Anxious Yearly Cycle

[AdmiralData]

Hi :)

I'm a long time anxiety sufferer and I've been on medication which is helping a bit.
In January every year I start buying Christmas/birthday/anniversary/mothers and fathers day gifts and buy bits and pieces every time I go out. I don't want to but I feel that I won't cope just leaving things until a week before. Come Xmas time my bathroom is full of nicely wrapped tat, ready to go and as soon as the last gift giving day of the year has gone the panic sets in that I MUST go and buy more stuff for everyone. I've had an absolute fucking gutsful. Please can anyone else assure me that you do this too? Or have behaviour like this? I don't want to feel like I am the only person crippled with the pressure of gift giving and being prepared. I literally feel sick thinking about next year and know I won't sleep tonight.

Sorry for long post.

Are you saying that you must go and buy for the following year, as soon as this years gift giving is over?

I have to say I don't do this but I find gift giving incredibly stressful. I find it too much pressure as if I don't do it it doesn't get done. Cards - God the constant need for cards! I have started buying children's presents in bulk (for parties DS and DD are invited too) as well as boys and girls bday cards.

I hate it tbh. Not because I'm not generous - I'd give away money very, very happily. It's just the stress of buying presents - because it never seems to end!!!!! And I end up flinging things in the trolley in Tesco that are neither use nor ornament to anyone xx

Golddigger - yes. Exactly.

Mikhell - Precisely. I have a far too large family which is a great thing but the expectation of great gifts is overwhelming.