Hi everyone! I wanted to talk about how OCD doesn’t take a holiday break, even during “the most wonderful time of the year”! This is your reminder that it is okay to be struggling right now. The holiday season puts a lot of pressure on us, and that can make things even harder for those of us who are living with OCD. Your NOCD clinician is there to help you, and us member advocates are here for you, too!

It is okay to also put the focus on YOU! Your children will be happy to have you there, present with them, regardless of what is going on in your mind!

I know how you feel, I have 4 kids and my mind makes me feel like I’m in hell, because I’m constantly worrying ... hope both u and me get well soon so we can be happy and present with our kids

So sorry for your loss! Things are tough right now, and it is A OKAY to feel all of those big feelings.

@NOCD Advocate - Mollie Albanese Thanks. It was was grandma, she was 98 and had a good life, but it's still difficult. And this year has been really hard in other ways as well. My ROCD has been pretty challenging the past couple of days. Have managed to resist the urge to check for articles online, but also just struggling a lot with ruminations and comparisons about my partner and our relationship :(

@FalseGods So proud of you for being aware and continuing to live your life, even with all of those extra challenges ❤️

It always does ❤️

So so sorry, that certainly makes this wild year that much more difficult to deal with.

May your grandmother rest in peace. She sounds like a powerful wonderful human being that made a strong impact on those around her. I'm sorry for your loss, but tell yourself that it's okay to feel these feelings. You'll miss her, and that's important to you. Allow yourself to feel what comes up. It's nobody's fault, just the way of life. After all, passing on is just a continuation of living, the second stage.

And that’s totally okay! Your feelings are valid every day of the year, even if those around you are feeling jolly and bright.

@NOCD Advocate - Mollie Albanese Well I don't know how to feel. OCD makes everything so damn confusing. I know that I did have intentional mistakes and other mistakes that aren't intentional and even then with the intentional ones I never even thought about how bad they are. I knew I had limited knowledge over what I had done at the time so I don't dwell on that as much. But it's the mistake that didn't have intent but rather unfortunately coincidental. To be honest i just want to STOP THINKING ABOUT IT

Hey. Please try and refrain from comparing yourself to others. Your Perfectionism OCD is showing just like mine does. It's not real, it's playing tricks on you constantly. You can enjoy this time. Let the thoughts just pass and sit with the anxiety

It’s okay to not be okay, even during the holidays!

Mary sometimes I struggle on Christmas too. What sometimes helps me is the concept of acceptance. On Christmas, I acknowledge that I might have bad OCD episodes, but when they happen, I’ll just manage through them and still enjoy the day by accepting uncertainty

@smsmith_14 It's so good to remember I'm not the only one! Acceptance is so hard to practice but something I'm getting better at.

For sure! You went and socialized, even though your anxiety and OCD thoughts were so loud. Good for you!

I also have social anxiety, and I definitely can see where you’re coming from. It can be really tricky to be around so many other people, especially when you are so “in your head”. I have found it makes it difficult to be present.