{"id":100532,"date":"2018-11-27T11:00:41","date_gmt":"2018-11-27T11:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=100532"},"modified":"2023-03-07T14:47:45","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T14:47:45","slug":"dealing-with-difficult-family-members-9-important-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/dealing-with-difficult-family-members-9-important-steps.htm","title":{"rendered":"Dealing With Difficult Family Members – 9 Important Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"difficult<\/a>

By: Nicolas Toper<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

by Andrea M. Darcy<\/span><\/p>\n

From attending family gatherings<\/a>, to dealing with in-laws, or managing a spoilt\u00a0boomerang child<\/a> who has moved back home — what are the best ways to deal with difficult family members?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

[Can’t take your family anymore, need to talk to someone, fast? Book online therapy<\/a> <\/span>worldwide today.]<\/span><\/p>\n

9 Ways to handle difficult family members<\/h2>\n

So what can you do to handle a messy family?<\/p>\n

1. Get the timing right.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The only truly productive form of interaction is ‘charge-free ‘ — not coming from a place of anger<\/a> or upset.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the environment is stressful and you are emotional, or you or they are exhausted and already had a bad day? Then the timing just isn’t right for confrontation or big decisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

You are family. You aren’t going anywhere.\u00a0Let yourself off the hook and step away then talk when you are both rested.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

2. Give yourself all the attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s the thing about family drama — it can be quite addictive.<\/strong> We find ourselves always talking about it, or constantly approaching the other person, even if we are having the same conflict again and again<\/a>. Or perhaps you are even codependent<\/a>, constantly\u00a0 trying to ‘help’ or ‘change’ the difficult family member.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"how<\/a>

By: Satya Murthy<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Sometimes the best thing we can do is step back and put our attention <\/strong>on the one thing we do have some control over – ourselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then we actually have energy<\/strong> to deal with difficult people better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What can you do to increase your self care<\/a> and psychological wellbeing<\/a>? How can you get your own life back on track?<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Communicate clearly.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Despite always being around family, we can communicate with them<\/strong>\u00a0less<\/em> than we do with people we just met. We assume family know what we are thinking or want<\/a>, or that other family members have told them.<\/p>\n

Take a moment to write down exactly how you feel about the situation with the difficult family member and the exact things you’d like to happen. Write it like a factual study. If you read this out to the person, would he or she be surprised?\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

4. Give up the games.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Before you claim you never play games, consider of you are <\/strong>guilty<\/a> of any of the following\u00a0communication tricks<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n