Striving to do well is part of being human. But when “doing well” quietly shifts into “never enough,” the weight can become unbearable. For most perfectionists, that drive that initially felt like motivation can start tearing their mental well-being down, ensnaring them in loops of self-blame and hopelessness. New research indicates that this constant striving for perfection is not only emotionally depleting—it could potentially be deadly, increasing the likelihood of suicidal thinking and behavior.

Also Read: World Suicide Prevention Day 2025: Theme, History, And Significance

Perfectionism is even lauded as a badge of achievement. The student with impeccable grades, the colleague who always meets deadlines, the parent seeking the TV-perfect family—all are qualities society is wont to valorize. But a study at the University of Ontario in Canada introduces a cautionary note: perfectionism might have an unseen price tag. Beyond worry and burnout, it might heighten the risk of suicide ideation.

When researchers analyzed 45 studies with more than 11,700 participants, they found 13 out of 15 measures of perfectionism were linked to elevated suicidal thoughts. The strongest associations came from what psychologists call “socially prescribed perfectionism”—feeling pressured to meet the expectations of parents, teachers, bosses, or society at large. Unlike striving for personal excellence, this kind of perfectionism fuels a sense of never being enough.

As the study, published in the Journal of Personality, puts it: perfectionists “are their own worst critics; good enough is never enough.”

How Is Perfectionism Linked To Suicidal Ideation?

The findings go beyond isolated cases. A 2007 study interviewing friends and families of suicide victims found more than half described their loved ones as perfectionists. In 2013, researchers noted that over 70% of young men who had died by suicide had placed extraordinarily high demands on themselves.

The University of Ontario analysis helps clarify the picture. While traits like being tidy, organized, or holding others to high standards did not predict suicidality, internalized pressure—especially when tied to others’ expectations—was consistently associated with higher risk. Importantly, longitudinal studies confirmed that perfectionism can precede suicidal thinking, not just co-occur with it.

This matters because suicide remains the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 44,000 lives annually. Millions more engage in self-harm or struggle with intrusive suicidal thoughts. If perfectionism truly contributes to that risk, it warrants serious attention.

When Achievement Culture Turns Toxic

Perfectionism does not exist in a vacuum. Cultural, educational, and economic forces shape the pressure individuals feel to succeed. Journalist Jennifer Wallace explored this in her 2023 bestseller Never Enough, which captured the voice of parents in high-achieving communities. In surveys with over 6,500 respondents, 73% said selective college admissions were seen as essential to future success, while 83% admitted they viewed their children’s achievements as reflections of their own parenting. Yet nearly nine out of ten wished childhood could be less stressful.

That tension mirrors what psychologists like Thomas Curran at the London School of Economics call “toxic achievement culture.” Young people are growing up in environments where their worth seems tethered to test scores, trophies, and résumés. For perfectionists, this can be suffocating. Instead of striving for growth, they spiral into fear of failure.

The concept of “mattering” has emerged as a counterweight. Defined as the feeling that one is valued and adds value beyond accomplishments, mattering provides a buffer against perfectionism’s corrosive effects. It shifts the focus from being impressive to being important—to one’s family, peers, and community.

Role of Sleep As A Hidden Risk Factors

Perfectionism isn’t the only trait linked to suicide ideation. New research highlights another, often overlooked factor: sleep disturbance. A Stanford Medicine-led study tracking nearly 9,000 children found that kids with frequent nightmares or chronic sleep problems at age 9 or 10 were significantly more likely to report suicidal thoughts or behaviors by age 12.

The reasons may lie in the role of REM sleep in processing emotions. Nightmares that are repetitive and distressing disrupt this process, leaving children vulnerable to emotional dysregulation. Encouragingly, treatments like imagery rehearsal therapy—a method of rewriting recurring nightmares—have proven effective and medication-free.

These findings underscore a larger truth: suicide risk is rarely explained by a single factor. Perfectionism, sleep problems, family conflict, depression—all can interact in ways that push vulnerable individuals toward crisis. The challenge for clinicians and families is to identify these patterns early.

Why Perfectionism Can Be So Dangerous For Your Life?

What makes perfectionism distinct from healthy ambition is its rigidity. Excellence allows for mistakes as part of learning. Perfectionism views mistakes as proof of inadequacy. A perfectionist may think, “If I don’t succeed flawlessly, I’ve failed entirely.” This all-or-nothing mindset breeds chronic dissatisfaction, shame, and hopelessness.

Complicating matters, perfectionists tend to be conscientious. This can make them more likely not just to contemplate suicide but to plan and follow through with it. The same discipline that earns them academic medals or career promotions can tragically increase the lethality of their actions.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Experts agree that more research is needed. The bulk of current studies focus on White, Western populations, leaving open questions about cultural differences. Longitudinal studies remain limited, and it is unclear how much perfectionism contributes to suicide risk compared to depression, anxiety, or trauma.

Still, the evidence is strong enough to demand action. For parents, educators, and health professionals, the message is not to eliminate high standards but to reshape them. Children and adults alike need to know that they matter even when they stumble. For communities, it means fostering environments where effort and growth are valued over flawless outcomes. For clinicians, it calls for assessing perfectionism as part of suicide risk screenings.

Shifting the conversation

Perhaps the hardest step is cultural. In a world that constantly rewards “the best,” redefining success as resilience, creativity, and connection is not simple. But it may be lifesaving.

As the University of Ontario researchers warned, perfectionists live “in an endless loop of self-defeating over-striving.” Breaking that loop requires both personal support and societal change.

Suicide prevention is never about a single fix. It’s about noticing when someone’s pursuit of perfection is masking pain, addressing the risk factors we can, and reminding people that being human—not perfect—is enough.

High achievers, caring parents, ambitious students, or dedicated professionals—all can fall into the trap of believing they must constantly prove their worth. What this really means is that even the strongest, most capable people may quietly wrestle with feelings of failure or not being “good enough.”

It’s far more common than we often admit. Many of us have felt the sting of comparing ourselves to others or the exhaustion of holding ourselves to impossible standards. That doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human.

What can make a difference is not carrying the weight alone. Opening up to a trusted friend, family member, or counselor can be the first step toward relief. Sometimes, all it takes is hearing someone say, “I’ve felt that way too,” to break the silence. Sharing your struggles doesn’t burden others, it gives them a chance to be there for you. And often, they may have wisdom or simply empathy that lightens the load in ways you didn’t expect.

It’s okay to seek help. It’s okay to not be perfect. And it’s more than okay to let others walk alongside you when life feels heavy.

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. In the United States, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In the United Kingdom, you can dial 111 for urgent support. In India, you can seek support at iCALL Helpline on 9152987821. If you are elsewhere, please check local resources or call your nearest emergency number immediately. You are not alone, and support is available.

A woman experiencing abdominal discomfort went to her gynecologist for an ultrasound, only to discover something far more startling than a baby. The mom, who shares her story on TikTok under the handle @sandwitchbread, revealed her medical surprise in a video that has now amassed over 1.9 million views. She said she had been struggling with pain and unusual bleeding since giving birth to her two-year-old son and decided to see a gynecologist fearing she might be pregnant again.

During the ultrasound, she noticed something on the screen, but the doctor quickly reassured her it wasn’t a baby. “When my doctor came in to share the results,” the TikToker recalled, “she looked me in the eyes and told me I had a seven-centimeter cyst, about the size of a chicken egg, called a dermoid cyst.”

What Is A Dermoid Cyst?

A dermoid cyst is a pocket of tissue growth that can contain normal body tissues, sometimes including hair, fluid, teeth, or skin. While this TikToker’s cyst was in her uterus, dermoid cysts are most commonly found in the ovaries. They are generally harmless but often require surgical removal. According to the National Cancer Institute, dermoid cysts are present from birth but may not be detected until later in life. These benign tumors originate from embryonic cells that become “trapped” and develop into tissues in the wrong location. Teeth and hair are frequent components, and surgery is usually recommended if the cyst causes symptoms or complications.

Why Do Dermoid Cysts Have Hair and Teeth?

Dermoid cysts develop hair and teeth because they arise from trapped embryonic cells (ectoderm) that can grow into skin, hair follicles, sweat glands, and even teeth, instead of forming the tissues normally found in the ovary or skin. Essentially, they are benign tumors made up of mature but misplaced body tissues from the outer layer of the embryo, which normally forms skin and related structures.

Dermoid Cysts: Symptoms

Most ovarian dermoid cysts remain symptom-free unless complications occur. When symptoms do appear, the most common one reported is lower abdominal pain.

As the cyst enlarges, it can cause noticeable abdominal swelling and problems with the urinary or digestive system.

In more severe cases, individuals might also experience:

• Fever
• Intense abdominal pain
• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• Unexplained weight loss

The Office on Women’s Health notes that cysts on the ovaries can also cause:

• Pressure in the abdomen
• Bloating
• Abdominal swelling
• Pain in the lower abdomen

Dermoid Cysts: Possible Complications

Some potential complications include:

Rupturing of the cyst: Though rare, ovarian dermoid cysts can burst. If the cyst’s contents leak into the abdominal cavity, it may lead to chronic inflammation of the abdominal lining (peritonitis). In some cases, leakage into the intestines or rectum can result in the material being expelled through the anus.

Ovarian torsion: This occurs when the cyst twists the ligaments holding the ovary in place, which can cut off blood supply to the ovary and fallopian tube.

Infection: The risk of infection is around 1–4%. Severe infections may lead to cyst rupture.

Malignant transformation: Dermoid cysts are almost always benign, but in rare instances, they can become cancerous.

A new weight-loss drug often described as the “triple G” treatment because it mimics three hormones linked to hunger and metabolism has delivered striking results in fresh data shared Thursday by its developer, Eli Lilly. In a clinical study involving more than 400 people living with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, the experimental drug retatrutide led to an average weight reduction of 71 pounds, or close to 29% of total body weight, over a period of 16 months, according to figures released by the company. Participants who received retatrutide also reported a 76% drop in knee pain by the end of the study period, based on the same data. So is

What Is Retatrutide?

Retatrutide is an experimental weight-loss drug developed by Eli Lilly and is widely seen as a next-step advancement beyond current GLP-1-based medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. While semaglutide acts on a single hormone pathway and tirzepatide works on two, retatrutide targets three.

It activates GLP-1 and GIP, along with an added glucagon pathway, which is why it is sometimes informally referred to as a “GLP-3” drug. Researchers believe this third pathway could explain the greater weight-loss effects seen so far, although retatrutide remains under investigation and has not yet received FDA approval.

Why Is Retatrutide Trending?

Even without regulatory approval, retatrutide has gained attention among gym enthusiasts, fitness creators, and online weight-loss communities. On platforms like TikTok, where direct searches for #reta or #retatrutide are restricted, users often refer to it using coded terms such as “ratatouille.”

At the same time, the drug has been in the news due to growing concerns about counterfeit versions. Reports from the UK recently revealed that authorities seized more than £250,000 worth of fake weight-loss injection pens labelled as tirzepatide and retatrutide from a hidden factory in Northampton. These products are especially concerning because retatrutide is still in clinical trials and has not been approved for use anywhere in the world.

How Is Retatrutide Different Than Other Weight-Loss Drugs?

Retatrutide works by mimicking three hormones that play a role in appetite and metabolism: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. In contrast, most weight-loss drugs currently available target only one or two of these pathways. Ozempic and Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk, copy the effects of GLP-1, a hormone that influences the brain, pancreas, stomach, liver, and muscles, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Mounjaro and Zepbound, on the other hand, act on both GLP-1 and GIP, a hormone involved in blood sugar regulation through insulin stimulation. Retatrutide’s added glucagon effect is key, as glucagon is known to support fat burning, even when the body is at rest. Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved by the FDA for treating Type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy and Zepbound are approved for people with overweight or obesity. As with any prescription drug, it is important for individuals to consult a healthcare professional to determine whether these treatments are appropriate for them.

When Is Retatrutide Expected To Be Available To Consumers?

There is currently no confirmed timeline for when retatrutide might become available by prescription. Its launch will depend on the FDA’s detailed evaluation of clinical trial data once it is formally submitted. Based on current expectations, approval is unlikely before late 2026 and could potentially extend into 2027 or even 2028.

The use of nicotine pouches is rising sharply across the UK, especially among young adults, recent research suggests. These small pouches sit between the lip and gum and release nicotine gradually into the body. Available in many flavours, they often include sweeteners and plant-based fibres. But are they truly a better option than smoking, or could nicotine pouches still pose health risks? We take a closer look below.

What Are Nicotine Pouches?

Nicotine pouches are small, tobacco-free sachets that contain nicotine powder along with flavourings and fillers. They are placed between the lip and gum, similar to snus, allowing nicotine to be absorbed without smoke, vapour, or spitting. Marketed as a discreet way to consume nicotine, they still deliver a highly addictive substance and expose users to certain chemicals. Health experts have raised concerns, particularly for young people, despite these products often being promoted as a “safer” choice than cigarettes.

Popular brands such as Zyn, On!, and Velo now dominate a fast-growing market, according to the CDC. Like vaping, they do not contain tobacco and are generally viewed as less harmful than smoking.

A recent study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) found that over the past five years, about 522,000 additional people in the UK have started using nicotine pouches, with usage rising from 0.1% to 1% of the adult population.

This has raised an important question: are nicotine pouches actually safer than smoking, and what is driving their sudden popularity?

Nicotine Pouches: Is Using Them Safer Than Smoking?

Speaking on *Mornings with Ridge and Frost*, lead study author Dr Harry Tattan-Birch from UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care told Sky News that the risks linked to nicotine pouches are much lower than those associated with smoking. “There’s no tobacco and no combustion,” he explained. “And we know it’s the burning of tobacco that causes most smoking-related diseases.”

That said, Dr Tattan-Birch and his colleagues stressed that these products are not harmless and should never be accessible to children. The NHS notes that while nicotine itself does not cause serious diseases in the way tobacco does, young people’s developing brains and lungs are more vulnerable to its effects, and dependency can form quickly.

UCL research fellow Eve Taylor also told Sky News that nicotine pouches are “far less harmful than smoking,” but cautioned that they are still relatively new. Because of this, their long-term effects are not yet fully understood. “We can look at what’s in them to estimate potential risks,” she said. “They’re not risk-free. Users are still exposed to some toxic substances, even if the levels are much lower.”

Nicotine Pouches: Are Pouches Helping People Quit Smoking?

According to UCL’s findings, among participants surveyed between January 2022 and March 2025, 69% of nicotine pouch users were also using other nicotine products. More than half of them, 56%, were still smoking cigarettes. Around one in six users, or 16%, reported that they had never been regular smokers, suggesting the habit was not linked to quitting cigarettes.

As quoted by Sky News, Dr Tattan-Birch said the public health impact of nicotine pouches depends largely on who is using them. “If a young person who might otherwise smoke switches to pouches, that could reduce harm,” he said. “But if someone who wouldn’t have used nicotine at all starts using them, the risk of harm goes up.”

Researchers added that more studies are needed to understand whether nicotine pouches genuinely help people stop smoking in the long run.

Are Nicotine Patches Harmful For Health?

Nicotine patches are widely regarded as safer than smoking and are a well-established aid for quitting. They provide a steady dose of nicotine to reduce cravings without exposing users to tar or cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarettes. However, they are not completely without side effects. Common issues include skin irritation, headaches, and sleep disturbances. People with serious heart conditions or those who are pregnant are advised to speak with a doctor before using them, as nicotine can still affect heart rate and blood pressure, though far less dangerously than smoking, according to the CDC.