Posted by Shannon--Anyone, please read! on May 17, 2002:
Thanks for your responses, guys. Judith, just one point: I agree with your response--EXCEPT for one part--I think that perfectionism is "self-torture" AND "self-indulgence" (thank you "Washer"). It's self-indulgence b/c in my opinion (or at least in my case) we indulge the urge to perfect ourselves b/c we want to be perfect. Ultimately, we want to be God. Then, when it becomes oh so evident that we are NOT perfect and need God just like everyone else, instead of admitting our sin and receiving His forgiveness, we fall victim to guilt and despair and we instead take this sick pleasure in torturing ourselves--it's "what we deserve," after all. Responses anyone?
Read my next post--it involves an email I sent to a friend and contains a lot of analysis I have been doing of my OCD and my own problems/struggles. Maybe this doesn't apply to everyone, but i'm interested in getting feedback from others.