Difficult Relationships

At the heart of dealing with difficult people is handling their—and your own—emotions. How do you stay calm in a tough conversation? How do you stay unruffled in the face of passive-aggressive comments? And how do you know if you're difficult to work with? This book explains the research behind our emotional response to awful colleagues and shows how to build the empathy and resilience to make those relationships more productive.

Treatment-resistant depression challenges even the most experienced clinicians. This practical book bridges the gap between research and clinical application, offering experienced psychiatrists a structured approach to patients who haven't responded to conventional treatments.

Love isn’t always clean, calm, or clear. In Messy Love, Jay Shetty invites us behind closed doors into coaching sessions with three couples navigating the complicated terrain of modern relationships. You’ll witness raw moments of vulnerability as they work through resentment, broken trust, and generational patterns–with no script, no filters, and no certainty of the outcome.

Whether it's a manager who keeps moving the goal posts, an uncooperative colleague, negative friend, or critical family member, some people are just plain hard to get along with. Often, your immediate response is to shrink or sulk, become defensive or attack. But there are smarter moves to make when dealing with difficult people. This book explains how to cope with a range of situations with difficult people and to focus on what you can change.

Your mother posts on Facebook about being a "blessed mom" while you're having panic attacks at the thought of calling her. Sound familiar? "After everything I've done for you..." "You're too sensitive..." "No one will ever love you like I do..." "I was just trying to help..." These phrases echo in your head long after the conversation ends. You apologize for existing. You feel guilty when good things happen to you. You're exhausted from managing everyone's emotions except your own. And the worst part? Everyone thinks she's wonderful. Have you ever found yourself asking: • Why do I feel ...

They drain your energy. They push your buttons. They make you dread Mondays, family gatherings, and even simple conversations. You know that person: the narcissistic coworker, the passive-aggressive friend, the micromanaging boss, the critical relative. They make your stomach knot when you see them coming.

Difficult brings to life the conflicts that arise for mothers who are confronted with the unexpected and burdensome dependencies of their adult children associated with mental illness, substance use, or chronic unemployment. Through real stories of mothers and their challenging adult children, this book offers accessible, provocative, and, at times, shocking illustrations of the excruciating maternal dilemma: Which takes precedence—the needs of the mother or of the distressed adult child? Difficult addresses a family situation which too many keep secret.

When leaving is not a viable option: Discover how to cope with narcissists while living under the same roof, sharing a workplace, or co-parenting. Psychologists and behavioral experts are still debating the causes of narcissism, but they all agree on one thing: Having a narcissist in your life is extremely harmful to your well-being. Breaking free from that toxic circle of narcissism and codependency is hard, especially when you’re dealing with someone close to you. You’re not alone, and there’s a way to regain your freedom and confidence.

The two-time Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at 13, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he's placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets 12-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.

Dealing with your ex-husband, who can't seem to show up reliably for weekends with the kids; navigating a workplace fraught with office politics or racial tensions; saying "I'm sorry" or "I love you". We all have difficult conversations, no matter how confident or competent we are. And too often...

Since emigrating from Bangladesh, 14-year-old Nadira and her family have been living in New York City on expired visas, hoping to realize their dream of becoming legal U.S. citizens. But after 9/11, everything changes. Suddenly being Muslim means you are dangerous - a suspected terrorist. When Nadira's father is arrested and detained at the U.S.-Canadian border, Nadira and her older sister, Aisha, are told to carry on as if everything is the same. The teachers at Flushing High don't ask any questions, but Aisha falls apart....

Have you ever opened your mouth to discipline your child, and your parents' nastiest words tumble out? In an era when most parenting books focus on the child, this book supports parents in dealing more positively with themselves, as well as their toddler-to-school-age children, offering specific tools to stop policing and pleading with kids and start being the parents we want to be. Based on Dr. Bailey's more than 25 years of work with children, this book explains that how we discipline ourselves is ultimately how we discipline our children.

Introducing "The Art of Letting Go," an insightful new eBook that seeks to guide you through the sometimes labyrinthine stages of ending relationships, and more importantly, fostering a healthy approach to moving on. This groundbreaking volume represents a unique journey, mining the complexities of interpersonal relationships, offering a fresh and enlightening perspective about why and when they might need to end. Explore the many facets of emotional exhaustion, lack of mutual respect, constant conflict, and lingering dissatisfaction that add to the challenge. Through "The Art of Letting Go...

From the workplace to your personal life, difficult people are everywhere—manipulators, bullies, pessimists, and those who thrive on drama or guilt. Left unchecked, they drain your energy, shake your confidence, and control your emotions. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In this powerful book, Trizia Rivera reveals practical, step-by-step strategies to recognize toxic behaviors, set firm boundaries, and respond with calm authority.

What if the next hard conversation didn’t wreck your day—or your relationship? What if you could speak honestly, hold your boundaries, and still leave the room with trust intact? In Difficult Conversations Made Simple, communication strategist Sean Ashford distills years of coaching into a practical playbook readers can use at home, at work, and with the people who matter most. Drawing on real-world scenarios—from tense 1:1s to family flare-ups—Ashford shows how small, repeatable moves beat perfect scripts every time. In this book you will discover: A reliable way to open tough ...

Angie always thought high school romances were just silly infatuations that come and go. She certainly never thought she would fall in love over one short summer. But then she sees Jack Duluth’s crew cut peek out over a booth in McKnight’s drugstore, and their connection is beyond any childish crush. Suddenly, Angie and Jack are filling their summer with stolen moments and romantic nights. But as fall grows closer, they must figure out if their love is forever or just a summer they’ll never forget.

Loving others is central to the Christian faith—but what happens when the people God calls us to love are the ones who test our patience, wound our hearts, or drain our energy? Loving Difficult People Like Christ is a compassionate, practical guide for believers who want to follow Jesus’ example without losing themselves in the process. Drawing on Scripture, real-life scenarios, and Christ-centered wisdom, this book helps you navigate challenging relationships with grace, discernment, and spiritual strength. Rather than offering shallow advice or guilt-driven obedience, this guide ...

Do you sometimes dread work because you don't want to face more drama with your co-worker? Have you spent significant time and money on therapy trying to work on painful romantic relationships that ultimately became messy break-ups? Do you ever walk away from an unpleasant conversation wishing you had known how to handle it better in the moment? This book is for you.

There are everyday challenging work relationships, and then there are situations that go beyond the ordinary - situations that push you to the edge. Written by a clinical psychologist who is knowledgeable about the mental disorders that can cause toxic behavior, Toxicity in the Workplace will help you understand why your difficult colleagues act the way they do and gain practical strategies for negotiating more peaceful, productive solutions.

An empowering invitation to leave complex shame behind, forgive yourself, and live free from the burden of secrecy—by a clinical psychologist with an inspiring personal story. “With the empathy and kindness of a loving best friend, Dr. Zoe Shaw helps us not only address our complex shame but...