Fuck I'm stressed. Is everyone stressed?

[LiviaSoprano]

Sorry, possible Grinch alert.

I'm just fucking stressed and knackered. Working til Xmas eve, loads of crap subs/unavailable items on my Tesco delivery tonight, house it a shithole, beds need changing, 2 obligatory social occasions this weekend one of which requires me to provide a nicely cooked lamb joint for 12 people, everyone at work is imploding at how much there is to do before 24th, cat is a bit poorly but vet can't figure out what's up, and of course the fucking Tories.

End rant. Thank god we don't have to leave the house on the 25th. After lunch and clean up I'm getting in the bath with a bottle of pinot and not moving until the bottle is empty and the water is cold.

I'm just tired (8m pregnant and not sleeping well) and my sinuses hurt (but can't have lemsip :( )

I could be stressed (Need to finish my maternity allowance form and apply for settled status! aaargh) but lots of friends seem to be going through worse things atm like parents getting ill or breaking up with long term girlfriends so I'm feeling grateful instead.

Ugh. Christmas.

@Knowhowufeel why just WHY would the week before Christmas be the right time for that? Everyone knows you clear out in January ffs!

I feel for all of you with the Christmas panic because I've done exactly the same for 20+ years, but I'm not really feeling that panic this year. Nothing is perfect and still got a million things to do/buy for my kids but I'll style it out somehow.
My priorities have somewhat changed because my sister attempted suicide again. So along with amazon deliveries and last minute work crap I'm now dealing with the hospital, rehab clinics, homeless charity and I'm also the go to person for all the family wanting to know how my sister is/what ward is she on/what the doctor has said! On top of that I have got flu, my glands are the size of footballs and I got my feckin period. I'm half ranting and half moaning Cos I got nowhere else to vent. But I also kinda wanted to say that for all our day to day stresses and Christmas stresses, I'm happy to have them because the alternative could very possibly have been me stressing about organising my sisters funeral!
I suppose when things like this happen it makes you stop and think about what really matters?!
Be kind to yourselves and know that whatever you can or can't buy for Christmas or what's missing from your Christmas delivery or pain in the arse relatives, in the grand scheme of things it will be ok!

@29Camomila try this: Sterimar - Nasal Spray
It's on Amazon next day delivery. I use it as I get sinusitis a lot. It's safe to use while pregnant and breast feeding.

Boiler went last Sunday - no heating or hot water since then. £500+ to fix. Last year's pre-Christmas disaster was our only toilet breaking. Think that was about £300+.

BUT we're heading away tomorrow and I've done as much as I can do and screw the rest. It feels quite freeing.

Not stressed for myself, but dsil's dad and stepmum have just split up, so we're all scratching our heads and walking on eggshells. One major cause of stress has gone: I don't have a visual field defect, but bags over my eyes.

phoenix really sorry to hear about your sister.

I am a bit stressed I’ve been in bed with pneumonia for five days now with zero sign of things getting better! My DD’s are tired and grumpy and so little swines! I have a few days to pull myself together get everything wrapped and do the food shop!

This Xmas I have been made redundant. 3 months of stress since September knowing it was coming and trying to find a job for Jan. New job secured, garden leave started, then on Monday DD age 9 broke her wrist at school. I'm days behind now. DH works away and is currently 2 hours into a 6hr drive home. I need him home, kids to finish school and supermarket shop done (Monday eve) before my brain can switch off. Mentally exhausting.

Aaah thank you @Chipsahoy I get bad sinuses a lot too in the cold,and baby isn't due till late Jan!

so, I managed a long run. Blitzed the house. Asked ds2 to tidy his room which resulted in him telling me I was "ruining christmas" for him
so, I'm still stressed, still knackered, but at least I went for a run to offset all the wine I plan on drinking later!
Now going to chill for half an hour before starting on the gingerbread house, the freezing garage and present wrapping still awaits , wish me luck!

2 more hours and I’m finished. I’ve still got presents to buy and a tree to put up.

At least I don’t go back until the 6th

I am stressed and it's stress I can't rationalise or get away from.... I'm glad it's Christmas, so I have a reason to put everything on hold, push the shitstorm that is dominating my mind to one side and just think about tinsel and candycanes.

Today has been better. I still have a raging sore throat, sending ulcers up the back of my mouth, but I’m hoping it’s “just” a sore throat or a dodgy wisdom tooth, not hand foot and mouth courtesy of my friend’s toddler. We’ve been and watched the new Star Wars, and now we’re eating McDonald’s (with baileys in my chocolate shake )
Merry Christmas all and if in doubt there’s always gin !

I am even more exhausted. Was up until nearly 1am while DH was at his work Christmas do, which involved spending a lot more money than anticipated (he believed the expensive ticket included free drinks, it didn't) and having to buy 2 new pairs of trousers (the first pair were jeans and jeans weren't allowed so he had to find a shop that sold proper trousers and buy some). DC2 woke up just after 5am for no reason.
Didn't get enough of the wrapping done while DC were at school, they were only there until 1.15 today.
DC2 hideously overtired, screamed and shouted at everyone from the minute we left the school gates, then fell asleep on the settee at 3.30. Was still shouting and screeching about everything when DH got home so he went to the supermarket by himself because none of us could face taking her. That means we have to go back at the start of next week, which will be horrendous, and I have nothing to eat during my 13hr work shift tomorrow because he couldn't choose for me. The time taken up by going to the supermarket again will probably be time I would otherwise have spent having a nap before my night shift on Monday.
DH started talking about the need to have the whole house spotlessly clean by Christmas. I have no idea how to make that happen. It is currently an absolute tip but there is so much other stuff that needs doing too and it is very difficult to tidy anything with DC around.
Shouted at DC too much, DC2 probably won't go to sleep for hours because she fell asleep this afternoon, am so tired I could cry, got to wrap in-laws presents because DH is seeing them tomorrow, can't find where I left my pen to write cards/ gift labels with.

oh happy that sounds hideous.
Why do we do this to ourselves ?
I am currently less stressed.... thanks to 2 large glasses of wine!

however, got to go to bed soon as dd2 has an ice skating lesson at 6am tomorrow, then Im going to parkrun and I also have to brave some shops to purchase desserty bits, then taking dds1-4 to the cinema to see frozen 2.
Sunday we are off to local national trust place for "christmas fun" although a bit of a fuck up on my part with booking times means we will then have a mad dash to get dd2 to work
Monday I need to pick up morrisons foord order, then off to local garden centre for traditional decoration buying and hot chocolate.
I still need to get more gifts for dd1 and dh
Still got wrapping to do
need to mop floors and deep clean bathrooms

but mostly just want to sleep!!

I really really want to sleep.
I finished work (school) in Thursday, my DC finished half way through today.
I’m knackered and have got a 6hr round trip to drive tomorrow seeing elderly relatives. DC are coming and will have to be on best behaviour for hours and hours... roll on Sunday and gin!

@tmh88 depending on what antibiotics you're on, you may still be able to drink.

I was put on a weeks course of amoxicillin yesterday for a vile chest infection, but told the doctor I was gutted about not being able to have a drink over Christmas, she said that I can drink alcohol while taking amoxicillin!

i swear I don’t get caught up in all that “but you MUST come for mince pies before Christmas” shit, I manage to say polite no’s and I’m pragmatic when it comes to what I can and cannot do but EVERY FUCKING YEAR the contagious work piffle sucks me in EVERY TIME and it’s poison spreads throughout the whole ten day period before every man and his dog fucks off on leave.

I have three children under 4. They are a total walk in the park compared to work before Christmas and just people in general losing their shit (I’m looking at you the woman who had a go at me on the train yesterday for “elbowing you”. Did I fuck)

@Hohonoshow, lol, I've been asking him to clear them out since January 2019, and now he finds the time!! With one week until Christmas, when things are manic enough anyway.
It will probably be like last year where I stayed awake and worked through the nights and days from the 23rd until Christmas Day night, when on sitting down for the first time that day to relax and open my present (at 10pm) I promptly fell asleep mid opening of gift as I was so exhausted!

My god knowhowufeel
What and idiot
I’d be in killing mode

Hope your sister pulls through pp with no ill effects.

Our little pre Christmas annoyance..the power supply has given up on our 20 year old fibre optic tree.
So now it’s a twiggy thing with baubles..no lights.

Pales into comparison with what you lovely ladies are having to cope with.

Such a lovely lady served me in Greggs today..she really went above and beyond to help with my order.
These are the people I feel for at the front line of all the stress when they would love to be at home peacefully sorting Christmas

Dowser, luckily for him I'm too knackered and stressed to kill him without getting caught, so he's safe for now!

Why do we do this to ourselves though? Most men don't really care or even notice probably more than half the stuff we do, and would be happy with a much simpler Christmas.

I think it's the expectations that we put onto ourselves, and worrying about what others might think.

Off to DPs for Christmas. No kids, no DH. I don't have anything like what some of you have to do. But DF terminally ill, this may be his last. Me and DM will be doing everything in our power to make it a perfect time for him, without breaking down ourselves. Work has been shit over the past few months, and this week was the straw that broke the camels back. Work stress and pre-Christmas blues collided and one night I spent 30 minutes sitting on the floor by the Christmas tree, sobbing. That was my lowest moment, I'll arrive at DPs on Monday with Christmas cheer and we will have a wonderful time, I know we will.