I can’t stop buying presents until I’ve used all the wrapping paper.

[nightmarestrange]

I am driving myself mad.
I have to use all the wrapping paper and strategically made all the paper and presents fit.
Now husband has asked for another gift which means buying more wrapping paper and now I am compelled to buy more presents to use up the rest of the wrapping paper because I can’t have any left over.
Whats wrong with me why I can’t I get over this it’s constantly on my mind until the wrapping paper is all gone.
I have bought far too many presents but I can’t stop until I have matched the presents and paper just right.
I hate this but I also love the challenge. I wish I could put it out of my mind.
Anyone else do this, I’m highly expecting not.

Christ, you'd be bankrupt in our house. DP used to work for Toys R Us and when they went bankrupt came home with an industrial roll of wrapping paper after her last shift.

Every present for the last 8 years has been wrapped in it. It has become a running joke in our extended family that they know exactly who certain presents are off without looking at the tag. We're still not even 3/4s of the way through it. I've said I'm not buying a coffin when I die, I'm just going to be wrapped in spotty wrapping paper like a Mummy.

Use up the paper for Pass the Parcel. One small gift in the centre and a sweet in each of the layers, or a joke etc. Use up all the paper that way? Kids love playing that. Or look up how to make gift bags out of wrapping paper. Make lots of bags ready for next year.

Wrap up the Christmas treats? They can open on first day of school holidays and I’m sure they’ll enjoy unwrapping to find an abundance of chocolate etc.

This is verging on a mental health issue to be honest, on the obsessive compulsive end with a dash of shopping addiction. This is really unhealthy and you need to find a way to stop. Put the leftover paper out with the recycling if you have to.

Don’t feed the….

For the new present, buy a single sheet of wrapping paper instead of a full roll. That should help until you have a chance to address this compulsive issue.

A few people mentioned OCD when I had my assessment for ADHD the assessor asked me if I thought I could have OCD and I said no definitely not because I don’t clean obsessively or wash my hands he said about intrusive thoughts but I said no…. Perhaps he was on the right path but I thought he was just ruling it out.

i have OCD - this sounds like you may have. Intrusive thoughts. I couldn’t care less about cleaning stuff but if I have a theme and hook into it, it’s a problem. You may need some therapy if this is becoming a bigger problem for you.

OCD isn’t (just) about cleaning or washing hands. This is a tiny fraction of the compulsions people may suffer. It has become the popular image through a few tv programmes and stock social media images but if you do some research, you will quickly find that compulsions can be about many different things. I do think it sounds like you have a fixation on this issue.

Give the roll to someone else to use. Donate it to the school. DO NOT BUY MORE PRESENTS.

It does sound a lot like OCD. I have it (not officially diagnosed but it couldn't be more obvious) and I have similar compulsions to finish things off- it's weird because I'm broke and I should be saving things but I'm just unable to. I also binge eat-if there's cake or chocolate there I won't be happy until it's gone. I can't save anything. I hate taking pills because I hate a full packet or bottle and am just really glad when I reach the last one! It's very odd but I just assumed it was OCD related.