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Why being perfect doesn't workBy Hannah Edwards June 19, 2005 The Sun-Herald Australia is turning into a nation of perfectionists, driven to accumulate maximum wealth and achieve increasingly lofty goals. But such desires may lead to serious health problems, including anxiety and depression, a new medical report has found. The report, by health-care provider St John of God Health Service and Newspoll, said perfectionists tended to have low levels of self-esteem and run the highest risk of developing serious mental illness. I t found that 75 per cent of adults in NSW described themselves as perfectionists. Dr Gary Galambos of St John of God Health Services said: "Look at the number of superhero movies that come out. No wonder people feel worthless and like they don't measure up. "We have imported ideas from the United States that materialism is going to make you happy. We work harder and spend less time with our family. Urban life has a toxic effect on self-esteem." He said: "Identifying the tendency is a very helpful thing. Challenge it, resistance isn't futile."
Citation suggestion: Dr Gary Galambos, Being Perfect (http://www.ep.org.au/gg/int/beingperfect.htm) [date accessed]The materials provided on this website may be freely cited but reposting on other websites, publishing or other reproductions, whole or in part, are subject to the written permission of Gary Galambos. Images may be reproduced provided the source is properly acknowledged.Copyright (C) 1999-2005 Dr Gary Galambos M.B.B.S. F.R.A.N.Z.C.P.Page last updated: 03 October 2005
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