honestly i either get drunk or cry for a few hours.
You ahve to really understand and realize that there are some things that you can just do NOTHING about...it is out of your control. Anyone who loves you will understand thar. And while u may not like it, thats how it is. Accept and make the best of it
Dont put a ton of unnessary pressure on yourself, which will only maek things that much worse

See the blog on "how do i protect and stick up for yourself?"

There's a few things you outlined, first off with Christmas. Money's a bit tight for some people, at this point I'm unemployed and I can't even college checks, and I'm up to my ass with bills, buying presents is on the last thing on my mind. Regarding this, if people know the true meaning of life (a good version of it at least) then presents shouldn't be that big of a deal, especially from you. One thing I can't stand is people asking me, "you're you getting me?" It's lame, just ignore it, you don't owe them anything. If you can't get them anything just make something. Last year or the year before that my gf and I made a few people gingerbread houses...even though it came out a bit bad, it was fun to do with her, and it replaced gifts, I actually look forward to it again, it was a great way to destress, and a great activity to do with your significant other. As for getting your fiancee something, just get em something small and thoughtful, I didn't have a lot of money, but last year I got my gf Ratatouille, she was on her way to buy it, so I had to tell her I got it for her already. She started crying, it was the cutest thing ever. Just make it meaningful, if the people appreciate you enough, you don't have to buy them a cars.

As for fiancee neglect, just spend an afternoon or have lunch or dinner and just spend a little time with em and just talk about how you feel about everything (just 'one' afternoon or night) and what's bothering you lately, how you're stressed out about things during this holiday season and really need the support to get through it. If your fiancee is understanding you'll get the support, at this point there should be more support than complaints of neglect especially after explaining.

Now, for your biggest stressor: Sko_ol (yes I'm creative). Make it your main focus, with especially the support of your fiancee, you should be able to tackle it head on and get through this most difficult part of getting to Christmas. Make a mark down your priorities. In stress management, one technique I learned was urgency and necessity. Unconsciously we tend to compartmentalize things into urgency and necessity (there may be 2 other categories but I can't remember at this time). Take different parts of your life and do that consciously. What's important NOW? You have a paper to do, or a final to study for, but your favorite tv show is coming on at 8, what do you do, study or watch tv? Or maybe your paper or finals is in a few weeks, so watching your show couldn't help. Which is urgent and necessary? Your tv show is urgent (it's coming now), but your assignments are necessary (it's an important part of your life - signifies if you pass or fail, etc). Do the same with your life doing this season. Prioritize which is urgent and necessary even with your assignments. Which final do I have to study for? How much time do I need to study? If you know a lot about a subject and it's osmosis to you, put it on the top of your list, just spend maybe 10 minutes studying and remembering, then move on to the next important on your list. Either get rid of those you know already first, or put them at the bottom of the list; maybe study for the harder subject first (try not to cram) maybe make an efficient way of studying, flash cards, or a memory game. Pair things together or make phrases: Mitochondria - Engergy (for me I remembered this from Parasite Eve), or Economics: Supply vs Demand - People want a lot of stuff so I'll make a smaller supply of it in the market so I can sell it at whatever price (Nintendo Wii). Find your solution, and break things down, you can basically do that with anything and any subject. Find the ideal place for getting your assignments done or studying, some people need a quiet place...at times that works for me and other times I need music. Either way, break things down, and analyze the best way to take them on. Make a list if you have to, I'm sure even CEOs and the President himself does it...they may be "important" but they're still human and struggle with stress just as much as they do, but they have delegation, so just improvise, just as they split up their tasks to others, split up your tasks to time itself.

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Being out of touch with your feelings, means being out of touch with your mind.
Being out of touch with' your mind, means being out of touch with your self.

Crying is the best.
Honestly, no lies.
I am currently seeing a therapist for somethings that happened to me LONG ago, and she always tells me to cry. She said it will make me feel much much better.

My number one technique - and this has gotten me through a rigorous undergrad program and then a highly selective graduate school program - is to make sure you keep a normal schedule and get 8 hours of sleep a night. I know it sounds crazy and you feel like there's no time for that. But, we are not designed to function well while pulling all-nighters and pounding Red Bulls. You will be happier, have a clearer mind, work more efficiently and handle stress better when you're well-rested. It'll also fend off any cold viruses that may come your way.

Other tips: Give yourself 15 minutes to wind down before bed. Turn everything off, make some tea, and sit in the peace and quiet. You'll sleep better and have a more productive day the next day. Make lists of what you need to do and lists of what can go, like Christmas shopping and your poor fiance - he'll survive! One year when I was broke I cleaned my parents' house and then hosted a dinner for everyone there. They absolutely loved it. Consider something like that which can be done after exams.

And most importantly, let go of the guilt. This is your moment, this is about your future success, and you need to take care of yourself first. If you don't, who will?

^ What Luisa said is also very important, don't pull all-nighters if you don't have to, try to avoid them, or you'll start seeing ninjas, and you'll end up dozing off anyway...and if you successfully pull that all nighter, and get through that last day of finals or w/e else, you'll be so completely tired you can't enjoy your day, in fact you'll probably be past the point of sleep. It'll only hurt your body in the end it probably screw up your sleep cycle, and potentially raise your stress resting point even higher.

Take all of her advice, it's very important.

ha ha "seeing ninjas". this is all good advice. I don't know if you do yoga at all but it always helps me when I'm stressed.

^LoL, seriously...7 cups of coffee later, I thought ninjas were stalking me...(I even turn on all the lights)...never again.

I found when I got stressed out was when the pressure (work + relationships + family aka mom+dad+siblings + school) is not controllable.
Since they are beyond my control, I have no solutions.

So, my solution is take miniscule step, each and every time.
Literally, step by hour, so you can solve things one by one, literally.

Avoid thinking or moving to another problem WITHOUT solving the previous one.
Try to think outside the box.
BUT BE CALM AND CONTROLLED AND COMPOSED while thinking the solutions.
Getting anxious over all the stresses are not helping, instead it would only bring more stresses.

Good luck and all the best.
I really feel for you.
I hope I can do something for you.

Definately tell your family how much stress you are under and that you need their support. Even though it sucks to not get people gifts, sometimes things like that happen and really if your bank account cannot support it, don't do it. You can, depending on the money situation, go and buy really cheap gifts, like from the dollar store, or limit yourself to like $10 a person, then you feel like you gifted but you won't break your bank. I understand how your fiance can feel like you aren't giving him his time but passing school is very important, he should be understanding of this too.

In a few weeks it will all be over and you will be able to relax!

I haven't read the comments above yet, just scrolled down, and I must say.. GScott, that is the longest comment I have EVER seen, on this site, or probably any! Haha, good job:oops: