As December rolls around, something interesting happens in the therapy room. People begin quietly confessing that they’re not feeling the way they think they “should.” Christmas is supposed to be joyful, warm, magical… at least that’s what the ads, movies, and social media feeds tell us. But for many children, teenagers, and adults, the Christmas period brings something more complicated: pressure, exhaustion, emotional overload, and a creeping sense of “What’s wrong with me? Why am I not happy?”

Perfectionism is one of those traits that can look impressive from the outside: driven, detail-oriented, high-achieving. But for many people, perfectionism becomes exhausting. It can turn simple tasks into endless loops of checking, revising, or delaying until things feel just right.

If you live with OCD, you might have noticed something strange about your memory. You check, re-check, then… check again. Even when you know something is done or something is locked, you still have an inkling of maybe it isn’t…

Being a teenager today can feel like walking through a maze of pressure: school demands, social expectations, body image, friendships, identity, and constant comparisons online. Many young people hold themselves to impossibly high standards, and when they make a mistake or don’t meet those standards, their inner voice can turn harsh and unforgiving.

It’s 11pm. You can’t sleep. You’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and your thoughts are spiralling. Instead of texting a friend or scrolling endlessly, you open a mental health app. Within seconds, a chatbot greets you: “Hi there, how can I help you tonight?” It asks you to rate your mood, suggests some breathing exercises, and offers supportive phrases like, “You’re doing your best.” It feels reassuring. Safe. Like someone’s really there. But is it therapy?

You’ve probably seen it while scrolling: a video that says “If you get nervous when someone takes too long to reply, you might have anxious attachment,” or a reel warning, “That person who set a boundary? They’re a narcissist.” These clips are short, punchy, and often relatable. They speak directly to how you’re feeling—and they get shared fast. But there’s a growing problem: not all of it is accurate, and some of it can do more harm than good.