Holiday Season OCD

Part of me says let’s get it over with. The other part says let’s slow down and enjoy it!

I love holidays, yet I do get sad at gatherings because I want to be present like I used to be before there was a constant flurry of unwanted thoughts in my head.

Holidays and family always tough for me

Having to find the PERFECT gift

Christmas is sentimental, family gathering, good food and parties, friends, traditions, with God’s love at the center…. All reminding me that there is life outside of OCD and the healing journey is worth it!💝🎄⭐️

I might be losing my job, and the uncertainty of life with no job is making things really difficult for me. It’s constant regret, rumination, and what ifs, and it’s just really difficult. I hope everyone can have a steady job through the holidays and be brought some peace with that.

Lately my ocd is targeting my faith and religion. I am worried this will be harder around the Christmas season

I live alone and we all know that "alone' and OCD are not a good combination. However, I can say that after 4 years of pain and heartache from Religious OCD, I have, pretty much, risen above it. It continues to rear it's ugly head but, now, I have a grip on it. The family gathering on Thanksgiving was full of ups and downs due to the family dynamics. I felt alone much of the time even though I was at my son's home with 7 other adults and 4 children. I was one of two adults with no spouse or partner due to deaths and I felt the void. Peace to all during this holy Christmas season!

Pressure on myself to declutter enough to decorate for my little son - he's so excited - and worried I can't succeed, but I have some hope for my baby steps. Basically trying to lean into the anxiety of reducing "stuff". Also definitely dealing with anxiety of anticipating family judgments of my OCD characteristics, especially my late schedule. Realizing my propensity (compulsion?) to avoid people.

This Christmas is going to be the worst.. I’ve lost my husband and my dad this year and found out I have OCD I feel so anxious and nervous at night when I’m alone!! I just need this to go by quick n I get to feel normal again.. this have been the worst year ever!!

Ugh I want to like them but being with family makes me nervous or sad. I remember as a child wanting to stay in school because i didn’t want the holidays

I have no idea and feel unable to plan, yet I want to decorate and enjoy the holidays again

I’m struggling within my recovery when it comes to ocd. I have many exciting events coming up, Christmas, my birthday my sons first birthday and I keep being fearful that I won’t be far enough along in recovery to fully enjoy these moments. It puts a lot of pressure on me to get better and also crests a lot of distress and disappointment if I am struggling.

It is hard but not different for my day to day life just more free time. Sad and missing people

Tired & feeling sluggish. Hoping work calms down & I can pour into more creative pursuits that give me purpose.

Spending time with my immediate family and my uncle, plus the new doggies. Maybe going over to my friends for a few drinks but I dunno yet. Lots of laughs, food, card games. This is possibly my first ocd-free Xmas so I'm gonna damn well enjoy it. 😊

Christmas is a struggle, my mum is alcoholic and my family have no time for my OCD. I enjoy it alot more than I used to though, when my OCD was alot worse.

Fucking Hell, just like any and every other time of year

It has started as expected - the angst and stress from interactions with relatives and their not so secret perceptions of who I am. I just want to be able to enjoy my children/husband/ the holiday without the obligation of staying quiet to not offset others need to express themselves

Well, not as good as when I'm ocd wasn't showing its ugly head. It's kind of taken the spring out of my step but the most important thing is that I will be in company and with people that I'm comfortable with. I'm going to Switzerland probably to fatten up. Many people say 'oh, you're going on a skiing holiday' I kind of laugh because the people I'm going to visit barely walk nevermind venture on to a ski slope.. Still, being quite the adventurer, I take myself out of the stifling heat of their flat for a mamoth walk . I usually end up in a book store in the centre of Bern. This is where I feel more at home and luckily for me they have a nice café which has ocd potent coffee that could send my mind on a potentially wild goose chase for an hour or two . That's why at the moment I'm sticking to decaf. Still there are other goodies that I can get my claws on.

I love Christmas, always have and always will. I love it even more now that I have a daughter to bring the magic of Christmas to…. But I gotta admit this is going to be hard, it will be my second Christmas with ocd and tbh I know it’s a bit obsessive but this time of year I find myself just wanting to think about making everyone else happy and plan great presents for them and think about making it the happiest time for my family and friends… but then I’ll just randomly remember I have ocd and get really sad. It’s like I try and distract myself with my love for Christmas and making other people happy, then it all catches up to me that this is my life atm. Idk if this even makes sense. I want to be happy like I have been every year since I could comprehend what Christmas was, but I’m just battling my own demons every day…

I have been filling my spare time cleaning the windows that my tree sets in front. Buying cans of snow. Calling to make sure someone is coming on Xmas Eve !

Does depression cause ocd or ocd cause depression? That question drives me crazy. To take medication or to not take medication. I seemed to have been born with ocd. I can remember it as far back as elementary school. Just didnt know it back then. Im 43. So i wonder if its genetic then must i take medication? I never had anything bad happen to me and then all of a sudden developed ocd. It was just always there.

My OCD has been getting in the way of doing activities for the holidays such as decorating. It also has not been allowing me to be as present in events as I want to be. Also, I have not been able to enjoy Christmas time very much and that makes me a little sad because I love Christmas.

I’m trying to enjoy the holidays since my birthday is coming up but I’m just overwhelmed by the random intrusive thoughts and phrases that would often pop up in my head.😖

I cancelled appointment and reschedule

I used to love the holiday gatherings, but since the beginning of the pandemic I now fear them. I’m afraid I’ll infect my friends and family with COVID or another illness. The pandemic really caught my contamination OCD on fire!

Thought rumination on finances and things to come

Holidays are hard for me because it’s almost a reminder that you don’t have family in my experience. But I’m grateful for my dad and sister! <3

I’m so glad I got what family I still have

i have an overspending issue this time of year. i buy WAY too much for my friends. & if i get even more more gift for one of them than i did for the others, i have to buy all the other friends an other gift too. my wife has talked to me about stopping to spend the money. i’ve always done this this time of year & i always say i wont do it then next year but i do anyways🥲

It’s hard for me suring this season seeing everyone who seems so happy. My life is good but I’m always comparing to everyone else’s life and I get obsessive about it. I know at some level everyone does this but sometimes it’s hard to stop the thoughts. Then I feel guilty bc I do have family and friends and “shouldn’t” feel this way. Ugh. Anyone relate?

Holidays are looking very grey for me, as I won't again be able to visit my family after 6 years withoiut seeing them. I have never felt this sad about Christmas, I don't feel even for decorating or anything. But I will try to do something to not to let this OCD, anxiety and depression to win over me.

I am terrified of this time going away… it is hard to enjoy the present because I know the holiday spirit will go away soon

My school semester ends before the holiday break so it means 2 weeks of no homework! I’m excited to finally see my family without having to worry about schoolwork. Plus, I’ve been fighting my OCD like hell and I’m excited to just enjoy my break without worrying about OCD.

I definitely struggle with feeling pressure to have the perfect amount of holiday/Christmas spirit throughout December. I genuinely love Christmas, but I’m also human and I can’t be “merry and bright” all the time.

Just struggling to find the right words to say.

it’s pretty chill! my skin picking definitely goes down, and i love taking the time to just chill out and draw a lot!!

Worrying about the future. 2024

Holidays are never cheerful, or fun for me. With my touch issues & cleaning issues, I can barely tolerate going to family gatherings. Certainly never gatherings with friends or anyone outside the family. It’s pretty distressing.

I really want it to pass by now

Being busy and not getting things done makes me have ocd

Holidays mean tradition which is something my OCD loves to attach itself to

Also the gifts and planning are so hard for me…especially my own list. getting the exact right thing that I need & want right now as well as with the gifts I’m giving. I don’t want any money or gift or treat to go to waste so it has to be just what they want and will use and won’t be thrown away. And the stress of spending money we don’t have. So much pressure! But then I get all negative and think everyone is so entitled and nobody really needs anything so aren’t we just all being selfish and spending money and giving in to advertising and marketing and it’s not important but people are important and on and on I spin. Makes shopping a delight I tell you 😱😩😢

its the same as any other day tbh

Contamination OCD also runs wild during the holidays because I hate eating food that other people made. Did they wash their hands? Did they cook this meat to a safe temperature? What if someone brought pot brownies and I ate those instead of the regular brownies? What if they cooked with expired ingredients and they didn't know? It's horrible, and I always feel so rude for declining food from family and friends and I know certain people are judging me for it :(

Missing my mom…miserable because I miss her and it’s making me hate the holidays, but also…I want to enjoy the holidays for my children…

I want it to be over

I tend to look for reasons to have it return…..

I want to participate and enjoy, but also want to sleep through it and wake up in Feb. Holidays used to bring me so much joy 😞

For some reason december is always one of my hardest months anxiety/ocd wise and I can never pinpoint why because I love the holidays. Little nervous and hoping this year is better

I haven't been to the doctors in years, I had tried to seek for help, the treatments that I was prescribed, by different doctors, made me feel worse than I did before, so seeking out any more help, I haven't, I've just tried living with it.

I’m forcing myself to get up and decorate the tree with my daughter, but ocd is taking over while I am in recovery, it is saying that what if I relapse? I have been on edge since, scared to relapse, scared I won’t be able to manage my thoughts and stuff anymore and when im around family break down like I did before .

I can't focus on Christmas with the thought of thousands of children dying because of corporate greed

I love the holidays, but they’re so much work… Therefore, I feel that we should do them every other year~ 🤗

I get overwhelmed with some of my OCD loops that others ignore- however I do not feel as though I can express how those things bother me.

This time of year really overwhelms me. My birthday is 8 days before Christmas, we celebrate Hanukkah with my husband’s family and also do multiple Christmas things. I am so burnt out. Way too much socializing for me.

Want to enjoy, stressed that it will pass me by because I won’t be present and then regret that it’s over and can’t have another chance to be present and enjoy it. So much pain in that for me…not only at Christmastime but in life in general…especially raising children!

It looks the same as every other day, staying in my room and avoiding any and all gatherings because of my contamination OCD

The holidays and a full house makes my OCD and intrusive harm thoughts go THROUGH THE ROOF! I'm already obsessing and talking myself off of the figurative ledge a week before our first guests arrive. Plus, I just tested positive for Covid for the first time! Bum-mer!

This holiday season is going terrible so far. OCD has flared up majorly and I just want this time over with so I can be distracted with work again

Not good. My family is had it with my OCD so they said good riddance and that they’re not getting together this time. They’ve cut me off because of my OCD. I can’t go home so I’m stuck in my apartment, being miserable.

Feeling like I’ll be bored and then my thoughts will keep me occupied and I will actually become the person the as the thoughts are.

My ROCD started last year December, so I feel very nauseous, upset, not looking forward to it :(

The holidays are a real source of stress for me. I don’t feel I have the time and money to do it right. Add to that the fact that I’m rather disabled. I like the idea celebrating the holidays, but I feel rushed and falling behind.

I am not into the decorating this year or wrapping presents. This year has hit me mentally bad. I’m missing my deceased mom and dad. The memories of the traditional things we did. I feel empty.

Long winter months are tough for me

I’m going back to my hometown in Washington for Christmas, and I’m excited to see friends and family. OCD wise, I’m not even sure I have it, which makes me feel like a fraud, I don’t if anyone else feels/felt that way.

Absolutely wonderful

I'm going to start speaking positive over myself, because there is power in words. Going to try my best to enjoy church, family and friends.