The perils of perfectionism

from Harvard Thinking · host Jennifer Breheny Wallace, Ellen Hendriksen, Michaela Kerrissey, Samantha Laine Perfas

Many people hold themselves to extremely high standards, but when the scales tip to the pursuit of perfection, it can result in anxiety, depression, and other serious mental health issues. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with journalist Jennifer Breheny Wallace, psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, and public health expert Michaela Kerrissey about when we’ve gone too far in trying to achieve our best.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Dec 17, 2025

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