Family is supposed to bring love, support, and comfort, but sometimes they can cause the most stress and frustration. Here are 10 stories from readers about their struggles with difficult family members.

The Story:

My mother-in-law used to call me at 2 a.m. to “talk” about her supposed panic attacks. At first, I tried to be patient, but the constant calls left me worn out. One night, just as I was falling asleep, my phone rang. It was her, whispering in panic about “strange noises” and “someone watching her.” My heart started racing, and I almost called the police when she suddenly hung up.

A year later, I found out she had been calling many family members at random hours with similar stories of panic. It turned out she wasn’t having panic attacks at all—she just wanted attention and drama. After realizing this, I confronted her. Though she never admitted it, the calls stopped, and I finally had peace again by setting clear boundaries.