How are you feeling this Christmas?

worrywort

Well-known member
I always find Christmas to be quite an emotional time. How's everybody else feeling this time of year? I hope you're all doing ok.
 

Argentum

Well-known member
Why emotional?

I'm tense about the number of people attending family gatherings, not all of them people I can be in a room with. I'll be glad when it's over. It hasn't been the same since people started marrying ex-cons with anger management problems.
 

worrywort

Well-known member
Why emotional?

I dunno, I guess there's a lot of love being spread around this time of year, and you can feel a little lonely and left out sometimes. Plus there are often lots of family gatherings and social events to attend which can be difficult and traumatic and can sometimes leave you feeling even more lonely and in need of love afterwards! I also sometimes feel like there's a kind of expectation that you're supposed to feel more joyful this time of year, but trying to conjure up joyful feelings can sometimes make you feel worse. Plus, you have to face all the questions about your plans for Christmas and new year and stuff which can be draining. It's just a special time of year, when new experiences and connections can be made which can feel great but can also remind you how much you've been lacking in these areas. It's a time when you look back over the year at all your highs and lows, and sometimes, if you don't have people to share all that with it can be tough.
 

bsammy

Well-known member
well xmax definitely ist like it used to be, thats for sure..now its just another family gathering to get through and you spend weeks before shopping for gifts..wish i was young again..
 

Argentum

Well-known member
I dunno, I guess there's a lot of love being spread around this time of year, and you can feel a little lonely and left out sometimes. Plus there are often lots of family gatherings and social events to attend which can be difficult and traumatic and can sometimes leave you feeling even more lonely and in need of love afterwards! I also sometimes feel like there's a kind of expectation that you're supposed to feel more joyful this time of year, but trying to conjure up joyful feelings can sometimes make you feel worse. Plus, you have to face all the questions about your plans for Christmas and new year and stuff which can be draining. It's just a special time of year, when new experiences and connections can be made which can feel great but can also remind you how much you've been lacking in these areas. It's a time when you look back over the year at all your highs and lows, and sometimes, if you don't have people to share all that with it can be tough.

Ah, I know what you mean. I think there's a reason a lot of people panic before the holidays. If you're not worried about who's going to go to what houses at what times, it's the number of dishes that need to be prepared or the smile you have to plaster on your face the whole time.
 

gustavofring

Well-known member
I don't necessarily feel anything differently from other parts of the year. I mostly ignore the whole thing. The whole fuzz about it is just something that society has conditioned into our minds. Does it really matter if a person spends christmas alone? Who cares? It's just like any other day really and it will pass pretty fast too. But people will look at you strangely or pitiful when you say that you spend it alone, so I just lie.

I personally don't have a large and chummy family (anymore). I could see that it could potentially be nice to sit and dine with your family, share love, presents etc. but since I don't have those things, I'm not going to sit around wailing. I did love Christmas as a kid, but those days are over. The few family I have are not exactly big on christmas either, so it's probably best if we don't force outselves to do something we don't like.

It doesn't help that the weather where I live is anything but christmas-y. It has been raining and almost hurricane-style winds for weeks now.
 
To be honest I haven't prepared much for this Christmas. I feel lonely and depressed regularly, so whether it's Christmas or another holiday or just an ordinairy day, it doesn't matter. It's all the same to me. I went to a Christmas market last week, in Germany, but I didn't feel any different. I did see many ppl with friends and family. I was all alone, but it didn't bother. I guess I'm pretty much used to it now.
 

Kiwong

Well-known member
Better than last Christmas. This time last year my thoughts were getting out of control to the point of paranoia, building up to almost a breakdown in April.
 

LazyHermitCrab

Well-known member
well there's still a couple days to mentally prepare so that's good. it's okay it's better than Halloween when people talk about parties. I'd rather a family gathering because less can go wrong I guess :s I like New Years best because I don't go out and just drink at home.
 

DeLasDudasInfinitas

Well-known member
Anxious and worried because I know that something horrible will happen during family gatherings and I don't want it. I hope that maybe this year is less terrible than previous years... :sad:
 

dannyboy65

Well-known member
How am I feeling about Christmas? Annoyed more then anything, I just highly dislike Christmas. I don't find it to be of any significant importance in my life. To me it's just a day and that's all it will ever be.
 

Merel

Well-known member
Overall I'm feeling well about it. I have a very small family and haven't traveled for Christmas/New Years since being a teenager. Anyone outside of my immediate family agree not to travel here or to exchange gifts. I'd say most of my anxiety this time of year comes from running errands, as parking lots and stores get swamped with some especially rude and/or intense people doing last-minute shopping.

My immediate family (my brother, parents and I) are secular and we do a laid-back 'celebration', we tend to give each other small gifts. I look forward to this time of year for food - my ritual is usually to buy a few sushi and sashimi plates for the family, and bake a lobster quiche.
 

Nightjar

Member
I do not worry about Christmas, it is just like any other day for me. No friends and no family, just the way I like it!
 

MikeyC

Well-known member
Pretty good. Going to be a busy day with lots of food, which I care about more than the presents. :)
 

sky_blue

Member
I'm feeling okay about it. I actually enjoy Christmas more now than I did when I was a kid because back then my mom made it unbearable and it was just a bad time. Now it's better and I have a nice holiday with my family so it's all good.
 

Metal_isthe_Answer

Well-known member
Why emotional?

I'm tense about the number of people attending family gatherings, not all of them people I can be in a room with. I'll be glad when it's over. It hasn't been the same since people started marrying ex-cons with anger management problems.

Garrus!! Best "side kick" ever!

Yeah I'm not big on Christmas, but it's more to do with feeling isolated from so many people for me. My family is pretty small and kind of all over the place, none of us really want to travel from Texas to Michigan or vice versa
 
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