To want to bypass Christmas this year?

[Enoughnow12]

I just don't want to do it. Any part of it. I know I'll sound like a grinch, a scrooge but I have serious mental health problems that I am really struggling with and I just can't face it. I don't have much family and those that I do have are very fractured, many people not speaking to each other. Whoever I spend it with, someone will be let down and sad and will definitely let me know how disappointed they are. I don't have a lot of money at all to spend on gifts for people, much as I would like to buy lovely presents for people. I just feel like I really can't face it this year. Over the last couple of weeks the adverts and the shopping and it's all started and I just want it to all go away.

Yanbu.

The older I get, the more annoying Christmas becomes and I’m only in my early 30s. I don’t feel any pressure, but I do get annoyed about hearing about it for what feels like most of the bloody year. Even once Christmas is over, there are adverts about saving for next Christmas (why?!), Christmas in July, and Christmas stuff out before October has even started. What bothers me the most is the false cheer where people use the excuse that because “tis the season” and/or it’s Christmas, they’re going to be nicer when they could have been doing so all year round.

We spend Christmas usually with my in-laws which usually cost us quite a bit since we drive up (4.5- 10 hour drive depending on traffic and roadworks) then spending more money buying the things we need while we’re staying with them to do the things we would do if we were at home. Visiting my parents involve about a 16hr round trip flight and a 9 hour round trip drive but there are more things for us to see and do and to take the boys. Even going to the pantomime has lost its sparkle since it is the same jokes but different play. My husband feels worse than me and has found the whole thing exhausting and admitted he didn’t want to continue the long visits anymore and finds it more relaxing at home. We’ve decided to just visit his family for five days vs 10, stay in a hotel during and go over and visit everyone. We’ll give everyone their gifts and then head home after Boxing Day. My sons (2 and almost 5 ) don’t know the difference as of yet so there’s no pressure to make “memories”, do presents , or Santa/Father Christmas. It’s really not worth the unnecessary stress and financial loss for one day every year.

I’ve “skipped” Christmas quite a few times, especially when I was younger and house sharing and my housemates would go to stay with their families for a few days. I just had a chilled day, went for a walk in the PM. Nice.