How to Cope With Tax-Time Stress: Experts explain ways to avoid the emotional storms of tax season. Medically Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Spring is the season when the cherry trees and cottonwoods bloom. For Barbara Halpern, spring is also the season when her workweek blooms to 80 hours or more. Accompanying those long work hours are the colds, migraines, dizziness, and weight swings that plague Halpern and her colleagues at her small accounting firm in suburban Connecticut. "Everyone is rundown and susceptible," Halpern, owner of Halpern & Associates, tells WebMD. "We hate the spring and nice weather. It's not supposed to get warm until April 16."Tax preparers like Halpern may bear the brunt of tax-time stress. But nearly everyone has a reason to dread the 1040 tango. Some hate the math; some hate the feds. And yet others hate having to grapple with one of the great mysteries of life: Where did the money go?

Stress-Relieving Tips: Herewith, a few tips for stressed-out taxpayers:

• To avoid last-minute stress, file early and break up the job into little pieces, Mellan suggests. Do your taxes while listening to music or whatever else makes you feel relaxed.
• For filers with math anxiety, Mellan recommends hiring a preparer or investing in tax software. Tax software typically collects information through an "interview" and the computer does all the calculations.
• Fractious couples should strategize on ways to avoid chronic money fights, Mellan says. For example, try communicating financial information through notes or other modes that won't carry an accusatory tone.

Are you a trained professional able to take care of your Grandma or Mom who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's or Dementia? Then why are you doing it asks the Counselor live

What is the main difference between dementia and Alzheimer's?

While dementia is a general term, Alzheimer's disease is a specific brain disease. It is marked by symptoms of dementia that gradually get worse over time. Alzheimer's disease first affects the part of the brain associated with learning, so early symptoms often include changes in memory, thinking and reasoning skills.

Parents it is your duty to catch this while your children are young. In addition, OCD often begins in childhood while OCPD usually starts in the teen years or early 20s. People with either OCPD or OCD are high achievers and feel a sense of urgency about their actions. They may become very upset if other people interfere with their rigid routines.

Q&A

Can you get OCD as a teenager?

Between 1% and 3% of children and teens have OCD, making it one of the more common psychiatric disorders in that age group. Up to 70% of individuals with OCD also have one or more other psychiatric disorders. For at least 4 out of every 10 individuals diagnosed with OCD, it becomes a chronic disorder.

Call today with questions for the Counselor Live