This podcast explores perfectionism as a deeply ingrained personality style driven by conditional self-worth rather than healthy ambition. It examines the three types—self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed—and their links to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and even early mortality. Perfectionists often sabotage relationships by demanding flawlessness in themselves and others, fueled by fear of rejection and unresolved childhood experiences. Traditional CBT is critiqued for its superficiality, with psychodynamic therapy emerging as a more effective path by addressing emotional roots through authentic connection. The discussion highlights how societal pressures and unmet needs for belonging amplify perfectionism, especially as it continues to rise across generations. Lasting change comes not from fixing behaviors but from confronting existential fears, embracing vulnerability, and redefining self-worth beyond achievement.