Finding Therapy for OCD During the Holidays in Boston, MA– Part 3
In my last two posts, I talked about why OCD tends to flare up during the holidays and other high-stress, high-pressure seasons, and how you can start managing it. The more I write about this, the more I realize how much there is to say—because this was such a big part of my own story. I spent years obsessing over whether OCD would show up during “important” moments and trying desperately to keep it away.
And of course… that only made everything worse. More obsessing, more anxiety, more compulsions.
I see the same thing in so many of my clients. They feel devastated when OCD interferes with a relationship, pops up on vacation, or crashes into a big work project or school exam. It makes total sense to feel upset—these moments matter. But trying to force your thoughts or feelings to disappear doesn’t actually protect you. It pulls you deeper into the quicksand of OCD.
You may have heard this metaphor:
If you fall into quicksand and start fighting, you sink. But if you stop struggling, your body floats and you can get out.
OCD works the same way. The harder you fight it—especially during the holidays or any “special” event—the more trapped you become. When you accept that OCD is showing up (even when it’s inconvenient), you step out of the cycle instead of getting swallowed by it.
You Can’t Control Your Thoughts or Your Feelings (But You Can Choose Your Response)
In my last post on OCD triggers, I talked about how we can’t control intrusive thoughts—only how we respond to them. The same is true for emotions. So much of OCD is really about not wanting to feel anxiety, guilt, disgust, or any form of distress. Compulsions are our brain’s attempt to get relief. And that relief is always temporary.
Think about it: if I told you that for the next week you must feel happy and never feel sad or anxious—or else something bad will happen—could you do it? Of course not. Even if there were real consequences, you still couldn’t control your emotions. No one can.
So What Do You Do With All That Distress?
You acknowledge it.
You name it.
You feel it in your body.
And then you gently refocus your attention on the present moment even if that means in this moment you don’t like how you feel.
What doesn’t help is analyzing the feeling, trying to figure out when it will go away, or scanning your body to see if it’s changing. Doing that tells your brain, “This feeling is dangerous and important,” which only increases the distress.
The truth is: being human means feeling things—and not all of those feelings will be pleasant. But when you allow them to exist without judging them, you create space for them to move through you. They do fade, but not on a schedule we can control.
You Already Know How to Do This—Just in Other Areas
Most of us naturally “let emotions be” in certain situations.
After a fender bender, you expect to feel anxious.
After a breakup, you expect to feel sad.
After an argument, you expect to feel angry or irritated.
You probably didn’t try to force those feelings to disappear. You acknowledged them as normal responses, and eventually—without knowing exactly when—they passed.
With OCD, though, we often think, “I can’t feel this right now. I need to get rid of it.” And that resistance traps us.
So here’s my invitation:
Think about the times in your life when you’ve allowed hard feelings to exist. Then apply that same skill to OCD—especially when it shows up during “inconvenient” moments.
Let the distress come along for the ride. Don’t label it as good or bad. Don’t try to decode it. When you stop fighting it, it eventually loosens its grip.
And Then There’s the Grief…
Another emotion that often appears on the OCD recovery journey is grief. In my previous post, I talked about how OCD can come and go throughout your life—even during the moments you treasure most. Accepting that is part of healing, but it can be painful. It brings up sadness, disappointment, and yes—real grief.
So much of life is outside our control, including having OCD and the ways it affects certain areas of our life. But the same tools apply here, too.
Name the grief.
Feel it in your body.
Let it be without judging it.
The more we practice this, the more we learn to accept life as it is—not just the parts we like. And that acceptance creates room for more maturity, more ease, and more resilience.
If you’ve enjoyed this post I recommend reading:
https://beyondocd.org/expert-perspectives/articles/acceptance-and-ocd.
This short article has been so helpful in how I approach OCD personally and professionally.
OCD Treatment in Boston, MA and Los Angeles, CA
If you’re noticing how OCD tends to show up during high-pressure or meaningful moments, like the holidays, big life transitions, or important relationships, working with an OCD therapist can offer support and perspective. Jen Lescher, LCSW provides OCD treatment in Boston, MA and Los Angeles, CA, working with adults who want to step out of rumination and respond to intrusive thoughts in a more grounded, intentional way.
My approach to OCD therapy is evidence-based and thoughtful, drawing from Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) and ERP. Rather than focusing on eliminating thoughts or achieving certainty, therapy centers on helping you relate differently to OCD, so it has less influence over your decisions, your time, and your energy.
OCD treatment can support you in practicing these skills in real life, especially during seasons or situations that naturally carry more stress or emotional weight.
Support for Responding Differently to OCD
If this post resonated, you don’t have to take these ideas and figure them out on your own. OCD therapy can offer a steady place to practice responding differently—especially when intrusive thoughts or emotions show up at moments that matter to you. If you’d like to learn more about OCD therapy with Jen Lescher, LCSW, follow the steps below to see whether working together feels like a good fit.
Reach out to me here so I can get to know your story better.
Learn more about the OCD cycle, rumination and more by exploring my blog posts.
Therapy for OCD can offer a supportive place to find a different way forward.
Other Resources I Recommend as an OCD Therapist
Alongside individual OCD therapy, I offer additional resources that many people find helpful as they learn more about their patterns and experiences. On the Common OCD Themes page, you’ll find clear, compassionate explanations of the thoughts and behaviors that show up for a lot of people with OCD—often bringing a sense of relief and recognition.
I also created an OCD and Social Life page, where I talk about the very real challenges of navigating friendships, dating, and relationships when OCD or anxiety is in the mix. These resources are here to complement our work together, offering practical guidance and supportive insights you can return to anytime.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Jen.
I’m a therapist, coffee enthusiast (honestly, it’s my favorite ritual of the day), and a big believer in finding small moments of presence—whether that’s through mindfulness, photography, or a quiet walk with my camera in hand. Photography helps me stay grounded and see the world with a little more curiosity, and that same mindset shows up in my work with clients. I’ve been drawn to spirituality and healing work since I was a teenager, exploring everything from meditation to energy practices. But I’m also someone who loves blasting music in the car and getting lost in a true crime podcast. I think healing can include both stillness and movement, reflection and laughter. Therapy should have room for all of that. Since 2007, I’ve worked in a range of mental health settings, which taught me that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personal, evolving, and sometimes messy—but always possible.
Training & Background:
Inference-Based CBT (ICBT) for OCD – The OCD Training School & The Cognitive Behavioral Institute
Certified in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) – The Cognitive Behavioral Institute
Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1
Master’s in Social Work – Portland State University, 2012
