Confessions of a Perfect Mom

Who am I?

My name is Charlene and I’m a recovering perfectionist.

I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder last October, when I had decided to step into counseling. At that point in time in my life, I was on the brink of having a nervous breakdown and suffering from anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder. OCPD is characterized by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency ^[1]. It was needless to say how much I enjoyed routine, hated surprises, could never ask for help, make decisions, communicate feelings or emotions effectively, and socializing outside of my personal comfort zone was not an option.

Meanwhile, on the outside, I was polished and superficially content. I had been given several accolades in my career as a special education teacher, I was married to a warm and caring husband, I was embarking on starting a small business for allergen friendly desserts, and my children were my brightest jewels around my neck that out-shined any other accomplishment I ever could have dreamed. Everything must be so perfect for me. I mean, I didn’t look depressed, exhausted, or emotionally unavailable. But I was. The upkeep of the façade had taken its toll. I could no longer wear that mask. I needed to breathe. I needed relief. I needed a safe place to finally let go of the inadequacies that engulfed my mind.

So there I was, sitting in an office full of broken ones just like myself. I kept thinking, why is there something wrong with me? What did I do? Why me? I was angry that I was there. I was angry with God because I felt betrayed. I felt alone. Unworthy. Invisible. I first came into that small room beaten up, broken, emotionally crippled, and plagued with doubt, but as time went on, I began to see light again. I began to see that there wasn’t something wrong with me or that I was a defect. I began to see myself as human. I for so long was hung up on my own pride and belief system of how things should be, and slowly I began to realize that there was no such thing as perfect. And then, I began to see me for me and started to accept myself for who I am.

Where I am currently

It’s been six months since I started counseling and I have seen a difference in how I deal with my emotions and my ability to recover from unexpected set backs. Along with counseling, I have changed my diet and added natural supplements to address my anxiety, depression, and impulse control. I still struggle. It is something that I try to manage day by day, and sometimes, moment by moment. I simply try to remind myself that I am doing the best I can, with where I am, and with what I have.