Are You an Overfunctioning Perfectionist?

Samantha Choudhry, MSE, LPCC
Apr 8, 2022
3 min read

Updated: Jun 10

Have you heard of the term overfunctioning? I encountered this term about a year or two ago, and it truly resonates with me. At last, there's a term that accurately describes what I, along with many high-functioning anxious perfectionists, experience: overfunctioning.

Overfunctioning involves doing more than what is necessary, appropriate, or healthy.

Sound familiar?

At Praus Guidance & Healing, my expertise lies in perfectionism, so let's delve into the topic of overfunctioning perfectionism.

Overfunctioning perfectionists often seem to "have it all together." They are diligent, dependable, responsible, organized, and highly accomplished.

These individuals accomplish a great deal, often taking on more than they should. Despite this, they frequently feel as if they aren't doing enough.

Signs you may be an overfunctioning perfectionist:

You are driven, yet you often feel like you’re not doing enough with your life.

You often compare yourself to others and feel insecure or less than.

You feel like everything is urgent and should be a priority, which leaves you feeling frustrated, exhausted, or even paralyzed when you need to make decisions.

Everyone relies on you and is used to you getting things done, so much so that you end up doing far too much and feel annoyed by others' lack of engagement or help.

It's difficult for you to ask for help, and even though you may need help, you often struggle through things on your own.

You spend copious amounts of time perfecting something, even if it means sacrificing your sleep, relationships, and personal time.

It often feels like others aren’t doing enough, and you feel resentment towards them for not helping out more.

You’re often doing things because you feel like you should be doing them instead of actually feeling like you want to.

You experience difficulties saying no and often put others' needs before your own.

You say yes to things you don't actually want to do because you're worried about disappointing or upsetting others.

You overwork or over-schedule yourself, and you experience periods of burnout.

You set goals that are out of reach or unattainable and beat yourself up when expectations are not met.

You’re successful, but you don’t quite feel as accomplished as you appear to be.

You feel a lack of fulfillment, excitement, or happiness.

Identifying the signs is the initial step. After doing this, you can begin to develop an awareness of your overfunctioning habits, enabling you to determine what benefits you and what drains your time and energy. The aim isn't necessarily to eliminate these habits, but to achieve a better balance, ensuring these tendencies work in your favor rather than against you.

If any of these signs resonate with you and you're seeking support to find a healthy balance, please get in touch. I’d be delighted to hear from you.

Samantha Choudhry, MSE, LPCC

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

prausguidanceandhealing.com

If you liked this post and want to read more, check out my blog.

Click here to discover more about my perfectionism services.

Smiling woman in glasses holds tea, sitting at a white desk with a laptop. Cozy room with bookshelves, flowers, and warm lighting. — In a serene and orderly workspace, a woman reflects with a hint of contentment, balancing her pursuit of perfection with a calming tea break.

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