Problem: Article: If you give them what they want, you will reinforce the manipulative behavior. You must say "no." Stand your ground and be firm. If they keep pushing, step away and take a few moments to yourself. You can also call on someone else for support. Say, "I'm really sorry to hear about your situation, but I can't afford to give you any more money. I can lend a supportive ear, though." If they threaten to harm you, remove yourself from the situation and call emergency services. If they threaten to harm themselves, call for help and stay with them. You might tell them, "I'm really worried about you right now. These are serious threats. Let's talk about what you're feeling." Although you may be afraid of what they'll do, it's unlikely they'll act on their threats. Ignore some of the things they say to get attention by continuing a conversation as if they didn't say anything. This helps you call out the inappropriate behavior without accusing them of anything. It forces them to clearly state what they want, allowing you to address them without worrying about the emotional threats they've made. Say, "I'm not understanding what you're asking me. What is it you want?" This gives them guidelines about how they can behave around you. Tell them directly that their manipulative behaviors won't be tolerated. Instead, they can tell you exactly what they want. You might say, "It's not okay for you to scream at me when you don't get what you want. When you yell, I'm going to exit the situation." Then say, "However, I'm happy to listen if you speak in a calm, kind tone." You could also say, "I won't talk things out while you're crying, but I hope we can speak once you've calmed down." Whether they threaten themselves or you, it's important to take the threat seriously and call for help. If they threaten you, remove yourself from the situation immediately. It's unlikely they'll follow through, but don't risk it! Plus, it's unfair to you to have to deal with constant threats of violence. Say, "If you threaten to hurt me, I will call the police" or "If you say you'll harm yourself, I'm going to call emergency services. If someone threatens you, it's best to remove yourself from the situation while you wait for help. Alternatively, you can ask a friend or family member to step in for support. They alone are responsible for their feelings and actions, while you are responsible for yours. They may try to manipulate you by making you feel at fault for their suffering. This is a form of blaming behavior. For instance, your partner may try to make you feel responsible for their happiness. When they're unhappy, they expect you to try to fix it. Although it's nice to try to cheer someone up, it's not something you have to do, and your life shouldn't revolve around it. Say, "I'm sorry you had a rough day, but I'm not able to change that. I would like to enjoy a nice evening with you, though." Similarly, your child might blame you for all of their mistakes, expecting you to clean them up. You might say, "I'm sorry you forgot to do your project, but I'm not going to stay up all night doing it for you." It's likely that the person will test your new boundaries, so you need to stand firm. Do what you say you'll do, such as calling the police when they make threats. When necessary, step away from the situation. When you follow through, they'll learn that your boundaries are real. Say, "I told you I'd leave if you started yelling. I'm going home." If you call for help, you might also remove yourself from the situation. Do what's best for you! It will likely be hard for you to maintain your boundaries, but it will help resolve the manipulation in the long run. Stay strong! Your emotional health is important. If the person continues to use emotional blackmail, spend time away from them. This protects you and helps them see that you won't tolerate their bad behavior. You might just limit contact with the person to cut down on the amount of time you spend with them. Alternatively, you might talk to them about it first. You could say, "I really value our friendship, but I feel like you've been taking advantage of me. I need some space to process my feelings." Spend more time with people who are kind to you and who make you feel supported. If you do decide to mend fences with your manipulator, remind them of your boundaries. Say, "As I said before, I will call for help if you threaten yourself."
Summary: Avoid giving them what they want. Ask them to clarify their intentions. Tell the person which behaviors you will and won't accept. Explain that threats of violence will be taken seriously. Avoid taking responsibility for their feelings and actions. Follow through if your boundaries are broken. Take a break from the person if the problem persists.

Problem: Article: Dry water that accumulates indoors after heavy rains. Use an indoor/outdoor vacuum on major puddles. After a flood, remove any water-damaged items that can't be thoroughly dried, including carpets, bedding, and furniture. Don't leave wet clothes or towels lying around the house. Hang clothes to dry after laundering them or put them in the drier immediately. Dry wet spots on carpets and rugs within 24-48 hours. Run an exhaust fan or open the window when you shower. Wipe down the floor and walls in your bathroom after a shower. Regrade your yard so it slopes away from your home. If it slopes towards your house, water doesn't collect in your basement or crawlspace. Lower humidity by running dehumidifiers and window air conditioners. Use fans, but only within 48 hours of flooding or else mold spores can be blown around. Avoid using heaters or turning up the heat in confined areas because mold grows more quickly in higher temperatures. Use a percent bleach solution to clean the condensation pan under the coil of your central air conditioner. Also check to be sure the drain on your air conditioner is working properly. Seal any leaky air conditioner duct joints with flexible mastic. Sealing the ducts is especially important if they run through a hot attic where the heat and leaky cool air create moisture for mold to grow. Clean all humidifiers, which both distribute mold throughout your home and give mold a place to grow. Use an antimicrobial solution to clean humidifier reservoirs.
Summary: Prevent excess moisture in your home. Improve your home's air circulation after floods or heavy rains. Clean and seal your air conditioner's parts.

Problem: Article: You will be placing the finished haystacks onto this. Place a large saucepan on the stove, and add in the sugar and corn syrup. Turn the heat to low/medium and wait for the sugar to dissolve. Stir the mixture often with a spatula so that it does not burn or scorch. Keep stirring until everything is smooth and melted together. Don't worry, the mixture will harden again once it cools. You will finish making your haystacks here. Try to use a rolling motion, so that you are always bringing the mixture from the bottom of the pot to the top. Be sure to stir gently, so that the cereal does not break. Try to use a cereal without any added "frost" or sugar glaze. Don't worry about making the cookies neat; haystacks don't look very neat either. You can make the cookies as big or as small as you'd like. This recipe is enough to make about 24 cookies. This will take about 1 to 2 hours. If you are in a hurry, then place them into the freezer for about 10 minutes.
Summary:
Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Melt the sugar and corn syrup in a large saucepan over low to medium heat. Stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract. Take the saucepan off the stove, and set it down onto a heat-resistant surface. Stir in the cornflakes cereal. Scoop the mixture out onto the baking sheets using a spoon. Put the tray into the fridge so that the haystacks can cool and harden. Transfer the haystacks to a plate to serve them, and store any leftovers in an airtight container.