A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:I am currently on holiday with 4 other people, one of whom is my younger sister. I know sisters often clash more than friends, but she is driving me mad and I need some advice on how to deal with her and get through the last 6 days (we've been here 8 already). FYI, we are in Orlando, have pre-bought tickets to the attractions and are sharing a car, so spending a day away from her is not possible.Basically, my main issue is she is such a negative person. I feel my energy being drained by her because she is so down on everything which is the complete opposite to me. I have never been here before and I'm running around like an excited big kid, whereas she moans about the queues, the rain, the food, the people etc, when there is really nothing to moan about. For example, the other day we were in a restaurant and she said something like 'I'm so sick of eating fries every day, I'm starting to feel ill from them', but she ordered them anyway because there was 'nothing else' then moaned about it some more later that day! On the subject of food, she has also decided she has an intolerance to rice, bread, pasta, pizza, potatoes and any other starchy carb really, but has been eating them all regularly at various times throughout the holiday. She has been fine until we suggest somewhere she doesn't want to go to eat, then 'there is nothing on the menu that suits her medical issues'. When I point out that she's been eating these foods regularly she claims she's been up every night running to the toilet because her stomach is so bad from it, but she didn't want to mention it to anyone. My suspicion here is that she is trying to follow a low-carb diet without saying so (she has been on a permanent diet since we were about 15), but she is giving in to the temptation of all the carb-filled foods on offer and is having to cover for it. Whatever the reason, she is not displaying the symptoms of someone with a food intolerance (my boyfriend is lactose intolerant so I know how bad it can be).She also disagrees with everything anyone says. One of us will suggest a restaurant we have heard good reviews about, and she will say she's heard terrible reviews. She is never able to back it up (ie say who told her that), but it always ends up with us going somewhere else. It's the same with people's opinions. I saw a very overweight man be denied entry to one of the rides because of his size. I said I felt really sorry for him, and she shot me down saying its his own fault and he needs to stop eating. I don't think it's anywhere near as black and white as that (and as someone who is permanently trying to lose weight you'd think she'd have a bit more compassion), but she said I'm making excuses for him to kill himself. However when I was shocked to see a Dad tell his kid to 'f*** off and stop annoying me' because he was over excited about one of the Disney characters being there, she told me I had no right to 'judge another person's family dynamic'. Finally, she has been acting very passive aggressive towards me. Possibly because she can tell I'm getting annoyed at her? It's small things that might be hard to pick up on, but because I know her so well, I know exactly what she is doing. She used to do it all the time when we were little (surprisingly we are both mid 20s now which is pretty shocking giving the content of this post - shouldn't we have grown out of this yet?!)Anyway, so far I have been doing my best to ignore her and telling myself she is obviously unhappy in some way to try to understand her behaviour more. But when I try to reach out to her I get shot down again and it's getting harder and harder to take. I don't want to blow up at her, so I need some tips on how to handle this. Oh and I know from small comments here and there that I'm not the only one bothered by her, everyone else is too. I just fear I'm more annoyed because we're sisters so I'm most likely to snap first. Thanks everyone!
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reader, anonymous, writes (18 July 2013): It's a little late to suggest this now, but don't include her on anymore holidays. Take a friend, or go it alone.
She has a pissy attitude, because she likes being the center of attention. She knows she can easily needle your nerves; so she always gets the reaction she wants. That is to make you miserable.
She may have an eating/anxiety disorder. I suggest that you watch her at night, to make sure she isn't gorging and purging. Also make sure she isn't taking too many different combinations of dietary supplements or pills.
There are a lot of strange herbal and chemical dietary supplements that can seriously alter behavior. They usually make people nervous and aggressive.
Is she on newly prescribed birth-control? She may be a natural pain-in-the-ass; but there is something else contributing to this persistently irritating behavior.
Although you have tickets, do you all have to attend the same events at the same time? Why do you drag her around?
It is really up to you to just part from the herd, and just get some "me time" to enjoy your vacation.
She is a mean-spirited person; and she isn't satisfied until she has irritated everyone around her.
You all need to sit down at night, and tell her how irritating she is; and that she will definitely be left out of any future outings.
Ignore her and allow her to pout. It will give you some room to gather your nerves, and recoup some self-control.
If you don't, you'll lose it; and ruin your own vacation.
There is a some drug, or supplement, that your sister is ingesting that you are not aware of.
Please investigate and update us.
A
female
reader, Honeypie  +, writes (17 July 2013):
 Can't you two split up after you get to where you are going ? (let's say Disney Land) and meet up hours later so you can get a break from her?
Another option. Record her with your cell phone and when you are alone with her play it back let her hear how pissy and moany she is. Tell her she is frigging spoiling everyone's holiday. I can't stand people who are whiny like that and ruin it for others.
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