[Crook32]

How does everyone had holiday stress? My mood could go either way depending on how close I am to finish shopping but the anxiety is always high. Plus I have to deal with my family. My kids gave me Christmas list with only two things on it which makes me happy that they don’t feel like they want material things but it makes it hard when you have grandmothers asking for suggestions. Holidays are supposed to be a joyous time but with commercialization it has become stress central.

[wolftrap]

I feel stress and anxiety as well. This year I can only afford a few gifts for my kids, and no one else. Not the situation I'd like, but there it is.

[*Beth*]

All I did for the holiday season is string pretty, colorful lights around my bedroom and create my Spotify holiday songs playlist. I'll send out a few cards. That's it for me.

[MickeyCheeky]

i am so Sorry for You, @Crook32, And EveryOne Else who is struggling! Please do stay strong! this Year is less stressful than previous Ones for me, it seems, for Better or worse, due to covid Unfortunately. Our focus is on staying Safe here. i Hope And Pray these Christmas Holidays Will Be as Joyful as Possible for EveryOne! SEnding many Safe, Warm Hugs to ALL OF YOU, Your Families, Your FriEnds And ALL of Your Loved Ones! Keep fighting And keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

[Soupe du jour]

With the stress of my upcoming house sale, road trip, and then move to Czech Republic, the holidays are barely even entering my mind. Honestly, I could care the heck less about them. However, I have already had Hubby get his Christmas gift from me. Skis and ski-related stuff. He's delighted! The only other person I really buy for anymore is my father, and I do need to get him something. It will likely be some clothing and/or new bedding. He doesn't need much for his assisted living facility. He doesn't want anything at all. We've asked him and he repeats that he wants nothing.

We will likely spend Christmas Eve and day with my husband's sister and nephews. She lives near Prague and the nephews come from Prague. That will be nice. I like them all very much. She will likely have made some Christmas cookies. If not, I can help her make some. She always appreciates me helping her cook/bake. She's not that interested in it, while I am. Plus, it's fun to make cookies with a helper. My husband rarely is.

[captaineo]

Hi friend and friends, just wanted to share that holidays are also very hard for me too. And it’s hard but I believe in my catholic faith and that gets me through all the difficulties. What ever you believe in try to leverage that as much as possible, I am not the best advisor just wish you people who struggle with my similar illness the best of life. But here I go again rambling....

[Nammu]

Holidays are not stressful to me but they are a lot of unnecessary bother. Extra cleaning, getting out decorations and cards. I’m not religious so there’s no meaning to it and I’m not 5 so Santa doesn’t mean much either. It’s just irritating to me, all that hubaboo and artificial cheer. I do get presents 🎁 for my daughter and her family but that’s traditional.

[Victoria'smom]

My son asked for only 4 things. I can't get them all for him . I got him the 3 smallest things but usually he gets 10 things from us or one "big" thing with lots of parts. I'm not even sure about putting up the tree this year. Usually we get gifts for each other too but not this year. I'm usually all for getting the perfect gifts for people. This year we had several early Christmases so it doesn't feel Christmassy to me. I'm hoping when his 3 gifts get here and I'm wrapping them it'll be better. I'm usually great at getting deals and everything but this year all he wanted was digital games that were cheap. What I did get him was merch from two of the games (wallet and bag) and a loot crate. I'm hoping he likes everything. Usually I save up for the holidays but this year we had an emergency trip in Oct. I know he's old but we only buy him things on Christmas and his birthday so some of this stuff he's been waiting for almost all year. I Feel like taking everything out of the loot crate and wrapping it so he has more gifts under the tree. Is that stupid of me? should I just go ahead and wrap the three gifts or should I wrap all the gifts in the crate separately? I'm so lost this holiday. It's also hard knowing family is struggling too.

[yowsa]

I'm getting through this holiday okay I think. I put up my little tree before Thanksgiving to cheer myself up, started up the Christmas music. And, thank goodness for Amazon! I'm in lockdown, so no shopping. I told everyone to expect one gift only (I usually go crazy with the gifts), and they're all okay with it. I was alone on Thanksgiving, very sad since my family lives five minutes away. But we've decided to expand our family bubble to include me. They're nervous since I'm 68, but frankly I don't know which is worse, covid or this crushing depression. It's a matter of survival at this point.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

My son asked for only 4 things. I can't get them all for him . I got him the 3 smallest things but usually he gets 10 things from us or one "big" thing with lots of parts. I'm not even sure about putting up the tree this year. Usually we get gifts for each other too but not this year. I'm usually all for getting the perfect gifts for people. This year we had several early Christmases so it doesn't feel Christmassy to me. I'm hoping when his 3 gifts get here and I'm wrapping them it'll be better. I'm usually great at getting deals and everything but this year all he wanted was digital games that were cheap. What I did get him was merch from two of the games (wallet and bag) and a loot crate. I'm hoping he likes everything. Usually I save up for the holidays but this year we had an emergency trip in Oct. I know he's old but we only buy him things on Christmas and his birthday so some of this stuff he's been waiting for almost all year. I Feel like taking everything out of the loot crate and wrapping it so he has more gifts under the tree. Is that stupid of me? should I just go ahead and wrap the three gifts or should I wrap all the gifts in the crate separately? I'm so lost this holiday. It's also hard knowing family is struggling too.

I think it would be fun to wrap each gift in the loot crate.

[Jmayfair]

I always feel like I'm forgetting something this time of year especially when New Years Eve comes around. This was my most ill year and I'm having trouble facing any holiday since Thanksgiving. I made it through that one with plenty of anxiety. Setting up the Christmas tree was another painful day but I got through that. Now Christmas is coming and my mind can't take it. I am practically afraid of it. For the sake of my family I have to pull through but I am more concerned with developing some form of mania or worse, depression.

[Bipolarchic14]

The holidays have not fully hit me yet so the stress of them is not really there. I bought some gifts in Nov. Now I just need to find them so I can wrap them. Have not decorated. Been having trouble staying present so not 100%. I walked by some green and white cupcakes the other day and pointed the out to a friend. “ oh look st. Patrick’s day cupcakes”. The look she gave me was priceless and then it was like duh!

[Miss Laura]

I start Christmas shopping as soon as I can I start straight after Christmas no joke. It helps with my stress and anxiety levels. My Twin and I our Birthday is the start of Feb so I start her shopping after Christmas things she wanted but didn't get. Or if I see anything she would love. I do mostly online shopping I do use shops in my town but cause of queues, crowds and now covid I try not to physically go into shops its hard enough to do food shopping on a weekly basis during the year.

Start small, take small steps.... in re to your kids thats fab they only have 2 things. We think outside the box for gifts for my 8 year old Nephew. He hasn't asked for it but we are putting money on a Nintendo switch card so he can buy games. Its things like this that my parents (his Grandparents) can do and feel like he has a gift

[Bipolarchic14]

Miguel’s mom- I am not sure how old your son is but I can say from my own experience my mother was always obsessed with getting a lot of gifts for my brothers and I well into adulthood. One year she did not have a lot of money because of her own health concerns and expensive medicines. My brothers and I let her know we did not care about the gifts. We meant it. Our biggest gift was the ability to spend Christmas with her. Tbh I actually loved spoiling her at Christmas too! We lost her seven years ago now. I miss her every day. Of the thousands of gifts she bought over her lifetime for me, my favorite is still the painting she made me. If your son likes to unwrap a lot of gifts then I would wrap the things in the loot box.

[Victoria'smom]

He's 18. It looks like nothing will be here in time for Christmas. The stuff I ordered over a week ago hasn't shipped. Of Course the thing my mom ordered for me and DH look like they'll be here on time :'(

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

He's 18. It looks like nothing will be here in time for Christmas. The stuff I ordered over a week ago hasn't shipped. Of Course the thing my mom ordered for me and DH look like they'll be here on time :'(

There is something on the news About that. People were rushing to the stores because things weren’t going to arrive in time. I don’t have any kids I do have nieces and nephews and one of their gifts is not due to arrive until mid January. Honestly my niece just gonna have to deal with it. I feel bad but there’s not much I can do about it.

[yowsa]

I'm steeling myself for the possibility of being alone on Christmas Day, There are covid tests taken, we're waiting to find out. I have several things to do, my puzzle, reading new books. I plan on cooking yummy things for the freezer so I'll have something good to eat just in case. I was alone on Thanksgiving and it was pretty bad. I want to be in a better place for Christmas, just in case.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Last year I spent Christmas ip. This year I am stable so far! I’ve had a few days that were off but no psychosis or Serious depression or mania since spring of this year!!!!!!

[Sunflower123]

Thanksgiving was stressful and anxiety producing for me but I have a different feeling about Christmas. Could be my inner peace course. We’re doing a Chinese Christmas this year so that will be easy. My daughter has only asked for two things on Amazon so that will be easy as well. I think this year will turn out okay.

[Nammu]

It’s just mum and I for Christmas. Everybody else has too many risk factors to mums health. I don’t know what we’ll get for Christmas dinner. It doesn’t feel special when it’s the same person I’ve been with since March.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by yowsa

I'm steeling myself for the possibility of being alone on Christmas Day, There are covid tests taken, we're waiting to find out. I have several things to do, my puzzle, reading new books. I plan on cooking yummy things for the freezer so I'll have something good to eat just in case. I was alone on Thanksgiving and it was pretty bad. I want to be in a better place for Christmas, just in case.

I'm so sorry your T-giving was bad. I was alone on that day, and will be on Christmas, too. I actually ended up having a nice T-giving; I watched a couple of movies, did some reading, and hung out here on PC now and then. I'm sure there will be some of us who will be alone on Christmas, especially this year. PC is a good place to connect with others on holidays.

[yowsa]

Let it be over.

[pekoetea]

I'm counting my blessings this holiday season. For the first time in many years I am not in a hospital during the holidays. I am a bit anxious about when my mood is going to shift, but so far things have been pretty even keel. I did all my shopping in November to make sure I had everything I wanted to get for my daughter and wrapped everything early as well and got it tucked away so I wouldn't be stressed out before Christmas Day.

There are so many things I'm worried about, but in the immediate moment I remind myself I am safe and am doing better than I have in a long time. I feel like crying a lot because I get so overwhelmed with emotion about the past, but I'm managing and sometimes I cry openly with my family or just tuck myself away for awhile and let it all out. I still have bad days but the good days outweigh them.

I live with my parents and that helps a lot too. I pay rent to them and help pay for groceries, but the fact that my mom is always here to talk to makes a big difference. My adult brother lives at home too. In the past I had really hurt my immediate family in my manic episodes by saying and doing some really terrible things, and it feels like we're moving into forgiveness. It's not perfect but it's a lot better than it has been. Moving into acceptance of my illness has also helped me greatly too, and as the new year approaches I'm looking forward to the future.

[daladico]

I usually get super stressed/anxious/overwhelmed with the holidays.

Thankfully my mental health is the best it’s been in a long time... so fingers crossed the holidays will be less stressful for me this year