New Year, Same You: Ditch Resolutions, Embrace You

Dear Light On Anxiety Community,

As we step into 2025, let’s make this the year of embracing perfectly imperfect living. Life’s most meaningful moments often come with a mix of anxiety, stress, and doubt, but avoiding those feelings can keep you from the experiences that matter most. This year, challenge yourself to open up rather than hold back—lean into connection, growth, and the adventures that make life rich and rewarding. Together, let’s explore how to accept when these feelings come along for the ride without letting them take the wheel.

Warmly,

Dr. Debra Kissen

In This Issue:

Tired of Chasing Perfection Every New Year? Learn how to embrace self-acceptance and celebrate your authentic self with Dr. Debra Kissen’s 10 actionable tips.
Is Your Child Struggling with Perfectionism? Discover key questions to help you identify perfectionistic behaviors and support your child’s emotional well-being.
10 Tips to Tackle Emetophobia During Norovirus Season: If your fear of vomiting is holding you back, these exposure strategies can help you face emetophobia head-on.
Why You’re Waking Up Anxious—and How to Break the Cycle: Find out what fuels morning anxiety and get practical strategies to take back control of your day.
Retrain Your Brain to Embrace Imperfection: Explore how ERP can help loosen the grip of Tourettic OCD and perfectionism by tolerating “just wrong” feelings.
Expert-Approved Tools to Help You Manage Anxiety: Browse the Light On Anxiety Resource Library for trusted content and actionable guidance from clinical experts.

Tired of Chasing Perfection Every New Year? Here Are 10 Tips to Finally Feel Enough.

Every January, the pressure to become an “improved you” is relentless. But what if 2025 wasn’t about transforming yourself, but instead fully embracing the unique, beautifully imperfect person you already are? This year, let’s ditch the guilt-laden resolutions and embrace radical self-acceptance. Dr. Debra Kissen offers 10 powerful tips to help you silence your inner critic and celebrate the messy, authentic moments that make you, you.

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Is Your Child Struggling with Perfectionism? Here Are 4 Questions to Ask.

Does your child meltdown over losing a game, refuse to start homework, or spend hours redoing tasks? These behaviors may seem like a drive for excellence, but they could be signs of perfectionism. Dr. Debra Kissen shares four key questions to help you spot perfectionistic behaviors. Learn how to recognize these behaviors and understand the silent distress your child may be experiencing.

Norovirus Season Is Here! Here Are 10 Tips to Conquer Emetophobia

Dreading norovirus season? If your fear of vomiting has you avoiding public spaces, over-prepping, or scanning for symptoms, it’s time to take action. In this guide, Dr. Debra Kissen outlines 10 tips to retrain your brain and build resilience to tackle emetophobia. From exposure exercises to reframing your fears, these tools will help you face the season with confidence and live life on your terms.

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Why You’re Waking Up With Anxiety and How to Start Each Day Less Frazzled

Does your mind start racing the moment you open your eyes? Morning anxiety can feel paralyzing, especially when fueled by poor sleep or the weight of a never-ending to-do list. In this article from Self Magazine, Dr. Kissen dives into what’s fueling those uneasy mornings and offers practical strategies to stop the spiral. Learn how to create realistic plans for your day, ground yourself when panic strikes, and take back your mornings—so you can start each day feeling calmer and more in control.

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Retrain Your Brain to Embrace Imperfection: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Tourettic OCD

As the new year approaches, many people focus on resolutions to create change in their lives. But if you struggle with Tourettic OCD, every day is an opportunity to retrain your brain, teaching it to tolerate the “just wrong” feelings that lead to compulsions and tics. Learn how small, manageable steps like leaving a minor task unfinished or reframing self-criticism can build your tolerance for discomfort and loosen the grip of perfectionism.

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Expert-Approved Tools to Help You Manage Anxiety

The Light On Anxiety Resource Library was created to give you easy access to trusted information, tools, and original content from our clinical experts. Our collection of carefully selected articles, blogs, and videos is designed with your needs in mind, helping you gain clarity, practical guidance, and the confidence to take control of your anxiety.

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