Are you scared of Christmas? – Yes, that really is a serious question!
There are names for just about every phobia you can imagine except for Christmas. Does this mean there is nothing scary about Christmas, nothing to get anxious about – I don’t think so. So if you are Christmasophobic (I just made that up, rather good don’t you think?), lets take a look at some of the issues.
PLANNING
Big bold capitals because this can become a big issue. For many people planning for Christmas starts months in advance. Who to buy gifts for, and what to buy them, are constant sources of anxiety. “We can’t buy for ‘x’ and leave out ‘y’ , but then won’t cousin ‘z’ be offended?” . As if gift choice isn’t bad enough there are the Christmas crowds to be faced and the credit card bills to anticipate!
These are big issues in themselves for many people but if you already have underlying anxieties they will be magnified. Trying to plan early shopping to avoid the crush and mitigate Enochlophobia (Fear of crowds – told you there was a name for all of them!) is stressful and the fear of forgetting somebody/something makes it worse. (For those who are interested, fear of forgetting is Athazagoraphobia!)
DECEMBER
Well, we have survived so far and it has not been too bad. Most of the presents have been bought (I’m having a few second thoughts) and I must get round to writing cards. Here is our next area of stress if you are Christmasophobic. Who to send to (did they send us a card last year), religious, comic, cute, traditional? Last posting day to Australia/Canada/ Liverpool – all need to be planned and coordinated along with the old conundrum of whether to give everyone in the office a card.
This all leads to the works party! Is there anyway out of attending without damaging my prospects for next year? Works parties are a nightmare for anyone who is socially phobic and we all know who is going to drink too much and make a fool of themselves! Non attendance is a potentially dangerous career option, but equally being there at all can be a nightmare if you let it.
COPING IF YOU ARE CHRISTMASOPHOBIC
Being organised will naturally help reduce anxiety but it is also important to remember that you are not alone. Christmas is a stressful time for many and, no matter what you think, the majority of people are too wrapped up in their own concerns to worry about yours.
Approaching social events with an expectation that you will enjoy them helps reduce anxiety and lead to a positive outcome. Arriving at the party with a smile and remembering it is supposed to be fun will help!
Whether you need help with anxiety, phobias (including Christmasophobia), stress, or depression contact me for more information via my website www.thrivewithian.com. Thrive With Ian will teach you how to manage stress and anxiety and eliminate any barriers you encounter on your course to enjoying life to the full.
If you survive the next couple of weeks of pre-christmas mayhem I will be back with some ideas for the day itself, so why not subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss anything.
Ian Crosswell
I’m Ian and I’m a qualified Thrive Programme Consultant. Using the professionally developed Thrive Programme – a proven, evidence based, positive psychology training programme – I work with people from all walks of life, providing the insights and skills they need to change their lives for the better.