Not all families are jolly during the holidays. High expectations can lead to holiday stress. And that's exactly where millions of people are heading this week. The holidays are a time for families to get together, exchange gifts, catch up on the latest news and, of course, stress each other out. By the time the last gift has been unwrapped and the last chestnut roasted, you may be wishing for a one-way sleigh ride far, far away.
Parents get bossy and critical.
Siblings revert to childhood pettiness. That annoying aunt you never liked inevitably shows up. Take Gina, for example. She's spending Christmas in front of her computer at work this year. And while she'll miss seeing her family, she won't miss the stress of Christmases past.