The holiday period is hard to navigate sometimes. We can be surrounded by people and have so many events on but never feel more lonely. It’s such a blur. We can feel unheard, unseen, we can feel disconnected from ourselves, from our world, and from those around us. While we may feel lonely, we need to remind ourselves that this is often a transient state. It is forever changing and it’s not permanent. Why? Because lonely is an emotion and emotions are fleeting. Being alone on the other hand is physical. Being alone means physically being on your own in a place. At times you may wish to be around people and not be alone or feel lonely, while other times you wish to be alone and don’t feel lonely at all because you’re enjoying your own company, but also know that there are people you can turn to when needed (including pets!). Here are some tips on how to manage loneliness when it comes up:

Do you find it hard to say “No”? Here are some tips that may help you set some healthy boundaries during this holiday season. Remember that no matter what your inner critic is saying, you are not being rude by setting boundaries. The tone of which you deliver a message makes a huge difference. Also remember that when saying “No”, you don’t need to justify yourself. It just is.

Perfectionism, at its core, is a relentless pursuit of flawlessness and the avoidance of any perceived mistakes or imperfections. Individuals with perfectionist tendencies often set exceedingly high standards for themselves, fostering a mindset where nothing short of perfection is acceptable. Self-care is crucial, in general but also particularly when it comes to challenging unhelpful perfectionism. The annoying thing is that perfectionism or perfectionistic tendencies can start to interfere with how we engage in self-care. Here are some things to look out for:

Uncertainty has a peculiar way of making us feel uncomfortable. It's as if our brains are wired to seek out stability and clarity, avoiding the murky waters of the unknown whenever possible.

How fast did this year go? Someone once told me that the reason why it feels as though the years go by quicker each year is because the ratio of 1 year in comparison to the amount of years you’ve been alive gets smaller and smaller so it feels like time is moving faster. I’m sure responsibilities increasing and life becoming busier at different stages in life also has something to do with it. The silly season is almost upon us. Every year we tell ourselves that we aren’t going to overcommit or over extend ourselves or go out of our way to please others. How successful are we at this? When it comes to preserving your energy for the holiday season, it could be helpful to consider the following:

Let’s face it we all do it. Google search. How many times a day do you search for the answer for something on Google? How many of those Google searches are related to OCD? I bet it’s a lot! Seeking information about OCD is extremely important. Knowledge is power. The more info we have on OCD, the better equipped you’ll be in terms of treating it. But when does information go from helpful to being unhelpful? When does it turn into reassurance seeking?