THE PERSONALITY DRIVERS AND HEART ILLNESS: BEING PERFECT PERSONALITY
Personalities driven by Being Perfect have trouble feeling satisfied with their own performance in life. Guilt, anxiety, and obsessive preoccupation with the flaws of their lives often lead such persons to appear aloof and critical. They may seem stuck in the habit of criticizing others, but the truth is that their own internal self-criticism is their greatest enemy.
Trying to be perfect in coping with heart illness leads to predictable problems. Such people tend to (1) worry obsessively about the details of illness and the rehabilitation process or (2) develop rigid and ritualistic rehabilitation routines. Such reactions to illness inevitably prove irritating to others. Any spouse grows tired of dealing with someone who is never satisfied with "good enough" progress, or who refuses to participate in even a reasonable degree of spontaneous changing of daily routines. A heart patient or a spouse driven by attempts at Being Perfect tends to drive the other person crazy with aggravation.
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