The 2022 Starting Med Guide

A WORD ON
PERFECTIONISM
Medical students are infamous for being Type A, perfectionistic, neurotic personalities. Being
perfectionistic can be a good thing in some cases - it can help drive a person to work hard and
look for areas to improve. But being an obsessional, unhealthy perfectionist can mean that no
amount of external signs of success (such as getting into med school!) can feel like enough.
Although by no means exhaustive, the table below showcases some common features of the
healthy, and the unhealthy perfectionist. Whilst it is quite normal to experience perfectionist
thoughts on occasion, it is not okay for these thoughts to consume you or control how you feel
about yourself and your experience in medical school. Help is available from a number of sources,
including your university counselling services and external organisations such as Headspace and
Beyond Blue. In addition, the AMSA Mental Health facebook page posts useful information on
metal health. You will be a better doctor, and more importantly a much more fulfilled and satisfied
person if you find the courage to do something about it now.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Headspace: 1800 650 890
UNHealthy Perfectionists
Healthy Perfectionists
Instead of pride, mainly feels relief that
they haven’t failed
When things don’t go as planned, thinks
negative and abusive thoughts about
self
Sets a very narrow, rigid goal, and will
not deviate from it regardless of
circumstances
Derives all self-esteem and sense of
accomplishment from only one or two
areas of life
Frets excessively about past mistakes
and worries about the likelihood of
future ones
Prioritises work over everything, and
struggles to find time to relax and
connect with friends and family
Takes pride in what they have achieved
When things don’t go as planned,
reflects meaningfully on why things may
not have worked out, and acknowledges
any non-preventative factors
Doesn’t set a narrow definition for what
‘successful’ looks like, but has a range of
acceptable outcomes
Does not derive self-esteem and a sense
of accomplishment from one area of life,
but has a variety of areas that give a
sense of accomplishment
Doesn’t ruminate on past mistakes, and
generally thinks positively about the
future
Divides time wisely between work,
relationships and relaxing
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