Perfectionism’s Influence on Adolescent Mental Health

Authors

Mark D. Ogletree

Keywords

perfectionism, adolescents, mental health

Abstract

Years ago, I was sitting in my counseling practice with a sixteen-year- old young man. He was a great teenager with many positive qualities. However, on this particular summer day, he came in a somber mood. I asked him what was bothering him. He began to share some of his problems with me. In my opinion, none were out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, I could see his lips begin to quiver, and then he broke down in tears. When he could compose himself, he uttered, “I know that God hates me.” And with that declaration, I knew that we had much to address in this particular session. I wanted to assure this young man that (1) God did not hate him, (2) the God he worshipped actually knew him and loved him, and (3) he needed to extricate himself from the gripping jaws of toxic perfectionism that plagued him daily.

Recommended Citation

Ogletree, Mark D. (2024) "Perfectionism’s Influence on Adolescent Mental Health," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 63: Iss. 4, Article 7.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol63/iss4/7