AS and birthdays

As my birthday is coming up soon again I was just wondering if anybody else has difficulties with their birthdays. With each passing year I find my birthday more of a struggle. 

It’s not the day per se or the fact that I’m getting older, but I find all the attention I get on my birthday rather overwhelming and sooner or later I wish that everybody just leaves me alone. I also don’t like getting presents and surprises in general. I hate having phone calls and usually everybody phones on that day and that just stresses me out a lot. It makes me feel uncomfortable and anxious and I generally just feel very, very exhausted in the end. 

However, people just don’t seem to understand why I’d rather be on my own on that day and they think I’m just being a diva when I tell them not to come round or not to phone. I don’t mean to hurt or reject anyone by doing this, but I just cannot handle this situation very well. 

Does anybody else feel like this?

Parents
  • I am ok with birthdays but everything you all just described is how I feel about Christmas. It is so overwhelming, plus the presure to be happy and give presents. I hate the endless advertising

    I love the real meaning of Christmas and I love seeing my family but the rest of it is too much. We have started making homemade presents so as to make it less overwhelming and not buy into all the commercial rubbish 

Reply
  • I am ok with birthdays but everything you all just described is how I feel about Christmas. It is so overwhelming, plus the presure to be happy and give presents. I hate the endless advertising

    I love the real meaning of Christmas and I love seeing my family but the rest of it is too much. We have started making homemade presents so as to make it less overwhelming and not buy into all the commercial rubbish 

Children
  • I have the same around Christmas too, actually if I am honest every social event. I used to think I was outgoing and loved parties but the pandemic showed me how happy I am in my own world . Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends, family, birthdays etc but I don’t like the way it makes feel.  It’s like being lactose intolerant, you love that ice cream but it makes you sick.