Family members can be challenging, if not downright unbearable, at times. No family is exempt from adversity. It might be difficult to cope with your parents, siblings, cousins, in-laws, uncles, and other families. You will feel more in control if you establish boundaries. You will feel less worried if you remain cool and reduce your stress. Protect yourself against narcissistic relatives.
Recognize that their negative attitude could be unrelated to you. When someone says something hurtful in your direction, it isn’t about you. Some people are nasty and unkind to a large number of people, even family members. While this isn’t an excuse for their terrible behavior, it may give you some comfort in knowing that it’s not always your fault.
Maintain a neutral tone in your conversations – When the conversation moves to hard or emotionally charged issues, relatives can become unbearable. Religion, politics, and money may all result in tense and divisive debates. Avoid the blunder of trying to “win” a debate.
Redirect difficult conversations to a less emotionally charged issue – Learning to redirect difficult conversations to a less emotionally charged topic can help you and everyone else keep the peace.
Have a weekly women’s night out – Sometimes all you need is an evening out with your girlfriends to lift your spirits and make you feel rational again. So call your buddies and get out of the house with people who make you feel good about yourself.
Weekend vacations – If you’ve been feeling that your personal space has been invaded, you can schedule weekend getaways with your spouse, family, or even on your own.
