I often ask my clients with obsessive tendencies: How often do you think your anxiety is useless? They may note that they can recall moments when their fears didn't come to pass and those when they did but weren't worth investing in. If they try to quantify it, they may say that their anxiety is useful only 10 percent of the time, if that. But, then they'll say: But what's the harm? Wouldn't you rather be safe than sorry? Unfortunately, anxiety is not a victimless crime.

Individuals who struggle with perfectionism often believe it's best to worry about the details of things because they have nothing to lose by doing so, or, at the very least, the losses are minimal. But, as they obsess and the world goes on around them, they fail to notice more significant problems that require attention, that can't be neglected for much longer. In a social setting, for example, as the perfectionist focuses on every syllable she mouths, she may fail to consider her interlocutor's sense of loneliness in their conversation, feeling that he's being talked at rather than spoken to. As the perfectionist hyper-focuses on a work project, he may fail to consider health concerns and need follow-up medical tests. Our anxiety frequently lies to us. It makes us believe that the thing we're worrying about is the most important thing in the world and that terrible things will happen if we cease worrying about it.

Perfectionists are racked with fear. Anyone who takes on that much responsibility usually is.

So, much of the........

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