Holidays bring up painful challenges
You have an illness (depression) which can be worse during the holiday season. Even if you weren't depressed, your parents' terrible legacy of waging epic fights on holidays would make this a tough annual dance.
Your therapist could help you to come up with a strategy to get through these next weeks.
If you think you can make it through the holiday meal, great. Drive separately, if possible. When you feel you must leave, thank the host quietly, say you're not feeling well, and exit without fanfare.
If possible, plan something you enjoy doing, so that you can reward yourself for making it through. It might be driving to a favorite spot and listening to a podcast in your car, taking a long walk or sitting quietly with a good book.
Dear Amy: The letter from "Upset Wife" concerned me. Her husband had become a "troll" on Facebook, posting offensive comments and content. She should definitely "unfriend" him on Facebook. She should also consider unfriending him in real life!
-- No Fan of Trolls
Dear No Fan: "Upset Wife's" husband seemed to be revealing a disturbing aspect of his character. And, like the saying goes, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them."
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(You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Amy Dickinson, c/o Tribune Content Agency, 16650 Westgrove Drive, Suite 175, Addison, Texas, 75001. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook.)
