They believe bad feelings are abnormal and they consider anxiety a personal failing. They expect nothing less than perfection from themselves. Ironically, it is their perfectionism which fuels their anxiety. Of course, that statement is untrue. None of us will ever have a trouble-free existence of perfect contentment.
Perfection is impossible.
It's an illusion that spoils our satisfaction and our ability to enjoy the riches of ordinary life. The harder we strive for perfection, the greater our disappointments and misery will be because perfection does not exist. Alcoholic and co-dependent parents demand perfection, and if that isn't possible, then they demand that you pretend perfection. No weakness, no fear, no anger, no problems. The mask of invulnerability rears its ugly face again, and as always it blocks out the light of reality.