Christmas Haters?

[ColinJ]

Plus I have other problems at this time of year just getting through the day without anything extra like Xmas (I suffer with SAD).

I realised after my other posts that my SAD probably has quite a bit to do with my negative attitude towards Christmas. If it took place in the middle of July, I would still think it was odd, but it wouldn't bother me so much.

Have you got a light box? Mine really helps me on gloomy winter days.

 

[Dayvo]

I realised after my other posts that my SAD probably has quite a bit to do with my negative attitude towards Christmas. If it took place in the middle of July, I would still think it was odd, but it wouldn't bother me so much.

Have you got a light box? Mine really helps me on gloomy winter days.

I've had SAD for as long as I can remember (and that's a LONG time)! TBH, the only effective treatment is to either hibernate all winter or find a hot sunny country to live in for five months!

It definitely adds to my dislike of Christmas!

 

[SPINNINGIRL]

I HATE CHRISTMAS TO....TRIED TO MAKE AN EFFORT THIS YEAR EVEN INVITED THE MOTHER IN LAW...SHE SAID NO!

 

[CharlesF]

I'm with Colin on this. I hate the commercial aspect of Christmas and the way everyone is expected to conform to a certain way.

We have developed our "own" Christmas day and it makes for quite a normal day. No pressure on the kids or other family to be with us, and they wont this year; ready to cook food from M&S. Presents limited to fifteen quid between the two of only, everyone else agreed with us that giving presents at Christmas is a pointless waste of time (we do give the occasional non-xmas presents through the year which are much fun being random and unexpected by the family recipient). We still go to the cathedral Christmas Midnight Service as I like that tradition - not that the message gets through any longer.

I seem have noticed a lack of carols in the shops, either I've managed to stay out of them or are the shops eventually realising they are the most irritating sound in the universe.

 

[perplexed]

Sign me up to the "loath it" club...

 

[Maverick Goose]

Though I'm atheist, I enjoy Christmas for what it means to me... time off work, time with family and friends, bit of overindulgence and generally it's quite fun. I hate the 2 month build up, and refuse to get drawn into panics about not having enough time left to get everything done. Don't get drawn in, just enjoy..

Me too, and I don't mind working then if I have to . After cooking for 100+ people at Hartington Hall cooking for my folks is a breeze even with the parents being a bit stressy at times [don't know where I got my serenity from...wasn't from them!]. I love cooking anyway and do my own pudding, mincemeat and cakes....maybe a bit of chutney too to use up some of our apple mountain, which also takes care of a few presents. One year I made a terrine which was a serious amount of work but the appreciation you get makes it all worth it. The hype can get a bit much but just try and focus on the things you do enjoy rather than getting worked up about the things you don't....think about all the great rides you have planned for 2011 [when I start my age with a 4 so I'm planning 40 epic offroad rides all over the country]and crisp winter days and CAKE! I'm also currently 'resting' between jobs, though have just got news of an interview in the Lakes aka MTB Nirvana and am pretty certain that the SYHA/YHA will have something for me.

 

[meenaghman]

Ah its time for the nativity - chequered tea-towel. check. dressing gown. check.. crowns.. check.. stuffed lambs/calves .. check. santa hats (not strictly nativity ) check.. big doll ..check.. carol sheets ..check.. christmas tree ...check...false beards..check.. star..check... shepherds sticks ...check.. angel costumes.. check..

Come on you can't beat a childrens nativity play for sheer fun.. There's all the crowd watching as young jimmy/mary bellows out their lines.. There's always falling scenery threatening to kill Mary and Joseph.. There's the two poor kids who have to be the donkey ! There's the shrill shriek of carols being murdered in much the same way as the innocents by Herod... only punctuated by lighting and sound disasters -- testing 1,2 .. testing 1,2 ... There's always one kid in the chorus playing with a bogey.. and another pair having a fight pushing and shoving each other off the bench, causing domino effects.

What isn't there to love about Christmas and the annual Christmas concert/nativity.. Its great.. because its not perfect..the sheer pandemonium of it all... I have cried tears of laughter and of pity (often at the same time) at some of these events..

Seriously - if you're feeling down, get yourself along to the nearest edition near you..

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I realised after my other posts that my SAD probably has quite a bit to do with my negative attitude towards Christmas. If it took place in the middle of July, I would still think it was odd, but it wouldn't bother me so much.

Have you got a light box? Mine really helps me on gloomy winter days.

Yep - I've had a box for quite a long time now. For some reason it fell into disuse for a while. I brought it out this autumn and have it in front of telly in the evenings. Seems to be helping this year.

You are correct tho' - it was only when I realised that I suffer with SAD that I realised why I find Xmas so difficult.

 

[Arch]

Yep - I've had a box for quite a long time now. For some reason it fell into disuse for a while. I brought it out this autumn and have it in front of telly in the evenings. Seems to be helping this year.

You are correct tho' - it was only when I realised that I suffer with SAD that I realised why I find Xmas so difficult.

Ironic that so many people with SAD find Xmas hard - since Xmas was probably the original version of a light box - a way of cheering folk up at the darkest time of the year. Perhaps it shows how far we've come from the 'real meaning' of Xmas, that it's changed from cure to pain...

 

[ColinJ]

Ironic that so many people with SAD find Xmas hard - since Xmas was probably the original version of a light box - a way of cheering folk up at the darkest time of the year.

I know it is going to sound distinctly odd, but when I'm feeling down, I find people having a great time really depressing! It's almost as if they are shouting at me "Hey oddball, this is what having fun looks like!"

 

[Speicher]

It does not sound odd at all, Colin. I have often been a similar situation. Some of us do not need to be always surrounded by people making as much noise as possible. It is possible to have fun quietly.

Christmas this year will be much easier than most Christmasses, as I do not need to see my sister in law.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I know it is going to sound distinctly odd, but when I'm feeling down, I find people having a great time really depressing! It's almost as if they are shouting at me "Hey oddball, this is what having fun looks like!"

I know what you mean, I'm not very good at being social and when my moods low I just want to be on my own, being around people being loud and jolly just makes things worse

 

[XmisterIS]

Generally, I like Christmas - the period between 25th Dec and 2nd Jan typically gives me time to relax and unwind and do things that I need to catch up on.

I don't find it stressful because I buy all my Christmas presents online and in good time.

The thing that does p*ss me right off is when people (who are not local) cram their cars onto the local roads to do last-minute Christmas shopping! I know they're not local because of they way they dither round the one-way system, parking inappropriately, cutting people up left right and centre as they stray between lanes while glued to their satnavs and in some cases, stopping right in the middle of traffic to look at road signs. Have none of these pillocks heard of the internet?!!

 

[Arch]

I know it is going to sound distinctly odd, but when I'm feeling down, I find people having a great time really depressing! It's almost as if they are shouting at me "Hey oddball, this is what having fun looks like!"

God no, I understand that completely. I just meant that it's ironic how a thing that probably arose out of a need to cheer folk up, is now the cause of stress for so many...

 

[taxing]

Ah its time for the nativity - chequered tea-towel. check. dressing gown. check.. crowns.. check.. stuffed lambs/calves .. check. santa hats (not strictly nativity ) check.. big doll ..check.. carol sheets ..check.. christmas tree ...check...false beards..check.. star..check... shepherds sticks ...check.. angel costumes.. check..

Come on you can't beat a childrens nativity play for sheer fun.. There's all the crowd watching as young jimmy/mary bellows out their lines.. There's always falling scenery threatening to kill Mary and Joseph.. There's the two poor kids who have to be the donkey ! There's the shrill shriek of carols being murdered in much the same way as the innocents by Herod... only punctuated by lighting and sound disasters -- testing 1,2 .. testing 1,2 ... There's always one kid in the chorus playing with a bogey.. and another pair having a fight pushing and shoving each other off the bench, causing domino effects.

What isn't there to love about Christmas and the annual Christmas concert/nativity.. Its great.. because its not perfect..the sheer pandemonium of it all... I have cried tears of laughter and of pity (often at the same time) at some of these events..

Seriously - if you're feeling down, get yourself along to the nearest edition near you..

Can you go to a nativity if you don't have any kids in it? Sounds like one way to be branded a paedo to me.