Do You Suffer from Exceptionalism Disorder?
The hidden condition that can make or break your life
I do. I suffer from Exceptionalism Disorder.
You might too, but not know it.
What is Exceptionalism Disorder?
A condition where the sufferer has a pressing need that everything he or she creates must be exceptional, unique and better than anything else done in that area.
Note: this is my definition. This disorder does not exist in any medical or psychology manuals as far as I know. But I believe it’s a real issue and giving it a name helps. Naming things is the first step for us to deal with them.
Also it is different from entitlement (which can also be called exceptionalism). It’s about seeing yourself as special because of what you do, not because of who you are.
Examples of Exceptionalism Disorder in real life:
A student suffers from Exceptionalism Disorder. She has to write a book report. Instead of just writing it in two hours, she spends two weeks obsessively researching the book, what constitutes great literature critique and how one can disrupt conventional storytelling. She will turn in a half-finished unique report that gets a C because the teacher finds it chaotic and unstructured.