Dave’s Diary: Perfectly Unhealthy Practice

Ever been around a perfectionist?  They can be difficult to get along with.  Research shows while they may drive us crazy, they could be driving themselves to an early grave!  Researchers found that perfectionists, who are locked in on "all or nothing thinking," are highly stressed and likely to die well before people who have more reasonable expectations.

Let that sink in a moment…Now consider this: A recent 6 and a half year study of elderly people ages 65 to 87 found that perfectionists had a staggering 51% greater risk of dying. Those with the greatest death risk were neurotics who said they often felt tense. Meanwhile, those who were extroverts, or more social, and conscientious were more relaxed and had the lowest death rate.

"Perfectionism exerts a great deal of stress on health," concludes a study published in the Journal Of Health Psychology.