[Aunt Donna]

Does anyone else get panicky this time of year? It seems everything is out of control for me. I am having more panic attacks, my OCD is getting worse, phobias getting to me bad. I don't do Christmas well as it is and everything else is going on.

[ECHOES]

Yes I do. It is just way too much.

[opheliasorrow]

I actually am very lucky as I love Christmas, but yes I do get panicky and stressed .... (((((((((((((((Echoes, Faylowell and others who suffer at this time)))))))))))))))))))) Ophelia xx

[jerrymichele]

Donna I hope that your feeling better. I have been stressed a little lately. I almost called up my pdoc. Maybe you need to give your Dr. a call. Can you take a day off, and just relax?

[Hiberna55]

actually for me, this time of the year is my favorite. i feel calmer and happier, and wen its cold and overcast i feel a lot more energetic. its summer where my anxiety increases and i feel depressed. winter is definitely the best time of the year for me.

[Hiberna55]

i personally love this time of year, its my favorite season. i feel calmer and happier. and when its cold and overcast i feel better and more energetic. summer is the worst time of the year for me. thats when my anxiety increases and i feel the saddest, i just cant stand how hot and warm and bright and sunny it is in the summer and much prefer how darker and colder it is during the winter.

[Christina86]

(((faylowell))))))

This time of the year is the absolute worse for me too. I actually did something as proactive as possible, and now as of the 6th of December I have all my Christmas shopping DONE so I don't have to freak out and go to the mall. I go a bit ballistic in the mall when it gets crowded -- I really HATE feeling crowded! (I tend to get very cranky, irritable and anxious. I luckily haven't had a panic attack yet but it's been close). I also only did it when it wasn't that busy, because otherwise I can't cope. It doesn't help that I also get massive headaches from too many different scents in the air, and malls are breeding grounds for random smells of "Christmas" that throw me mini-migraines!!

Too much stress, too much anxiety, too much rushing around = not what the Christmas holiday should be all about!!

[phoenix47baby]

-this time of year is difficult. Everyone seems to be moving faster, there is insane traffic out everywhere, the stores, even the grocery are crowded with people filling up their carts with cooking supplies. People feel uptight. I would be anxious, too. Would just like to take an extended vacation in another part of town.

I just finished all my shopping for Christmas. What a sense of relief.
I was feeling panicky because of the deadline for shopping.
I'm just glad it's over. I did not like being at the mall with so
many people around.I wish the best for you. I hope you get past this holiday
without feeling too bad.Hugs from over this way........

[lindee]

I hate the holidays. Well the month or so before Christmas. I just want everything to go smoothly but it never does. I must buy the perfect gifts for all of my family members but I never do. It makes me so frustrated and down. I just cry all the time. And yes I am seeing a therapist, a pdoc, and I am on meds. I just want the holidays to be perfect. But I am not perfect.

I hate crowds too. I don't hardly have any gifts bought yet. I am trying this year to buy online but that has its bad points too. What if the gifts don't arrive in time for Christmas? Panic.

Oh well. Christmas will soon be here and over. And my favorite day will be here. The quiet day after Christmas.

Take Care. You are not alone in your anxieties.

[Aunt Donna]

Thanks for all the replies. I have a lot of bad memories associated with this time of year. One of which is losing my husband's grandmother just before Christmas 14 years ago. She was my comforter and always there for me. Her answer was for me to crawl in bed beside her (she was in bed a lot due to her knees) and tell her all about it. She never defended my husband (her grandson) when he was in the wrong. The other things, I don't like to talk about. Thanks everyone.

[kjb1985]

Yes I also get anxiety around this year although it has nothing to do with Christmas or the holidays or weather, im not sure why actually. However last winter is when i had my first panic attack and started majorly dealing with my anxiety, maybe it just reminds me of the terrible time in my life or perhaps it is seasonal, people get seasonal depression maybe anxiety works the same?

Originally Posted by faylowell

Thanks for all the replies. I have a lot of bad memories associated with this time of year. One of which is losing my husband's grandmother just before Christmas 14 years ago. She was my comforter and always there for me. Her answer was for me to crawl in bed beside her (she was in bed a lot due to her knees) and tell her all about it. She never defended my husband (her grandson) when he was in the wrong. The other things, I don't like to talk about. Thanks everyone.