All family get togethers give me anxiety and PTSD. My former sister in law used to OD every family get together when I was a kid up until my brother left her when I was in my early 20's. (I am in my late 50's now.)
So every holiday we had to perform CPR and call 911 when Debbie downed all the pills and alcohol she was able to beg, borrow or steal for that particular occasion.
Now I get anxious if anyone has a drink or even acts a bit tired at any get together. I don't host holiday get togethers. I don't celebrate most holidays in anyway.

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Final score:

24points

Summer Franke

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Literally everything, i hate holidays

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Final score:

20points

Robby (Ze/Zir)

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Buying gifts/making gifts. I don't have a job since I'm in school and my parents don't want to drive me, so I handmake most gifts. I need one for my mom, my dad, my grandparents, my other set of grandparents, my boyfriend, my best friend, and my friend who I picked for Secret Santa. It's a LOT of stress, especially with the "end of semester shitload" (a ton of homework at the end of the semester) and my taekwondo classes.

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Final score:

19points

QueerAxolotls

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The whole material energy about Christmas time. Our society has turned Christmas into a stress-inducing, gotta think of a present to buy for everyone, people-driving-like-maniacs buying last-minute gifts circus. It's supposed to be the celebration of Jesus being born. For a few years now I've been trying to get my family to skip gifts and just have a nice time together, counting our blessings. I almost have everyone on board for next year.

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Final score:

17points

ConservaDave

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"...all I want for Christmasss, is youuuuuu..." My fingers started bleeding just typing that.

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Final score:

15points

Kevin the Manager

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Working in retail.

I had one Christmas where I was so busy with customers, I wasn't able to able to finish my morning coffee. Heck, I didn't eat a thing until 4 PM that day.

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Final score:

14points

CG

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My main anxiety is am I good enough, I had a tricky childhood. Mother was a narcissist and was cruel. No contact 5 years. So now I'm a mum to 4. I struggle to make sure I do everything I can to make their special day special. Its hard as I work nights and have very limited child free time and next to no support. Youngest is 2. Eldest 13. Really struggle. And don't get paid again before Xmas and I feel like I'm drowning. I just want to make it special. But it's soo hard. Kids dad decided he isn't paying matinence anymore (he isn't seeing them because he is abusive so refuses to pay) I'm all they have and I really want to make it special x

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Final score:

14points

RachyLou92

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I’ve always had this feeling of not belonging or fitting in around the holidays. Everything feels so forced and fake to me. I’m still trying to embrace them and make the most out of them.

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Final score:

14points

Amy Face

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Decorating in a cat proof way. Very limiting

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Final score:

12points

Vermonta

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The food I have to prepare, the whole decoration thing, unwanted calls of very distant relatives and celebrating the 5th year without my dog. I really hate holidays ... :/

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Final score:

9points

Nina

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Knowing all the days afterwards when people ask how my holidays were, it's inappropriate to say, "I sat in my apartment, sad and lonely. How were yours?"

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Final score:

9points

Lily Robertson

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Family gatherings. I am really antisocial.

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Final score:

9points

Pan-cake

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Traffic

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Final score:

8points

Char Char

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The food I have to prepare all by myself, and the traditional Japanese “End of the year big cleaning”. It ruins the holidays for me every year.

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Final score:

7points

Lily Anne

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Christmas. I like celebrating it for my kids, but otherwise it's just super stressful.

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Final score:

7points

vogonpoet

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if I don't do everything nothinhfor the holidays will be done.

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Final score:

6points

Monica Michelle

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Gift shopping and putting away all the Christmas decoration!

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Final score:

6points

Andrea Fucciollo

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I love my parents but visiting them is not good for my mental health (various past and present reasons), but staying home alone over the holidays gives me even more anxiety.

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Final score:

6points

Rocky Owl

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getting ready for all the events and stuff. having a whole aśs neighborhood talent show that you are performing in and emceeing in is rlly stressful(theres also a lil runway/fashion show too). i bet its even more stressful for the adults who actually plan the stuff and book the hall

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Final score:

5points

shanila.pheonix_

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Are we talking triggers or causes?

Triggers: YOU probably, joy, food, waking up, working in a church, ads, crowds, Christmas music, ads, more ads, church gig IS music, leading it even though I'm pagan, food, ads, noise, working in the world's largest independent bookstore, a tourist attraction, with the expectation of college-level knowledge/customer service at minimum wage (because we're so lucky supposedly), food, traffic, ads, ads, ads, food, consumerism, food, loneliness, ads, and literal poverty. Did I mention ads and food!? Ads & food f*^%ing everywhere!!!

Causes: Who needs holidays when you're already diagnosed!? Anxiety, severe depressive disorder, SUDS, PTSD, and anorexia. Imagine facing every day starving. Hangry is all the time. You're either hungry or unhinged. Imagine every social situation that has anything to do with food, especially those you're expected to attend, can't face. Not just the last 5 weeks of the year, all the time. Now add terror, decision paralysis, and the disappointed guilt-laden expectations of family and friends, while you're sad & alone at home crying into the toilet. I'm a zero-budget craft wizard, just don't ask me to eat. Unsincerely, Happy Holidays 🖕😃

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Final score:

5points

Niki Farley

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Nothing at all! I love the Holiday Season! The food, the tree, the food, the snow, the food, the lights, the food and the films of the holiday season. We don't give each other gifts, we make donations instead. And when the holiday season is over, I have the blues, I'm sad. But hey, it’s coming back next year! HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

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Final score:

5points

Frances Pitchoune

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Lack of money, inability to make money (am disabled), it's a whole year anxiety but gets worse around holidays.
For this year specifically, my own Christmas gift, I always choose what people will gift me but for this year all I want is out of budget. Also my partner's gift, I had a nice idea but s**t happened that left me traumatized and I'm currently not able to do anything besides stare into the wall and play simple games (even more complex games I'm struggling with) which is hurting me a lot cause I hate not doing anything and also can no longer make that gift but I also don't wanna drop the idea.

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Final score:

5points

Himory TheDreamer

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The Reason for the Season being totally lost in a sea of consumerism.

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Final score:

5points

Juniper Skye

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I personally don't like how my little siblings act like morons near things such as Christmas because I KNOW they're gonna cry without presents. also I don't like the 4th of July due to the fact we go to one of my extended family member's farm and light the fireworks, but I have pyromaniac cousins who make A PILE OF BURNING FIREWORKS NEAR GRASS. making me think that it'l catch, I've also almost gotten shot by a tank firework... not as bad as my dad had once. to top it all off for 90% of the holidays we go to my great uncle's house. not so bad right? WRONG! the house may be big but MAN is it unfinished. there's a room that's just beams. the place also gets attacked by trash pandas ( racoons ). I have severe anxiety about this stuff.

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Final score:

4points

ojthememerbirb!

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The unwritten, unavoidable law that it has to be going to be the most wonderful, best holiday ever!!!

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Final score:

4points

Ge Po

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the pressure of finding the perfect gifts, the challenge of balancing family expectations, or perhaps the stress of hosting events.


ALL OF THAT👆

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Final score:

4points

Vikki =)

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Financial stress due to buying gifts and groceries for the holiday season.
Not being enough

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Final score:

4points

Tanya Venter

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I lost way too many people around the holidays. My friend xmas eve, my grandma (I was talking care of her, end-stage cancer) dec 29th, my mom (also took care of her til she was hospitalized, end-stage cancer, could've passed at home but we were living at my sister's and she didn't want a hospital bed in her living room because "it's tacky!) Jan 2nd, my friend Jan 3rd. I'm a wreck til mid January. But because I can't let it affect my family or ruin it for my kid, I have to keep it all bottled up inside. And then there's my inlaws constantly belittling and fighting with my husband but xmas day we have to pretend everything is perfect and trade cheesy gifts that will never get used. It's just so much stress and anxiety.

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Final score:

4points

TheBlueBitterfly

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Sending Christmas cards. I have stopped sending them and have found I can live with guilt easier than the anxiety.
Merry Christmas everyone!

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Final score:

3points

Ernest Volpe

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Holiday performances
I have like 10 this month (*incoherent screaming*)

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Final score:

2points

UnseeJuiceWitch (any pronouns)

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I never get anxious lol, this year i have to study for a exam rewrite in January tho

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Final score:

2points

Andrei Marentette

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Peasach
SO MUCH CLEANING and I only really have spring break to get it done, unless Peasach is the first week of spring break.

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Final score:

2points

The Amazing Fluffernaut

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the Holidays is what gives me holaday anxiety and shopping this time of the year so i just amazon everybody

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Final score:

2points

Neb Skram

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I'm retail management. I have anxiety issues with being in crowded spaces. this is not ideal.

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Final score:

2points

whineygingercat

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I’m so overwhelmed. I’m not ready and can’t seem to get into the spirit of the thing. I’ll be working long hours through the holidays. I’m a widowed mum of two adult kids with disabilities and I also have my own disabilities. It all feels too hard. I can’t afford it and I just don’t want to deal with it this year. I miss my mum who I lost a few years after my husband and I tend to feel so alone at this time of year.

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Final score:

2points

JaimeeJames WD

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Well, because my brain is messed up, eating food makes me anxious so there's that whole mess, and on top of that I have to handle all the people and the noise and the family and I do not like it

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Final score:

2points

CryingChildKinnie

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Family gatherings. Especially with people I swear I’ve never met before in my entire life. Like, who’s this? Last time you saw me was when I was born? Yeah, okay.

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Final score:

2points

Statinanis

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My BF has a perfect pitch. Also, flashy and blinky things make him overwhelmed. On top of that, he's from an artistic family and Kitch makes him uncomfortable in general. Every time he has to go out during the holiday season it's torture for him.
That makes me anxious as well because we have to reorganize our lives in such a way that he can avoid going to "christmasy" places as much as possible.

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Final score:

1point

Fora Nakit

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Hoping people don't go to my door and start singing(Christmas) or asking for candy(Halloween).

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Final score:

1point

The Disneyland Duck

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for winter holidays? (my family celebrates Christmas) probably thinking of a wish list and getting it to people on time, and then buying people gifts.
And getting late work done before the semester ends.

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Final score:

1point

Micah Chips 🇺🇦🇮🇱

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...Holidays.

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Final score:

1point

Echo

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This is quite insignificant compared to other additions on here, but being nostalgic honestly makes me so anxious, and Christmas, especially summer here in Aus, brings about a wave of nostalgia that I absolutely hate. I also tie smells and songs to certain memories (I've never known why), which makes it even worse to smell the scent of flower that bloom around this time and hearing christmas songs, cuz it is just a constant reminder of past memories, and even if theyre good memories i can never cope with the weird feeling of nostalgia.

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Final score:

1point

:) (she/they)

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All the planning, decorating, gift buying etc..

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Final score:

1point

Ms.GB

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Receiving gifts - I have everything I need and having to incorporate more "stuff" in my already full house, makes me want to scream. Please, don't buy me anything!

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Final score:

1point

Robin Roper

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My son repeatedly asking me how many days until Christmas!

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Final score:

1point

Mediocre Genius

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People, too many people

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Final score:

0points

Doozle bug

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(I hope she doesn't read this) When my sister insists that she doesn't want to do more than one get together with family, so pushes my dad outside his comfort zone to have dinner with us and my mum and step dad, but then gets offended because I didn't ask her to come to celebrate with dad at my house on Christmas day as well.

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Final score:

0points

Huddo's sister

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Travel. I live almost three hours from my family and have to drive through white out conditions, icy roads, and wildlife zones to visit. And yet, my in-laws, extended family, and immediate family expect me to be present at all six Christmas events. In total, I drive about 800 miles in three days. The stress makes it not worth it!

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Final score:

-1point

Hlon

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