Whether it’s friendships, a partner or problems with your family, this can be a time of great stress and turmoil, when the mind races, trying to understand and bring back some harmony.

Relationships can be complicated but conflicts, when worked on, can lead to stronger bonds and greater satisfaction.

There are several things you can do to help yourself:

• Talk to someone you can trust - Look for someone who can listen, care and not automatically take sides.

• Communicate - initiate talking rather than brood.

• “I feel” messages - talk about how you feel and what you would like rather than blame the other person.

• Be safe - Find a safe place and a safe way to express your frustration and anger. It may help to talk about it, go for a run or rip up some paper.

These are only general suggestions. You should always seek outside help if you are unsure what to do. If you need to talk to someone right now you can call Open Doors on (03) 9870 7044 or Freecall (Outside Melbourne) on 1800 647 995.

Updated May 2005