1. The perfectionist swings from inadequate selfimage to compulsive drive for achievement of superior ideal.
2. He/she puts excessive demands on self and others as well.
3. He/she seeks the excessive approval of others.
4. The onset of perfectionism is very subtle because, as we think, "After all, I am only trying to do a good job."
5. The insistence on judgements, particularly moral judgements, that are either totally "black or totally "white." There are no degrees or shades of gray.
6. His/her brain becomes oversaturated and races around one obsessive thoughtusually some kind of insecurity.
7. Insomnia sets in because of socalled unresolved problems which normal people make wait. The perfectionist can't "let go" until a later, more appropriate time.
8. A perfectionist insists on exact order of nearly everthing: clothes, notes, etc. Some disorder is considered a mortal sin of outright negligence.
9. Depression sets in because of wellhidden "selfhate."
10. The perfectionist cannot afford to be "average" like other people because he/she associates being average with failure.
11. He/she is almost totally caught up with him/herself and shares him/herself only when it will add to his/her glory (e.g., getting someone else's approval).
12. He/she is a person of extremes. He/she becomes exhilarated with his/her success, or depressed with his/her failures.
13. The perfectionist moves from one created crisis to another as if he would be unhappy if he/she had no problem.
14. The perfectionist must have all the answers and his/her opinions must be absolutely correct and unchallengeable.
15. When trying to overcome this syndrome of perfectionism, the victim may fall deeper into the trap of perfectionism, feeling that he/she must rid him/herself of this defect of character, completely and immediately.