Mine is definitely the financial burden of giving gifts. My BF and I have decided not to but eachother gifts. We have done this for the past 3 years and saved a lot of money.

People invite me placees and I dont want to go.

My holiday stressor is never being satisfied that I've done enough. I have a large family, and they really get into the holiday's. I feel like I have to compete, I guess. I usually start planning for the next Christmas in February... when it's over, it's always so anti-climactic.

My family used to be like that...we have started a grab bag over the years. The older adults but for the younger kids. Then the expectation is just 1 gift per child and there is a limit of $30 per gift. We don't tell the kids this. We just tolk them that Santa has to give gifts to more needy children this year.

I used to LOVE holidays, finding presents for everyone. But I've had to retire very early (age 55) due to the BP, OCD, seizures. My husband is a great guy, working hard & we're trying to get my SSDI back. I feel awful not having enough $$ to give gifts.

people invite me places and i don't want to go.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!!! Christmas has become so commercialized and is loosing all meaning. The preasure of having to buy presents for three kids and family is overwhelming and kind of takes the joy out of it for me.

My biggest stressor is dealing with the family and all the different personalities going on around me.

Oh my gosh!!! What ISN'T a stressor for me! If I had to choose the #1...it would be my mom.

I hear ya, kitty cat!! lol

I worked in customer service a couple of years during the holidays, and that has ruined Christmas for me forever. People are so stressed, cruel and hateful, and it's such a hypocrosy of what Christmas is supposed to be about; it's a major trigger for me, seeing people like this.

I have decided to only provide the grown children and the grand kids with a token gift. I cant afford much more than that. We will be going to my mother's place for christmas dinner, first one in more than three years. It could be a touchy one but I have asked the pdoc for some extra valium. LOL

Well, I used to have alot of stressors from, money,gatherings,time crunch, feeling like I havent done enough, gift ideas etc,etc,etc. But I found coping skills for all of them so I can enjoy the holidays. The one thing that always lies in the back of my mind that causes some depression is the death of my sister and father in December. I miss them terribly.

I'm actually looking forward to the holidays this year for the first time in my life. As a kid, my parents always fought like cats and dogs all throughout the holidays. I remember one year, my mother said she was leaving my dad on xmas eve, not knowing that I could hear everything. I was only about 10 yrs. old and the holidays just got worse every year since. Mostly because of other people and my sociophobia.
But this year, I'm on the right meds and I can't wait to enjoy the way it should be.
Even done my shopping already..woohoo!

my holiday stresser is my irration mind set on what the holiday SHOULD be. I get so wrapped up in it I fail to actually enjoy the holiday.

Yesturday we had thanksgiving early because my brother is in from out of state. I managed to be ok with it. We couldnt be there during the day to enjoy the family talking and bonding ect. we showed up at dinner time as people were getting thier food and then ended up listening to my grandfather tell me how me and my mom blame everything on mental illness and think its an excuss. Then it was time to leave... I was sooo PISSED. My Grandma on my dads side was BP with skizo tendancies... and his thought was she wasnt mentally ill she was just flat out a bitch... well duh she was totally uneducated on BP and unmedicated and ya she was a bitch probally because of it. I shared that it wasnt an excuse but that it did explain her root of her problems... And how educating our selves and getting treatment for it is the responcible thing to do so we dont raise kids like MY father.... HE SOOOO didnt get it... so yet again anoughter holiday that I am left feeling disappointed in because of my expectations of what it should have been.