
Root Causes and Contributing Factors
Early family dynamics, societal expectations, personality traits, and even trauma can contribute to these patterns. Understanding where they come from helps you reclaim agency.
▸ Is It Anxiety or Something Else?
Whether you’re dealing with diagnosable anxiety or high-functioning stress, your experience is valid and worthy of care.
Recognizing These Patterns in Yourself
You may appear “together” to others, but internally feel frazzled, inadequate, or constantly on edge. That dissonance is often the first clue that something deeper needs tending.
Pathways to Resilience
Using psychodynamic therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction, we’ll help you:
Uncover emotional patterns beneath perfectionism
Calm your nervous system
Build realistic self-expectations
Learn to pause, breathe, and reconnect with your values
▸ Areas of Focus
Social anxiety
Perfectionism, OCPD (obsessive compulsive personality disorder)
Stress Management techniques
Mindfulness-based stress reduction