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AS and birthdays

AndyC

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

  • Hi Andy, Just found your post, sorry I did not reply earlier.

    Yes I find the whole birthday thing a problem too, have done all my life. I finally came to a resolution by telling my family that its really only parents who should celebrate the births of their children so I make a point of letting them know I am thinking of them on their birthdays. The whole present giving thing has always been problematic for me too as I never know what to buy so I tend to just give gift vouchers these days.

    The pressure from advertising to encourage people to give generously on those occasions and others is a factor too in trying to make us all feel guilty if we do not go out and spend money on our family. So understanding how others may be feeling guilty if they don't make a fuss of you might help you to cope with the situation better and telling them how you feel will help them feel less guilty if they back off a bit.

    Hope this helps, take care, laddie.

Reply

  • Hi Andy, Just found your post, sorry I did not reply earlier.

    Yes I find the whole birthday thing a problem too, have done all my life. I finally came to a resolution by telling my family that its really only parents who should celebrate the births of their children so I make a point of letting them know I am thinking of them on their birthdays. The whole present giving thing has always been problematic for me too as I never know what to buy so I tend to just give gift vouchers these days.

    The pressure from advertising to encourage people to give generously on those occasions and others is a factor too in trying to make us all feel guilty if we do not go out and spend money on our family. So understanding how others may be feeling guilty if they don't make a fuss of you might help you to cope with the situation better and telling them how you feel will help them feel less guilty if they back off a bit.

    Hope this helps, take care, laddie.

Children
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