Adina Babad Adina Babad

When Money Stops Being About Survival and Starts Being About Worth

Your bills are paid. You’re not in crisis. And yet, money still feels heavy. If you’re someone who struggles with perfectionism, people-pleasing, or anxiety, money can become tied to self-worth in ways that are hard to name. In this post, I explore where those money stories come from, and why financial stress often has less to do with numbers and more to do with how safe and “enough” you feel.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

How Perfectionism and People-Pleasing Show Up in Your Relationship with Money

Perfectionism and people-pleasing affect more than we think, and they even show up in our relationship with money. From guilt around spending to avoiding money conversations altogether, these patterns often reflect deeper fears about self-worth, judgment, and being “too much.” This post explores how those dynamics show up and why they matter, even if you see yourself as “good with money” (or have plenty of it).

Read More
Perfectionism Adina Babad Perfectionism Adina Babad

The Emotional Burnout of Always Being the Thoughtful One

If you’re the one who anticipates everyone’s needs, keeps the peace, and carries the emotional weight for others, it might look like strength, but it often comes with deep exhaustion. This post explores how thoughtful, caring people burn out, why it feels so hard to ask for support, and how to create balance without losing your kindness.

Read More
Perfectionism, People-Pleasing Adina Babad Perfectionism, People-Pleasing Adina Babad

How Perfectionism and People-Pleasing Show Up in the Small, Everyday Choices You Make

Perfectionism and people-pleasing don’t always show up in obvious ways. More often, they live in the small, everyday choices you make without thinking—what you say yes to, what you soften, and how often your own needs end up last. This post explores those subtle patterns and how they can slowly lead to burnout, even when everything looks “fine” on the outside.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

When Perfectionism and People-Pleasing Fill Your Calendar With Everyone Else’s Priorities

You keep saying you need downtime, but somehow your calendar’s filled with things everyone else needs or wants. As a therapist in New York who works with high-achieving perfectionists and people-pleasers, I see this all the time. In this post, we’ll explore why it’s so hard to say no, how perfectionism keeps your schedule packed, and small shifts that help you make space for yourself—without sacrificing everything.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

Why So Many Sensitive Women Struggle with Perfectionism (and How to Navigate It)

You feel things deeply and you hold yourself to high standards. If you're a sensitive woman with perfectionistic tendencies, you might find yourself constantly overthinking, overdoing, and still wondering if it’s enough. In this post, I explore why these two traits often go hand in hand, and how to start creating more space for rest, clarity, and self-compassion, so you can start working with your sensitivity instead of working against it.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

When Being “The Reliable One” Keeps Women from Feeling Supported

You’re the one everyone counts on—and you take pride in that. But being “the reliable one” can come at a cost: burnout, loneliness, and not feeling truly supported. In this post, I explore why it’s so hard to ask for help (especially for perfectionist women who are used to holding it all together), how this role gets internalized, and what it looks like to start making space for your own needs too.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

Perfectionism Therapy Myths: What High Achievers Need to Know Before Reaching Out for Support

If you’re a high-achieving perfectionist, you’ve probably talked yourself out of starting therapy more than once—telling yourself you “should” be able to handle things on your own or that it’s not bad enough yet. In this post, I break down some of the most common myths perfectionists believe about therapy, and then share what’s actually true. Because getting support doesn’t mean letting go of your standards—it means finally supporting yourself too.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

High Achiever, Low Control: How Layoffs Hit Anxious Over-Functioners the Hardest

You’ve always gone above and beyond—pushing yourself, proving your worth, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. So when the layoff comes, it doesn’t just feel like a loss of opportunity, money, or routine. It feels like a hit to your identity. As a therapist for anxious perfectionists and over-functioners, this post explores why high-achieving women often feel layoffs more deeply—and how therapy can help you reclaim your worth beyond productivity.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned: A Guide for Anxious Perfectionists and People-Pleasers Navigating Change

You thought you had it all figured out—a plan to keep things steady by working hard and showing up. But when life suddenly shifts—a breakup, a missed promotion, an unexpected diagnosis—that sense of control can feel shattered. For perfectionists and people-pleasers, it’s easy to fall into self-blame, panic-fixing, or trying to downplay for the people around you.

In this post, I break down those inner voices and fears that show up when plans fall apart. And more importantly, I share gentle strategies to pause, feel your emotions fully, and respond from a place of grounding and self-compassion. Because falling apart doesn’t mean failure—it’s often the start of real growth.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

Can You Be Ambitious and Still Slow Down? Letting Go of Perfectionism, People-Pleasing, and the Fear of Losing Yourself

You’ve always been the responsible one, the capable one, the one who keeps it all running. But lately, the pace you’ve kept is starting to feel unsustainable, and you’ve been reconsidering what you actually want from your life. This post explores what it means to slow down without “giving up”—how to navigate the fear, the identity shifts, and the grief that can come with letting go of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and hustle culture. It’s not about abandoning ambition—it’s about redefining it in a way that fits you.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

September Just Started and You’re Already Planning for the Holidays: A Check-In for Perfectionists and People-Pleasers

Already stressing about the holidays—even though it’s barely September? If you’re a perfectionist or people-pleaser, you might be trying to get ahead to avoid overwhelm… but accidentally creating more of it. In this post, I share gentle, grounding questions to help you reflect, set boundaries, and plan from a calmer place (when you're actually ready to).

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

How Perfectionism and People-Pleasing Keep You Stuck in Relationships (and How Therapy Can Help)

If you expect the most from yourself—and letting someone down feels like the absolute worst—you might be caught in patterns of perfectionism and people-pleasing that keep your relationships feeling stuck. In this blog post, I explore why you get stuck in these patterns, how they affect relationships, and how therapy can help you create more balanced, authentic connections.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

Why “Fine” Might Be the Perfect Time to Start Therapy for Anxiety and Perfectionism

When life feels fine—not amazing, not terrible—it’s easy to put off starting therapy. But if anxiety or perfectionism are familiar patterns, that sense of calm might actually be the best time to start. As a therapist in New York, I often work with clients who wait until things feel really hard to get support. In this post, I explore why starting therapy when you’re not in crisis can actually help you build more clarity, insight, and resilience—so you’re not just surviving the next wave of stress, but navigating it with more confidence and care.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

Don’t Overthink It: A Therapy Consultation Call Guide for Anxious Perfectionists

If you’re an anxious perfectionist, the idea of scheduling a therapy consultation call might leave you overthinking what to say, ask, or prepare. As a therapist in New York, I’ve guided lots of clients through this first step. In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly what to expect—from how consult calls work to what questions you can ask (if you want)—so you can move forward with less stress and more clarity.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

How to Choose a Therapist as a Perfectionist (Without Getting Stuck in Over-Research or Doubt)

Starting therapy can feel overwhelming—especially when perfectionism kicks in, and the search for the “right” therapist can turn into endless scrolling, second-guessing, and avoidance. In this post, I share how to break free from the perfectionism trap, focus on connection over credentials, and take manageable steps to find a therapist who fits you. No need to wait for perfect—just start.

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

Therapy for Perfectionists: 10 Signs It Might Be Time to Start

You’re productive, insightful, and holding it together—but something still feels off. If you’re a perfectionist who’s been thinking about therapy (but keep putting it off), this post is for you. I’m sharing 10 common signs it might be time to start therapy—especially if you’re feeling burned out, emotionally stuck, or constantly questioning if you’re doing “enough.”

Read More
Adina Babad Adina Babad

What Keeps Perfectionists from Starting Therapy (and Why That Makes So Much Sense)

You know therapy could probably help, but starting feels… like a lot. You've got a running list of reasons for waiting—some practical, some harder to name—and honestly, it can feel safer to stick with what you’ve been doing, even if it’s not really working. In this post, I’m breaking down why it’s so common for perfectionists to put off therapy, and how those reasons (while totally understandable) don’t have to keep holding you back.

Read More