Q: Cockatielsand male birds especiallycan develop aggressive behavior if their wing feathers are fully grown out. If you notice your male cockatiel going through sporadic periods of increased biting or pecking, try trimming the feathers on the tips of its wings. If you haven't trimmed your bird's wings before or do not feel comfortable trimming them yourself, take the cockatiel to a vet who can perform the procedure. Trimming your bird's wing feathers will also prevent them from being able to fly away. Cockatielslike any breed of parrotneed enough space to feel comfortable and not cramped. This means that their cage needs to be large enough to comfortably accommodate the bird. If the cage that you're currently housing the cockatiel in is too small, it will become agitated and much more likely to bite you. If this is your first time owning a cockatiel, plan to buy it a medium to large cage. Cockatiels have impressive crests and large tails, and so need more space than you might think. A cockatiel's cage should be at least 20 inches (51cm) wide, 20 inches (51cm) deep, and 24 inches (61cm) tall. Your cockatiel will enjoy the added entertainment that these objects in its cage provide, and will experience fewer aggressive moods. Perches come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and textures, and can be made from natural or synthetic materials. Cockatiels prefer softwood perches, so look for this variety at your local pet store. To encourage your cockatiel to spend more time playing in its cage, try giving it items you can find around the home, including: toilet paper rolls, large Lego bricks, buttons, and shiny objects like metal bells. If your bird tries to eat plastic perches, remove them immediately and replace them with stainless steel perches. Cockatiels tend to produce breeding hormones during times of seasonal change, such as from summer to fall. Cockatiels can become more aggressiveand bite more oftenwhen they are experiencing breeding hormones. Both male and female birds can before territorial and defensive, and defend any areas that they may consider nesting sites. To diffuse these behaviors in cockatiels, lower the temperature in the room in which the cockatiel is kept. As an example, if your house is usually 75F (24C), lower the temperature to about 65F (18C) in the room where you keep your cockatiel. Don't lower the temperature too much though, or the bird could get sick.
A: Trim the cockatiel's wing feathers. House your cockatiel in a larger cage. Add perches or toys to your cockatiel's cage. Cool your home during breeding season.

Q: Doubt and guilt are considered the hallmarks of OCD. Doubts can arise about every situation, topic, event, or person and these doubts are often futile in resolving. Guilt can also play a major role in OCD. You may feel personally responsible for things that had nothing to do with you and constantly find yourself thinking, "If only." Remind yourself that you are responsible for yourself, and you generally do the best you can. Especially after a relapse, you may feel many negative emotions. Don't ignore the emotions, but don't dwell on the feelings either, as they can contribute to OCD. If you find yourself feeling doubtful ("Did I do everything I could? Am I really sane? Will I become a criminal? Can I really get to the other side of OCD?"), address these feelings. Say to yourself, "I have doubts about this situation. Is this coming from me or from OCD?" The same is true for guilt. You may experience a period of time with no OCD triggers, then suddenly experience obsessions once again. After the obsessions re-emerge, you may feel a need to complete compulsive behaviors, and this is considered a lapse. A relapse, however, involves absolute or rigid thinking following the re-emergence of obsessions, such as, "All my therapy is wasted, I must now engage my obsessions and compulsions." This type of rigid thinking is associated with a relapse. For example, a person with contamination fears may be triggered by using a dirty public restroom and begin washing compulsions as a result of the distress. This is a lapse. Anticipate what situations will trigger lapses or setbacks into obsessive thoughts or fears. If you know you will experience heightened distress (like you will be around many people and may begin to have a contamination fear), plan for intrusive thoughts. Recognize that the thoughts are a result of the stress and a part of OCD. Having intrusive thoughts is not a failure. Say to yourself, "I know this is a stressful situation, and that obsessive thoughts or fears may happen. Even if they do, it does not mean that I am failing." After you've identified a lapse, assess what made you lapse and how you can prevent future lapses. You may feel triggered at a number of situations, yet having a plan to deal with these triggers is most important. Think about what worked during treatment and try that on your own. When triggered, expose yourself to the fear, stop yourself from engaging in rituals, get through the anxiety, and repeat the process. Say to yourself, "This is stressful, but I know I can handle this. This fear exposure can help me work past my anxieties and not need to perform a ritual." Remind yourself that nobody is perfect and to not set too high a bar for yourself. You may forget medication here or there, or begin to give into obsessive thinking. Instead of beating yourself up or putting yourself down for getting off track, refocus your efforts to start again. There's no need to guilt or shame yourself. Forgive yourself and get back on track. If you have a rigid approach to treatment and success, it can backfire. Recognize that obsessions won't go entirely away and you may experience triggers and fears.
A:
Address feelings of doubt and guilt. Understand the difference between a lapse and a relapse. Plan for lapses. Manage lapses. Expect recovery to be imperfect.