AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON approaches and the stresses therein loom on the horizon like an imposing block of fruitcake, it's important that we take measures to keep our immune systems and stress responses as healthy as can be. Getting a good night's sleep is one of the best things you can do to promote a healthier mind and body, especially when holiday parties, flu season and extra social demands loom.

Struggling with sleep habits? Here are some tips from the American Sleep Association. Now get some Zs!

» Maintain a regular sleep routine, going to bed and getting up ideally around the same time.
» Avoid naps if possible.
» Don't stay in bed awake for more than 5-10 minutes, especially if you find your mind racing or worrying about not being able to sleep. And no TV or Internet during these periods!.
» Don't watch TV or read in bed, for the same reason: you'll start to associate the bed with wakefulness.
» Do not drink caffeine inappropriately.
» Avoid inappropriate substances that interfere with sleep.
» Exercise regularly, preferably before 2 pm each day.
» Have a quiet, comfortable bedroom.
» If you are a ‘clock watcher' at night, hide the clock.
» Have a comfortable pre-bedtime routine, like a warm bath, meditation, or quiet time.

And one from me: Don't leave work to be done until late at night (ahem.)

There are all kinds of people in this world. While some will see the glass as half-full, others will focus on how one of the pieces of ice in it is slightly misshapen. Your girlfriend might just be one of these latter people, and though you say it seems to be getting worse, I wonder whether it's just getting on your nerves more now that she's becoming a bigger part of your life.

Of course, there's also the possibility that she is be depressed. Irritability and cynicism can be hallmarks of depression, even if you don't detect an underlying sadness. Either way, it's time to talk to her. It will be important to determine whether she's bothered by it, is bothered that you're bothered by it, and is willing to make changes. Only if these three conditions are met will you then be able to help her make a plan — whether through stress management techniques — gentle reminders or even therapy, to make a dent in the problem.

I wonder whether, in your desire not to be a jerk, you've made yourself into a bowl of jelly. By all means, if you don't feel respected by someone and you "dread" interactions with him, pull the plug. He'll no longer expect you to attend his parties if you stop coming to them. You won't have to endure annoying conversations with him if you don't partake in them. He got the point about stopping by; he'll get the point about your friendship's heading out to pasture if you simply start spacing out your contact.

You need not be rude; you simply grow "busier" and decline invitations. Don't forget that in relationships, you have the power not just to do something, but to not do something, too.

Sometimes it's easy to get so obsessed with an idea — especially when Indiana Jones is involved — that the actual steps needed to achieve it get lost along the way. You're being supportive in the right ways, by encouraging him to do something tangible to move forward. Clearly, though, he's overwhelmed and getting defensive. I even wonder whether he's depressed. Help him set even smaller, realistic goals on a weekly basis that he could move toward. If the real problem is that he is incapacitated by his job misery, he'll have to refocus on getting into another job, even if it's temporary. But the more irritable he gets, the more I'm convinced he could be helped by regular counseling just as much as career counseling.

TRIUMPH! The power of activism — even among psychologists wearing presumably sensible shoes — was on display last week as the Walt Disney Company announced that it would give a refund for those who had purchased Baby Einstein videos over the past five years.

I could say that this is between you and your in-laws, but it's not. It's about the person who's between you and your in-laws, and that is your husband.

Their effect on you should be able to be moderated by him, plain and simple. That means he should step in when they are belittling you, be your sounding board when you are frustrated, talk to them independently to let them know what is acceptable, and even limit your contact with them if it comes to that. No, he shouldn't have to divorce his family to be married to you, but by choosing you as his spouse, he vowed to do his best not to sit by while you're being made miserable. Talk to him. Let him know how bad this is getting, and how you're having trouble dealing. The fraying of the bond between you might best be served by counseling, but even short of that, he needs to be willing to be on your side to solve this together — and you need to see that he cares. In the meantime, when they start in with the attacks, feel free to change the subject or even quietly leave the room if things get disrespectful.

MUCH CAN BE said about the saga of the Balloon Boy and, most notably, his parents. (Who knew that a contraption that looked like a forgotten birthday-party balloon could captivate the nation for days?)

The whole alleged scheme is quite representative of our culture's focus on fame at any cost, along with numerous other psychological factors. Perhaps the most important focus, though, is the welfare of the children involved.

And ironically, even the authorities do not seem to have their best interests at heart.

Case in point: Why would the sheriff come out with the statement that he first suspected a hoax while watching the now-infamous Wolf Blitzer interview where the child seems to slip up?

This is certainly not the type of love triangle I'm used to hearing about!

It's hard for me to draw the line between obsessing and being a particularly doting dog owner. (And I fear hate mail signed with paw prints.) But I'm not sure that really even matters here.

Instead of attacking the issue as a whole and making her feel like she's weird or flawed, take it piecemeal: Plan that trip by helping her find an optimal boarding solution for her dog. Gently challenge her to see whether she'll budge on some cancelled plans or at least try to still be with you somehow. Insert a little bit of humor about how she talks to her dog, and see how she reacts. If you can make headway on these individual fronts, you'll know that she's willing to be a little flexible. If she pushes back harder, then it's time to decide whether Fido's a deal-breaker, no matter where his owner falls on the "normal" scale.