When Holidays are Hell

Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, weddings, funerals and family reunions can be stressful for everybody. People all over the world plan for holidays and family events with an equal mixture of anticipation and anxiety. You know you need to be mindful and cautious if-- You're exhausted or coping with a health problem-- Your expectations for the event run highThese fairly common situations can turn a potentially pleasant party into a tense confrontation. The situation could deteriorate if-- You're in a financial crunch-- You recently stopped drinking or smoking-- Your family has just gone through a crisis or lossAnd you probably dread the upcoming family event if-- You feel like the designated "black sheep" of the family-- You have recently divorced or separatedMariana Caplan addresses these and dozens of other potentially explosive situations with commonsense advice and comfort, plus a dose of humor, in this helpful, stress-relieving book. With the admission that she was a rebellious teenager who used to wreak as much havoc as possible during family get-togethers, Caplan now empathizes with the difficulties experienced by family members trying -- often desperately -- to have a "happy holiday".