Holiday Season is almost on us

[Panic57]

With the holidays almost here, I was wondering how you're feeling about it? Are the holidays good for you or are they something you dread? Personally I'm already stressed out about getting presents for everyone for Christmas. I hate the holiday. I don't celebrate Halloween because my mom is a hardcore orthodox Christian who thinks it's the Satan's holiday. Thanksgiving is going to be the first round of grilling from the family and Christmas is the final kick to the gut to insure that I know I'm worthless. Then New Years, which I only spend with my mom and little brother and is my favorite of the group. How about you?

 

[LovelyLiz]

Personally, I love Christmas once it's here, but the run-up - trying to find the right presents, and the money to pay for them - can be incredibly stressful. I tend to get a lot of anxiety about being rubbish at shopping for presents. Christmas itself- spending time with people I'm close to - is something that I really enjoy though.

 

[17emilyhalko]

I don't dislike the Christmas, but buying presents for people scares me--especially my boyfriend! I feel like I never know what to get him, and I'm not sure if he even liked his Christmas present last year! To be fair, he didn't get me any good gifts, but I but a lot of hard work into the gifts that I made for people! I feel like sometimes I only get little back from what I give.


The Christmas holiday itself is okay, but the season, I know, is very hard for some. The weather makes it impossible to go outside sometimes, and that really upsets me! I start to feel useless and lonely. If I don't go outside every once in awhile, my depression gets very bad.

 

[whysewserious]

I am sorry to hear that the holidays are such a rough experience for you. If it brings you any comfort, most of us experience some level of stress during these times as well, and knowing I am not alone in something really does help me push through.


I have learned over the years to laugh those kinds of "grilling" events off - I love my grandmother dearly, but she always reminds me about how I am the last grandchild that is not married, and she wants to meet my children before she dies. This used to cause inordinate amounts of stress from that kind of pressure, but last time she and my dad teamed up on me about it, I made a joke about how I would either marry the next man that came along, whether he loved me or not, or would get right on procreating even if I wasn't married. They were kind of alarmed, and probably did not think it was as funny as I did, but those questions stopped. That may not work for everyone, but I have a weird relationship with my family and I know my boundaries.


If gifts are a stress for financial reasons for you, they probably are for other as well. I have started limiting my gifts to people I know I will actually see, and everyone else gets a nice, hand-written card in the mail to know I am still thinking of them. If you still see a ton of people, suggest doing a secret Santa format. It will make everyone's life easier.


If that doesn't work, I often group one gift to each couple - my brother and sister in law get a shared gift, as does my dad and step-mom, for example. I also make gifts to save money and I end up having so much fun making them it takes some of the edge away.

 

[SirJoe]

There are a lot of people that don't really like Christmas but I don't mind it. It's good to get back together with family and old friends. It's a welcome change from the stress from our daily lives.

 

[kgord]

Yikes, I don't even like to think about it. I think the holidays are stressful because I am not the palce in my life where I want to be. My son won't come to see me. I usually have to go there...and I hate the pressure to spend money I don't have. I used to love the holidays but now..I just find them to be annoying. Maybe if can move, I might like them better.

 

[fuzyon]

I love the holidays, it's the most beautiful part of the year when everyone is happy and with their families. I love the atmosphere and honestly, it's a nice change of pace from all the stress I deal with throughout the seasons. Stressing about gifts is always something scary, but I think that's what makes it fun. I love receiving and giving stuff, it makes me feel good for once.

 

[CeliVega]

I hate it. Well, I am fine with the holiday itself, but I have issues with family gathering. I don't feel comfortable with strangers in my home. I know that these relatives and in-laws are not considered "strangers", but the truth is we hardly meet and communicate in our everyday lives, fitting with the description of "stranger" for me. I am not sure what exactly is the problem? Am I insecure? Do I hate it when people boast about their accomplishment and achievement? Not exactly, I actually find it fascinating and it's usually people like these who are not afraid to share their stories that you will learn something new or heard some interesting stories.


So what exactly is the problem with me? Could it be that I unknowingly despise my in-laws and relatives? I am gonna be honest here, I hate the way some of them talk. While showing off what they have been doing, they never forget to rub salt on your old wounds and berate you in a condescending manner. I think confronting them upfront in only make things awkward for everyone during family gathering, so I usually just laugh it off in public. The truth is I don't enjoy those moments.

 

[Aree Wongwanlee]

Where I live, the holiday season is an all-year round affair. This is because there are many different racial groups in my country. Each group has its own special holidays. However, we have all been living together as a society for so long that any group's special holidays is also a time for festivity for all the rest. So, for example, Christmas. Christians celebrate it. Non-Christians join in the fun, too. In Thailand, where I was living for two decades, the multi-cultural society there makes life even better. When one cultural group has a festival on, and their eating shops are closed for the time being, other cultural groups are not on holiday and their eating shops are open. So eating out is an all-year round possibility.

 

[Ashley0323]

Oh yayy (not), the holiday season is coming. I'm not sure why, but I get so stressed during that time of the year. I put so much pressure on myself because I want to buy amazing things for the kids for christmas, plus providing christmas and thanksgiving dinners are expensive, not to mention, UGH, I have to be around tons of people on the holidays. Its a very stressful time, and I am always sooooo relieved the day after christmas that the holidays are OVER for an entire year, and that I survived it!

 

[111kg]

I don't hate the Christmas, even though I am an atheist. However, one tactic that I use is that I start buying presents early. This way, in December I won't be stressed because of money and I will enjoy the holidays with my friends. Last year, for example, I started buying presents in october and by Black Friday, everything was in place and I still had money. Holidays were a wonderful experience, although my salary isn't by any means too high.

 

[theduck7]

I don't celebrate halloween either. Thanksgiving is pretty low key in my family. We go to my aunt's place and have a meal and that's about all. It's not a huge gathering.


Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year. It can get pretty stressful sometimes though. We had company for a week over Christmas last year and that got pretty stressful sometimes. It didn't' help that I was sick almost the whole time they were there. It wasn't all stress but I'm quite introverted, so having other people in the house for a week doesn't let me have much alone time. Especially when you are in an apartment. One thing I really like about Christmas is that it's a chance to be with my parents and sister.

 

[DDNatureLover]

Despite often spending the holidays alone, I really love them. I used to put myself under a lot of pressure to buy everyone the best and most expensive items I could find that I thought they would like, but we've really cut back on gift giving in my family. Now that I'm disabled, I no longer work or associate with many of my past colleagues/friends, so I don't have to do much in the way of preparations for the holidays, other than sending something small to my mom and sister and one or two friends. I still cook full meals, even though it's usually just for me, but I then portion out the leftovers and freeze them, so I can have mini-celebrations when I need a good meal. I love the cooler weather, so it lifts my spirits, and I cook and bake more in the Fall/Winter, which reminds me of happy family celebrations, so my mood is actually starting to improve with the holidays approaching.

 

[Alex]

I enjoy the run up as people tend to be more cheery and have something to look forward to. When I used to work in retail I didn't enjoy the season as it was stress and targets, and how I loathed those carols and songs. Now I can listen to them without stress or a bad memory.


I know for some people it's a tough time, but it's a time that people depend on for work, and also is an annual gathering for families or people to stay in contact. For those reasons it's good.

 

[KW2496]

Personally, I love the holidays. I especially love Halloween and Christmas. I however don't like spending Christmas with my family and most years I can get away with it. My mom and my brother are fine and I always see them. But I avoid everyone else, which for me makes it a lot easier to enjoy the holidays. Last Christmas though I had to go to another state to spend a week with my moms entire side of the family and it was horrible. Everyone still treats me like I'm four years old and I don't handle it very well. I had several panic attacks while I was there and I've told myself I am never doing that again.

 

[rz3300a]

Well I am excited, but then again a little nervous. I definitely know that I am not alone here though, and the holidays can bring a lot of worries and extra things to think about. I know that whenever family comes around it is always a source of stress and anxiety, but again, that is how it is for most people. It all comes down to being able to feel comfortable, and the more you can help yourself do that the better off you will be. Easier said than done, though, that is for sure. Good stuff, and thanks for sharing.

 

[Zeesi]

I love the holidays, simply love them. I like the lights, the food, the crispness of the air, the holiday movies(!), the decorating!!! That being said, it's just me and my son relaxing together enjoying the holiday season. No stress, although I would like to buy my son more presents this year than I have in the past few years because money has been tight. Hopefully I'll get some type of financial blessing soon! From where? I don't know, but it doesn't hurt to dream.


I have a large family, but they are in another state. I don't have the pressure of having to get together with them, or buy them anything. I could buy them presents and send them via US mail, but usually I just send cards, something very simple. They don't send me anything either, which makes things guilt-free on my end.


It is interesting though to hear you say that your family makes it a point to insure that you know you're worthless. I kind of have this problem with my family too, and I'm curious to know how you cope.

 

[GrubbyRose]

I still enjoy the holidays. While the winter weather is depressing, I get an emotional lift from all of the festive decorations, and cheerful people. A couple of years ago, I made a quick trip to the pharmacy on Christmas Eve, and while I was in the parking lot a random person I had never met wished me a Merry Christmas as we passed. That brightened my day more that anything else.


My extended family usually has a large get together, and I go. Most of my family concentrates on the food, and we kind of bond over it, as everybody helps cook. While the couple of family members who I got on with best have passed in the last few years, it is still fun.

 

[misszerable]

I love Christmas because I have a child who appreciates it and the gifts and parties that come with it. It will be less joyous, however, because my dad is no longer with us. But yeah, kids love Christmas and I love to buy gifts for my nephews and niece while they can still appreciate those little gifts. I also prepare gift packs for kids who knock at the gate of the house on Christmas day itself. I am not anxious about the holidays at all because most of my memories are happy ones. The All Souls Day is another holiday that our family can get together and we always look forward to staying overnight at the memorial park. These holidays mark each year of our lives and I dread the day that I will be too old to enjoy them.

 

[Countryhalli]

Holidays are absolutely amazing for me, excluding Halloween, I've never been able to really get into that one for whatever reason. My son will be 3 in December so that makes a big difference in the fact that holidays are still new to him and watching him grasp everything and get so excited is worth every bit of stress I go through. I spend from late September till late December doing alot of cooking and baking, from cookies, cupcakes, pumpkin roll, you name it, and I get pretty creative and make quite a few decorations for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I do wish that Thanksgiving would go back to being a bigger holiday then it is anymore. It seems like everyone wants halloween and christmas, but kinda skips thanksgiving and thats sad because we are suppose to come together and be thankful for our families, our homes, our food, everything we have we should be thankful for. I have quite a bit of shopping to do for Christmas each year, but I sort of cheat, I like to buy a few things in the spring when I get my taxes back that I know won't grow old to family members by the Christmas comes, things things usually include jewelry, makeup accessories, coloring stuff, craft stuff, things like that. Then I usually save up in vetween then and September or so and start buying here and there, then once December gets here I just have a few things to buy and the rest is like my cookie tins i make and put together. All of my family members including myself are born in November, except my son which is an early December baby, and my family makes a huge deal out a birthdays, so me trying to buy ahead also saves money and allows me to still give nice birthdays to everyone.