You can't avoid them. They're on the internet, tv, radio, and in the newspaper. What am I referring to? Advertising. Black Friday, Cyber Monday--you need to buy this product now--it will complete you. Really?

Has this onslaught of advertising had an affect on your mental health?

[SubliminalThoughts]

It doesn't really affect me. Whenever advertisements come on, I completely ignore them.

[Little Lulu]

I agree with Subliminal ... I limit the amount of media I am exposed to and it helps me stay sane. I do work double hard during the holiday season to keep my mental health intact, though ... I try to keep expectations reasonable and take extra good care of myself.

[lizardlady]

Personally, I'm already sick of it all!

[~Christina]

I just ignore any and all I can. I don't let it bother me.

[The Grey Wolf]

It does bother me a little bit I wouldn't say it affects my mental health though the thought of shopping for my cousins do considering they tend to get upset and or angry if they get something they don't like or if they don't get something they do.

[Hellion]

I mostly ignore it, I don't even watch t.v so that helps and don't listen to the radio...and don't really go shopping all that much, just if i need or want a couple specific things I will go get them though much of the time cheaper/easier to just buy stuff on the internet, in fact that is probably the only way I will be able to get any sort of gifts for friends or family at least if they want more then a card with some random picture I draw on it.

[ifst5]

I wrote a very long post elsewhere about the holiday season and the ensuing martyrdom.

Basically, If you don't want to buy anything and/or celebrate something, then don't. Yeah it's hard to avoid and the pressure can be immense. But it's still something we can take control over no matter how hard.

Strangely I've been ok this year - I get my usual OCD obsessing and impulsivity but the consequences haven't been as bad. I've got a few things for my family I'm happy with and I'm coming to accept that even though all I really want is for everyone to be well and happy - that might not happen and it doesn't have to be the end of world.

It's one day. It's only the 12 months of Christmas if we let it.

[Xenon]

I used to be annoyed by it, but I don't really care anymore. I don't know if it's because I can shop online more now and I don't have to deal with the malls, etc. if I don't want to, or because I don't have that many people to buy for anyway. I kinda like making stockings, picking out a bunch of little things for someone instead of trying to find the one perfect gift. I just have fun with it and don't take it that seriously.

I don't watch tv so it isn't so bad for me but it is impossible to avoid it completely because the internet is also oversaturated with ads. But that is our culture is it not? Programmed to be good little consumers we are

[Ripose]

Don't forget billboards, sides of buses and cars, street signs, building signs and people with signs on street corners not to mention people handing out flyers and free samples.

[eskielover]

I live in the country miles out of town. I don't own a TV. I choose what I want to look at on my internet & the radio station I listen to is one that contradicts the materialism aspect of Christmas & since I don't have any family other than my daughter who lives across the country.....I don't get involved in the buying of THINGS that are totally useless.

I bought myself something that I have wanted.....it is an antique that this sweet man in the antique show heard I was looking for & he had one so he brought it in & sold it for an amazingly reasonable price. As for the few gifts I do give to others they always are something that I have made or painted.

I LOVE my simple life & wouldn't trade it for anything that I have previously experienced over the past 60 years