4 Tips to Manage OCD Over the Holidays

We’ve entered the first pandemic holiday season without restrictions. What does this mean for your OCD symptoms?

OCD & Holidays

Joining us this holiday season...

Joining us this holiday season is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the flu, and COVID. Despite these illnesses, we can gather with friends, family, and coworkers without restrictions for the first time during the Pandemic. As an ERP and OCD therapist based in Barrie, Ontario, it’s not surprising that we’re seeing heightened OCD symptoms among our new and current clients this holiday season. Here’s what you need to know about OCD and how to manage your symptoms this holiday season.

Holiday invitations are coming in, and your weekends are getting busy with social events.

It appears you’re the only person thinking of all the illnesses out there right now. While you’re busy obsessing (worried, scared, what-if thoughts), the people around you are joyful. They can’t stop talking about how excited they are – what they’ll wear, and what they’re bringing.

Do they not have a care in the world? Suddenly, a jolt of envy runs through you, and you want to be like them.

It’s normal to experience intrusive thoughts.

It’s common to have intrusive thoughts (obsessions) during the holidays. When envy accompanies the intrusive thoughts, watch out for the shame spiral.

You know OCD is winning when:

Recognizing how you’re speaking to yourself is the first way you can get through the holidays with OCD.

Now, try to respond to yourself as if you’re talking to your best friend, who happens to have OCD.

Be kind to yourself is tip number two:

You are not alone. Help is available.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder affects over 350,000 Ontarians.

Next, let’s look at how OCD may attack this holiday season.

OCD intrusive thoughts during the holidays can look like:

Our third tip is monitoring the intrusive thoughts leading up to your holiday functions.

Bonus points if you can do so while practicing tip number four. This is an important step in developing an appropriate response to the OCD – tip number four:

Face the fear and do it anyway.

Confronting what we’re afraid of is the only way to overcome OCD and prove to yourself there’s nothing to fear but fear itself.

Try these strategies:

Using exposure statements that demonstrate we can tolerate the scary thought, situation, or image. For example: “I can trust the uncertainty that I might get sick, and that’s ok.” For other fears, “I might hurt someone, but I can tolerate the uncertainty.”
If exposure statements are hard to say, try a coping statement instead: “If I get sick, I know I can handle it. I’ve done it before.” For other fears, “The thoughts are not mine; they belong to OCD.”
Take the event(s) in chunks: 15 minutes at a time or whatever your need, and take a break. Escape to a quiet space to remind yourself of your skills.
Exposure: As a good general rule, what you avoid is what you fear, and should be confronted. Hold the knife while a family member is close; hug your nieces and nephews while using an exposure statement.

As you move through our four tips for managing OCD over the holidays, remember:

What tips do you have for the OCD North community to help us get through the holidays?

4 Tips to Manage OCD Over the Holidays

Joining us this holiday season...

Holiday invitations are coming in, and your weekends are getting busy with social events.

Do they not have a care in the world? Suddenly, a jolt of envy runs through you, and you want to be like them.

It’s normal to experience intrusive thoughts.

You know OCD is winning when:

Recognizing how you’re speaking to yourself is the first way you can get through the holidays with OCD.

Be kind to yourself is tip number two:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder affects over 350,000 Ontarians.

OCD intrusive thoughts during the holidays can look like:

Our third tip is monitoring the intrusive thoughts leading up to your holiday functions.

Face the fear and do it anyway.

Try these strategies:

As you move through our four tips for managing OCD over the holidays, remember:

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4 Tips to Manage OCD Over the Holidays

Joining us this holiday season...

Holiday invitations are coming in, and your weekends are getting busy with social events.

Do they not have a care in the world? Suddenly, a jolt of envy runs through you, and you want to be like them.

It’s normal to experience intrusive thoughts.

You know OCD is winning when:

Recognizing how you’re speaking to yourself is the first way you can get through the holidays with OCD.

Be kind to yourself is tip number two:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder affects over 350,000 Ontarians.

OCD intrusive thoughts during the holidays can look like:

Our third tip is monitoring the intrusive thoughts leading up to your holiday functions.

Face the fear and do it anyway.

Try these strategies:

As you move through our four tips for managing OCD over the holidays, remember:

Related Posts

OCD and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Can You Have Both?

Supplements for OCD: What the Research Actually Shows

5 Tips on How to Parent a Child with OCD

OCD Brain VS Normal Brain: Main Differences

How Does Learning Theory Explain Compulsions?

Can You Develop OCD Later in Life

Connect With Us

Resources

Programs

Company

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