Alcoholism and Perfectionism

Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Photo by Joe Gardner on Unsplash

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in

Anthem Leonard Cohen

Perfectionism and alcoholism may seem like an unlikely combination, but they often go hand in hand. While we all want to be our best, sometimes aiming too high can lead to disappointment, stress and issues with alcohol.

It’s one of the great ironies of alcohol dependence: perfectionism and the need to drink often go hand in hand. While classic stereotypes often paint those who struggle with alcohol as somehow lacking in drive and personal strength, very often the opposite is true.

Many turn to alcohol because they aim too high, needing the crutch of alcohol to deal with what can become a never-ending sense of failure and the resulting erosion of self-worth.

While perfectionism can bring great successes, it can also bring great struggles. Many perfectionists by nature avoid any substance that inhibits their performance. Except that often is not true of alcohol, an accepted legal substance.

We who turn to alcohol to relieve the pressure of trying to be perfect can quickly become dependent as we struggle with the stress of not realising all of…