One of the reasons you may be paranoid is that you tend to assume the worst in any situation instead of being realistic about possible outcomes. You may think everyone is talking about you, that everyone hates your new haircut, or that your new boss is out to get you. However, it's highly possible that none of this is true. The next time you have a very pessimistic thought, stop and do the following: Ask yourself how likely it is that the pessimistic thought you're having will come true. When you're expecting the worst, consider all of the possible outcomes of a situation, not just the most negative ones. Then, you'll see that there are many possibilities in virtually every situation. Try to combat each pessimistic thought you have with two realistic thoughts. For example, if you're worried that everyone is laughing about your shoes, consider that 1) it's unlikely that a pair of shoes will keep everyone laughing throughout the day, and 2) it's more likely that a new, hilarious cat meme is making its way around the office messaging system. Part of being paranoid means not just considering that everyone is against you or out to get you, but it also means thinking about this constantly. The more you think about the same negative thing, the more you indulge in your paranoid thoughts, and the more you become convinced that they are likely to be accurate. Though it's impossible to stop obsessing completely, there are a few tricks that can help you minimize your obsessive thoughts: Give yourself a designated "worry time." Spend this time sitting down with your paranoid thoughts, evaluating them, and trying to minimize them. If a worry comes up during a different part of the day, just try to mentally move it to your "worry time." Keep a journal that tracks your paranoid thoughts. Reread it weekly. This can help you not only unload some of your paranoid feelings in a more healthy fashion, but it can also help you see that some of your paranoid fears were completely unfounded when you read back over what you've written. You may see that you worried about X happening on a certain date. Once the date passes, and X didn't happen, you may be able to accept that many of your paranoid beliefs are unwarranted. Having someone you can talk to about your paranoid feelings can help you get your worries out in the open and get a different perspective. Even the act of vocalizing some of your fears can help you see how they may be illogical. If you tell your friend that you think your group of friends really hates you, your friend will be able to provide rational and concrete examples that prove you wrong. Just make sure you pick one of your more rational and even-keeled friends. You don't want someone who might encourage your paranoid behavior and make you feel worse. Another way to avoid being paranoid is to not give yourself a lot of time to wallow or sit around thinking about what everyone else is thinking about you. Though staying busy can't help you escape your problems, it can help you focus your energies on more productive outlets, such as pursuing your interests or attaining your personal goals. If you spend even a few hours a week pursuing something that you really love, whether it's yoga or coin collecting, you're guaranteed to be less absorbed in your paranoid thoughts. This exercise really helps. If you put yourself in the shoes of the people you're so worried about, it'll help you see that many of your fears are unfounded. For a simple example, let's say you head to a party and tell yourself, "Everyone will probably notice that I'm wearing the same outfit that I wore to that party three weeks ago." Ask yourself if you remember what anyone else was wearing at that other party; the chances that you remember what anyone was wearing are very slim. Ask yourself what the chances are that all of the people you're worried about are thinking about you as much as you're worried about them thinking about you. Do you spend hours thinking about how much you don't like those other people? Probably not. If you have anxiety, then you may be plagued by worry and a constant fear that something may go wrong. Anxiety may even trigger your paranoid thoughts, though these two conditions are different. Anxiety may cause you to worry that you're suffering from a fatal illness; on the contrary, paranoia may lead you to believe that your doctor purposefully made you sick. If anxiety is in fact the main cause of your problems, then you may want to seek medical help or take actions to stop anxiety. There's a difference between occasionally worrying that all of your friends are talking about you and letting this thought completely consume you. There's also a difference between knowing that your thoughts are irrational on some level and suffering from serious delusions that everyone is really out to hurt you. If you feel like your paranoid feelings are taking over your life and preventing you from enjoying your everyday interactions or socializing, then talk to a psychologist or other mental health professional to get help for your condition.

Summary: Overcome pessimism. Stop obsessing over every little thing. Confide in a close friend. Stay busy. Put yourself in someone else's shoes. See if your paranoia is rooted in anxiety. Seek professional help if it's necessary.

Again, gently tug the belt forward until it is completely unspooled. This will allow you to identify any mold spores and reach the entirety of the belt to remove odors. Pour about one tablespoon (15 mL) of a non-bleach dish soap into a cup (240 mL) of warm water. Add two tablespoons (30 mL) of vinegar. Stir the mixture until soapy. Leave the belt overnight or until dry. It must be completely dry before you remove the clamp or else the wet belt will provide ample breeding ground for mold and nasty odors inside the reel.

Summary: Pull out the seat belt. Mix cleaner in a bowl. Air dry the belt.

Although pinging on glasses is fun, creating the xylophone is just as thrilling for small children. Make sure you explain what you are about to do so that he or she understands what you hope to achieve. Detail and list exactly what you plan to do to create the xylophone. Explain that when the glasses are filled with water at different levels, each glass will make a different sound. While most food coloring shouldn't stain, it's best not to tempt fate on your child's best clothes.
Summary: Invite your child to help you design the xylophone. Dress your child in play clothes in case the colored water spills on him or her.