[madisgram]

i know may people get stressed out with holiday gatherings. hope this may be helpful. i was told once that part of the problem also is there's such an expectation during the holidays that many ppl find they're stressed out due to the let down and disappoints that arise.
An article by Janet Taylor, M.D.

A friend of mine recently commented that she rated her family a 3 out of 5 for drama-related holiday issues. As she mentally prepared herself for her annual Thanksgiving visit, she described anticipating the following predictable scenes: her classic, sweet but "over-indulging" uncle largely ignored until his alcohol-fueled antics end up being mean and hateful, the dueling culinary aunts who constantly criticize each other's cooking while snidely remarking on all of the dishes, and political arguments by opinionated relatives whose lack of facts would be hilarious except for the constant threat of violence....

C'mon, we've all been there. Simply put, there are times when holiday gatherings are not fun and joyous but remind you of how dysfunctional your family actually is. If you are lucky, and can find a trusted sibling, cousin or spouse to share your amazement or disgust then a simple declaration to validate your experience can be a relief. However, if you find yourself thinking... "Am I the only one who feels like there is something seriously wrong with these folks?" then read these tips.

1. Reflect on past experiences. Examine what worked and what didn't. If sleeping arrangements left you cranky and tired, think of an alternative. Shorten your trip or bunk somewhere else....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janet-...Healthy+Living

[DenisDonnacha]

also, don't punch anybody... just throwing that one out there lol