Anyone else trying but not feeling it this year?

[MsMiaWallace]

I'm really trying but so far not feeling it.
Had loads of crap luck this month & feel down.

I’m not feeling it either this year. I lost my dad unexpectedly 6 weeks ago and the last few months have just been one thing after another. DS is home from Uni this weekend so I’ve put the tree up but deep down want the whole thing over with minimal fuss.

I usually love Christmas but I’m not feeling it either. DH and I are both having issues at work and today I rang in sick for the first time in forever because I just can’t do it anymore. Neither of us are being paid properly. We’ve been ill with one thing after another since before half term. The dog wakes me up at 4am every day. It’s -8° today and hasn’t been over 0 for over a week. It’s 16° in the house even with the heating on and I dread to think of the heating bills. I need an increase to my anti depressants but can’t get an appointment and I think DH is slipping into depression too.

DS is so excited though and family are coming to us for Christmas Day so I’ll just have to fake it til I make it I guess.

I haven't been feeling Christmassy at all due to a big personal project due in January. DH is still keen to celebrate so today I put up some decorations and put on a Christmas playlist. It's made a world of difference, and seeing DH happy was definitely worth the effort.

I have an adult son who has never understood Christmas.
His childhood passed him by without him ever knowing who Santa was.
Now when we hand him his presents he just looks at them blankly in confusion, unable to feel any excitement (his development froze as a one year old baby so he's never spoken a word).

I'm trying to make it special for my 3 younger children, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't find Christmas utterly heartbreaking where my eldest is concerned. He's just never known Christmas and sadly he never will.

I get it, I am feeling much the same, still grieving for my wonderful late MIL. Other people close to us, are suffering very sad times. People just seem so stressed. Be pleased when it’s over this year.

I have always had very mixed feeling about Christmas, I love certain aspects, the lights, the tree, the peace and silence that falls on Christmas Eve. The things I dislike are the relentless work to make it happen, the expense, the planning and the memories of different people I have lost over the years. I also hate Christmas food which is odd as I love eating, hate turkey, nuts, parsnips, stollen, and not that keen on mince pies. This year I just wish the whole thing would go away, have been thinking that I wish, like Glastonbury there was a chance to cancel it occasionally to give us all a break. I have some big family problems, I am depressed and today I was thinking I do not know how I and indeed this country is going to survive another two years of this appalling government. The bad news is relentless, this country seems to have become such a small minded cruel place, it brings me to tears sometimes. I have had some wonderful Christmases but this is the third one I have totally dreaded and I can't see it changing over the next few years

I'm the same, but have been like that ever since we lost dearly loved family members who were the life and soul of our Christmas Days. It's probably similar for many. I find it quite a sad time really.

Anyway, I do see family but not for dinner. Just us two and that's the way we like it. Next day it's practically all over!

I have to say I find "Twixmas" the most boring and uneventful week in the year. I am sure it is different if you have children and go to different things, but for me everywhere is too crowded, too full of children (no offence!) and not really much else to do that would appeal to me.

Going away 10th January. Kids back at school and normal service resumed everywhere. I'm finding it hard to look forward to that now too. Ungrateful witch that I am! Just the dark Winter mood I reckon.

Same. And I love Xmas as our DD was born on the 20th- her party guest list is dropping like flies due to illness so we are cancelling.

We tried to move house this year but buyer was an ass hat so we are stuck in this massive sh*thole of a house which will be almost impossible to sell for a good price in 2023 and it is crippling us financially.

I started a great new job by way of kick starting my career prospects as both DDs are at school. I have a new nephew who is super precious and we are happy.

I have been unwell for past 2 weeks as has DD1 and DD2 is about to start. My DM lives alone and has Leukaemia so can't visit us. DH is striking so our funds are super low.

This year has been revelatory in some ways: Less is More and I am carrying that forward even more strictly into 2023.

Smaller home
Less crap
More experiences

I hope those who suffered loss either recently or around Xmas are finding their way through.💐Ignore my moaning about trivial stuff.

Sending you my sympathies and support. My mum died in her 40s, when I was in my late teens. It was 30 years ago this year. She died in April but her birthday was Christmas Day. The memories are so hard to keep at bay sometimes and I know exactly what you mean about the self censorship. I came close to just abandoning myself to anger and bitterness but I try to guard myself.

Just wanted to say you're not alone, I feel your pain. Hope you can manage a good Christmas this year x

Not feeling it here either. I am actually longing for January and for it all to be over.

Its nothing significant, I’m just tired and can’t be bothered. We have COVID at work and its been a tough time. I’m a nurse who has worked probably 5 unpaid hours this week, another couple to be done tomorrow due to staff shortages and then I have to put my happy face on and drive 100 miles for a family visit this weekend before driving back the same day because our cat can’t be left overnight.

Then I have another long week at work next week. I should be happy because I have Christmas off for the first time in many years but I’ll be knackered by then.

I’m sorry for those people that have had genuinely awful times or have suffered bereavement💐

No kids here . But I feel so unchristmasy it’s untrue. I only put the tree up yesterday. I’ve got people Christmas presents but frankly I don’t want any myself. I hate the cold weather and the snow. Oh and im working Xmas Eve which sucks .

I'm not feeling it either. In fact, I can't remember the last time I felt Christmassy at all. I quite enjoy it on the day, but in reality I just find this time of year depressing, with the cold weather, short days and long, dark nights.

I am always relieved when we get past the winter solstice (very near now) and I know that from then onwards the daylight hours will very slowly begin to lengthen again.

If it's possible to have The Ick about Christmas, I have it this year. I'm an adult child of an alcoholic so that's an additional layer.
I'm trying to be bright and breezy but I suspect I'm fooling no one!

Life is a huge pile of shit at the moment, but I'm making the best of it.
My son doesn't have a clue about Christmas. He's 23.

Since my mother died, we cancelled Christmas and go abroad to a hot destination as far removed from Mariah Carey, turkey sandwiches and 70's TV show repeats as I can organise. No tree, no presents, no cards, no stressy Xmas dinner...absolute heaven and my kids love it.

Well, I’ve been on and off, I felt festive, then I didn’t, and now it’s a day by day thing.... hopefully I think once Christmas Eve comes I usually come over Christmassy...

Im just so so tired with work (nurse) and juggling poorly people at home on top of managing home admin and christmas.

Im just so so tired ☹️

Try not to feel "it" instead just meet yourself where YOUR at. Don't be pressured or in comparisons to your own or others ideas of what the "BEST" Christmas is
What can you do to make yourself feel good?what do you want to do right now.
I would try,a little to get some visuals around you . Even some twinklt light around your window.fairy light make everything better!

Do what you want to do.takecit easy on yourself.

Yes, yes, yes, with bells on.
Yes I'm looking forward to some time off with DC and yes I had flutters of joy when I saw how much DD enjoyed decorating the tree, DS loved his new Xmas jumper to wear on non uniform day and DH getting a bit excited planning some elaborate Xmas day cooking. Me? I just feel OFF. This season used to be a source of joy and energy albeit some faff but so worth it. This year even my favorite songs sound trite, and I feel guilty. Ungrateful.
I am so sorry for everyone who is going through loss and bereavement. We've had a decent year, but it's like old unprocessed stuff is surfacing somehow. Lingering sadness. And the state of the world fills me with dread. All the suffering. Not looking for advice, it just feels good to share.

Yes, I agree. It’s simply okay to do less and be authentic about feeling down. Maybe your loved one will respond with support. I hope so. Also, volunteering did help me during a hopeless time. ❤️

Sorry everyone

Had an ugly cry this morning. DH is very supportive so it takes the edge off. I just feel upset and worried about a lot of things today.

Yep, entirely.

Nowhere near ready.
Feeling rubbish to add to already not being ready.

Have family staying with us in 1 week (for 1 week) and I don't have any energy to do all the stuff needed before then or the stuff that needs sorting before school finishes weds.

Really not on it this year.

I didnt fell Christmassy at all til 4pm today, The kids have broken up,no school runs,no p.e kits no nothing for 3 weeks nearly,I feel good now, We can rest, regroup,do things at our leisure and please ourselves for a few weeks, All the presents are done,the trees up the tv is off,I shall not listen to any news,any more depressing news until the new year, I will watch the kings speech (that will be odd) at 3 pm on Xmas day but thats all, I think alot of stress is because of the pandemic,then straight into the cost of living crisis and the Queens death,then the war ..we havent been allowed a minute to catch our breath from one disaster to the next,make no wonder we are all so bloody shellshocked and in a daze. I am so sorry for the people who are spending this year dealing with the loss of loved ones ,it is I know incredibly painful and I am so so sorry. I wish you all peace.

Snap. I've got a kidney infection too (bladder, pancreas and liver involvement!) and I'm just absolutely beyond exhausted. Yet I still have to drum up Christmas enthusiasm.. I can't. I'm skint and exhausted. Roll on January pay day.