Lethal Lovers and Poisonous People: How to Protect Your Health from Relationships That Make You Sick

``Warning: This relationship may be harmful to your health,'' declares psychotherapist Braiker ( The E Type Woman ) in this self-help book designed to prevent or cure stress-induced negative emotions--anxiety, guilt, depression and loss of self-esteem, in this case caused by others (insensitive husbands, bad bosses and problem relatives among them). Examining clinical examples, the author demonstrates that such feelings can result in physical ills ranging from cardiac or intestinal dysfunctions to cancer and the common cold. She also provides questionnaires to test the ``toxicity'' of relationships and lists techniques for use in ``detoxification''; readers may find these simplistic. While conceding that all relationships cannot be saved, Braiker advises ``calm verbalization of anger'' and the use of mental imagery to eliminate negative thoughts. (June)