Is there a difficult person in your life? You know the aunt who argues every point, the boss who constantly criticizes your work, the mother who plays the martyr, or the neighbor who always seems to be looking for trouble. Just thinking about interacting with that person may raise your stress level. But what makes…

Dan and Belinda argue almost every day. Their friends describe them as a “high-conflict couple.” Unfortunately, their two middle-school children are caught in the middle. They plead with their parents to stop fighting. Their youngest daughter covers her ears, runs to her room, and cries, but she can still hear every angry word. What does…

  “We need to talk.” It sounds simple—maybe even obvious—but too many people avoid these four words. When something feels off in your relationship, the most important person to talk to is your partner—not your friends, not your family, and not social media. Talk to the person involved in the conflict If something bothers you,…

My first college roommate was difficult—and not exactly welcoming. Her very first words to me weren’t “Hi” or “Nice to meet you,” but rather: “This is my boyfriend, ______, and stay away from him.” I remember being stunned. First, I didn’t know her boyfriend. Second, why would I even think to “take him away”? And…

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