Fighting with family

Fighting with family sucks. No one wants to be in a fight with the people who they are supposed to be able to count on the most. However, often our families are the people we interact with the most. As a result, they are the ones who get the brunt of our bad moods, our insecurities flaring up, etc. Often, because we are dealing with family, we are less thoughtful, and quicker to anger or other damaging emotions.

The reasons family fights happen are plentiful, and often boil down to the simple idea that we often take liberties with family that we would not take with others because it is family. We may not treat friends the same way, or co-worker, etc as that could damage a relationship, but with family, the relationship is forced, and so often the relationship suffers.
What can you do when you are in a fight with family? You can start by taking a step back and evaluating your personal behaviors. Do not consider what they did, or whether or not you can justify your own behavior, simple ask yourself whether or not you would do or say the same things to someone who is not family. Would you guilt trip a friend for not helping you move because they have work? Would you say hurtful things to a neighbor if they spilled coffee on your shirt? The point is, evaluate your own behavior and ask yourself if there is room for improvement with how you treat your family.
You may be fighting for perfectly good reasons, and have every reason in the world to be angry, hurt, etc. But, if your actions were out of line, start by rectifying that. Next, give yourself some distance if need be. One of the best cures to family drama is simply having a little time away. Because family is close, and you live with them, and tread on one another's toes every day, it can be hard to work through the hurt and frustration of a fight, especially if there are reminders of the wrong doing all around you. So, take a break. Take a time out from your family. A little time apart, a little distance, a little separation of lives can go a long way in letting tempers calm, and feelings settle.
Lastly, work it out because it is family. It may suck. They may have been really out of line. You may have every reason in the world to hold a grudge, or never want to speak to your family member again, but it is family, which is enough incentive to figure things out. So, put your pride aside, and do what you need to in order to repair the problem and the relationship so that the problem does not continue to persist in the relationship. Pride does not taste good, but family is just that.family, and the relationship is worth preserving.