The holidays are supposed to be a time of peace, harmony and happiness. So why does family drama and conflict always seem to surface? It's often the one time of year families get together, bringing along their spouses, partners, friends, in-laws, children and pets - plus problems, resentments, jealousies and other emotional baggage.

Maureen Maher-Bridge, a therapist who counsels patients with mood, anxiety and emotional problems at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, says it is possible to get through the season with joy!Maher-Bridge offers these tips to survive any family feud at the holidays:1. Consider what is realistically in your control and what is not. The only behavior you can actually change is your own.2. Be mindful that people are in very different places emotionally.3. Be aware of your body language.4. Listen to your own internal dialogue if someone says or does something that upsets you. Notice how you are feeling. Angry? Hurt? Embarrassed?5. Step away from a tense situation, calm down and consider how you want to handle it. Your response can either escalate or defuse what's happening.6. Recognize when a conversation has become unproductive. Feelings are getting hurt, the anger or rage is escalating. It's time to change the conversation.7. Be prepared. Know where you plan to place people at the dinner table, understanding relationships and who tends to activate whom. Ask family members to help with different tasks. Keeping people busy and connected makes them feel useful and needed.8. Ask family members to share stories they enjoy telling. Ask the kids to make place cards for the table. Be creative. The key is to involve people in the process as much as possible.Maureen Maher-Bridge is a therapist who counsels patients with mood, anxiety and emotional problems at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center.