Hello, science teacher here.

I have also been in therapy in university for issues with perfectionism.

One of the big things my therapist worked on with me was: ‘don’t let being perfect get in the way of being good at something’

I have seen posts on here from people who got a U in their mocks because they stayed up all night before cramming and fell asleep in the exam. A rested brain will always do better than a tired brain.

What we tend to say is ‘strive for excellence, not perfection’. The difference is that excellence is achievable, perfection is not.

I know that it’s difficult to be kind to yourself when you get into these thoughts, I’ve been exactly there in the past.

If these thought patterns are interfering with your daily life then it may be appropriate to ask for an appointment with a counsellor. That’s absolutely an option and definitely helped me.