Understand What's
Happening to You: A Brief Primer on Stress
You know what it feels like to be in
those awkward situations, or those conversations where you can tell
your family is grilling you on something you'd rather not discuss, so
it's not difficult to identify.Unfortunately, dealing with an
irritating family member who won't leave you alone isn't something
you can deal with by running fast or climbing high. Once you
understand what's going on, cooler heads can prevail and you can try
to see through your emotional response and de-escalate the situation.
Deal with Stressful
Situations by Relaxing and Disengaging
Take a few deep breaths and try to
minimize the stressful situation in your mind.
If your family is annoying you and
you're worried you'll say something you'll regret, excuse yourself
and take it up with them later. That'll give you time to calm down
and think about how you want to approach the situation, if you want
to revisit it at all.
If All Else Fails, Hack
the Conversation
Turn the question around so they're the
stressed party.
Return fire with "How would you
feel if I asked you that," or "What do you think I'll say,"
forcing them to answer their own question, or at least tip their hand
to what they want to hear from you.
Be sarcastically polite.
Sometimes that's enough to get them to
leave you alone.
Go on the offensive.
As in, ask them something they'll have
trouble with before they ask you.
Keep them talking.
When they start, listen politely and
ask for additional information at every opening. Doing so makes them
talk to you, instead of the other way around.
Get rid of them.
If you're helping in the kitchen and
you're being grilled by a family member, ask them to do something
that takes them out of the kitchen, even if it's for a moment.
Remember, They're
Family: You Don't Have to Like Them!
Lifehacker by Alan Henry
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