Dislike being with family

[NewUser234]

I feel incredibly selfish and guilty for even writing this but I have very little interest or desire to spend time with my immediate family. I love them but I've always been an introvert and it's hugely overwhelming and chaotic around them. I live an hour away and every other weekend, bank holiday, birthdays etc is another reason to spend entire days with them, I'm absolutely dreading Christmas. Saying no or leaving in my own time just causes offence so I'm usually trapped. Do other people feel this way?

can you set expectations so that for xmas you know you're only there for x number of hours. saying you have agreed to visit a friend or someone else on the day too.

I love my family a lot but for some reason don't feel relaxed or that comfortable around them. it's hard work rather than being with friends feels much easier. I find the feeling quite upsetting really, but can't shake it!

Yes I felt that. It is difficult. Get the level of contact to a level you are comfortable with. They will get over it.

I think this is quite normal as you get older.

You have to set your own boundaries and be assertive with sticking to them.

If they’re generally nice and you have a good relationship with them though it’s worth keeping up with seeing them but just make sure you leave enough time for yourself too.

Try moving to another country 😂 I did. I come from a large, loud extended family and feel such relief when I hear of yet another gathering that I'm not part of. Have managed to not go back in 4 years but have seen some immediate family in that time

Immediate family as in children and their spouses?

I assumed parents and siblings

That's right, parents and siblings

Same here. My sister and my mum can't stop talking, they're so loud and fall out quickly. Since I left the country 8 years ago, I don't have to witness any of this. What a relief.