As everyone knows, you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. We all have disagreements with relatives, but for some, family can persist into adulthood as a major source of stress. The obnoxious uncle who can be guaranteed to spoil any family gathering, the irritating parent who still treats you as though you're 11, the abrasive and insensitive sister, the brother who never listens to you - though we might like to deny it, they have the power to push our buttons like nobody else.Family stress is more than the tense atmosphere at the annual Christmas gathering. It can be seen as the kind of stress we may all experience from the dynamics of being an adult within a wider family unit. This may mean coping with adults within the family system who are disruptive and dysfunctional, and who cause stress by their behaviour; outgrown roles and stereotypes established in childhood; or old rivalries, as well as current issues such as dealing with the family business or caring for an ageing parent. This book looks at how you can live at peace with siblings and parents in adult life.
The topics include: How the family evolved; What constitutes family stress and how we perceive it; Family myths and stories; Family businesses; Deaths, funerals and wills; Christmas, holidays, weekends; Dealing with difficult and extra-difficult family members; Re-building trust and family relationships; Your social support system; and Lifestyle and stress management advice.