Does your birthday make you sad?

[Cloud16]

My birthday is coming up and it's made me a bit emotional.

I really don't know why. I'm happy with life generally, but I just feel like crying when I think of my birthday.

Not fussed about getting older or anything. I think birthdays are becoming less fun each year for me, and I feel very adult and responsible these days.

So sorry to all posters who have lost loved ones ❤️

Not normally but there will be a sad tinge to this years birthday as it will be the first one without my mum

yes, always feel sad and don’t want a fuss, yet a fuss is forced onto me.

Mines at the weekend. Living alone with 3 DC but been in a relationship with a lovely man for quite a while now. The DC aren’t old enough to buy something their selves for me and the guy I’m seeing is away from mid week til end of the weekend.
I don’t think I’ll see anyone else over the weekend. Just makes me feel a bit down.

I do get a bit sad on mine. Same as others said, it's a reminder that I've had the privilege of living while family members have not.

One of my kids birthdays is the day before mine and mine always feels like a bit 'Meh' compared to theirs. We obviously go all out for the kids birthdays and don't do much for the grown ups. Although this year DH and I did make an effort to get out for a fancy meal together which was lovely.

Often feel sad. Not so much about aging - I’m old enough to know it’s a privilege now. But the need to be grateful and happy for the effort people put in (but they don’t). My parents in particular disappoint me - I’ve had the wrong age written in my birthday card (of all the people who might remember when I was
Born…) and presents given to me “because we knew it was just so you” which are anything but. And people generously buy me flowers but they make me feel guilty because they’re expensive and just die and I don’t really enjoy masses of them, a fiver on a bunch of tulips would be just as good. And DH doesn’t do special. Anything special. He is exceptionally good day to day - we really do have an equal partnership on many of the things that get folk down here (meal planning, washing, school headspace tasks, childcare…) but he has low self esteem and never arranges anything vaguely social (“why would anyone want to spend time with me” “why do I deserve anything special”) so it is not something in his worldview for me.

I absolutely hate my birthday, no idea why. It was yesterday and I actually had a really nice day, went out to town and had nice lunch with dh and dds. Then slobber on sofa and watched a film. I think it's about expectation like you can't just have a nice day everything has to be special.

No. quite a few of my friends had died before I was 22. So to me every year older feels like a huge privilege.

I tend to make sure I plan something fun to do on my birthday where possible. Doesn't have to be expensive. When I was a single mum with young children I would let the children plan the day for me...

I also always make sure I buy myself a birthday present - I'm not relying on other people to get it right. This year I bought myself a book of poetry - so it doesn't have to be pricey, just something you will treasure

I do yes, birthdays although not extravagant expense wise growing up was always a big thing and yes I'm a 30 something adult but I want my day celebrating. My DH doesn't understand, his family were completely the opposite, and if he got a birthday card and an acknowledgement he was surprised, so it's so ingrained in him that birthdays aren't important. I don't have a lot of friends and I feel like my birthday isn't noticed. This year I'm going to be 36 weeks pregnant I'll be probably hot and crabby so I'm expecting I'll be more emotional than normal this year as I won't even really be able to spend the day doing something for myself easily.

No. I love my birthdays. Always have done. I'm old now and still have 3 celebrations, night out with friends, separate one with children and another one with OH. You're lucky to have a birthday, they are a celebration of your life.

It didn't used to but my mum died last week and it's my birthday this coming week, the first birthday without her 😢
I'm just going to let the day quietly pass by, I have some jobs to do in town relating to her passing so I may go somewhere on my own and raise a glass of fizz to mum

I get envious of people that go out for a birthday meal/treat/weekend away. I'd love to do that and it makes me sad that I can't because having a birthday on December 25th means you never get to feel like the day is "your" day to feel special.

No, but then I’m fairly ancient, at an age when sundry old friends have started popping off, so I count myself lucky that I’m still here and in (touch wood) fairly good health.
I don’t want or expect much of a fuss over birthdays - haven’t for a long time, but the family do make a bit of an effort, so I know I’m lucky there, too.

I remember two “friends” at school making me cry on my birthday and I have never forgotten it. My birthday more recently has been very very hard for me as it is also the anniversary of my lovely Mum’s death. Ex DP did absolutely nothing for my birthday last year, despite me saying I would really like to have a happy memory of it (nothing big or grand) but him making an effort would have meant the world to me. I dread my birthday every year now 💔

I was 62 yesterday ...I love birthdays! I have a dh who makes a fuss....we are away on holiday, got thoughtful presents , lots of cards from friends and had a thoroughly lovely day!
Who knows how many more there will be?

Oh yes, I never used to feel like this but the last few years Ive felt exactly the same way. I also feel anxious just before it, I don't like the spotlight on how many people think enough of me to wish me happy birthday etc, it somehow makes me question my friendships etc in a way I just wouldn't any other time of year.
I was, so relieved when it was all over this year, although as it turned out my friends and family were lovely, I think I'm just insecure and introverted, I also do get a little sad about the passing of time my parents and kids getting older (not me).

Yes just cos it shows who cares and sadly no one ever does even my kids 4get 😒

Aww happy birthday OP . I don’t feel upset by an approaching birthday, but NYE is always an emotional/reflective time for me. The last 7 years or so, I have suffered so many bereavements, I also worry about what the coming year will bring.

Yes, not because I mind getting older but because it makes me think of the actual day I was born and how happy my mum and dad, both now gone, would've been, so kind of bittersweet.

I turned 70 yesterday and hated it. I insisted on no celebration because I just hate all the fuss. It also highlights how very few people can be bothered. 2 cards , 1 present quite a few fb messages.

Yes I always cry on my birthday one way or another. I don't know why I am like this but yes. I usually try to go away on holiday over my birthday so I can forget about it.

I have started to feel slightly melancholy on my birthday over the last few years. I think it's the realisation that I have more life behind me than ahead of me now, and my body is beginning to get age-related aches and stuff. But in my head I'm still about 22 and feel like I have so many things I still want to do!

So I give myself a shake and say "eh bollocks", eat a nice dinner, go for a lovely walk, and try to count my blessings.

No way, why would I be feeling sad I will be 65 in few months , still think I’m 40 in my head but I’m alive so a lot to be grateful for! I’m a very positive person

I always feel melancholy about my birthday as I lost my parents very young and it always feels like something is missing on that day especially.
Dh and dd's go all out and spoil me but it's just a feeling I can't shake.