Article: Your fear of driving may be a phobia if it is so severe that it causes debilitating symptoms. If you are just a bit frightened by the idea or act of driving, then it is probably not a phobia. For example, a fear of driving might cause you to feel a bit nervous before you start your morning commute, while a phobia might cause you to avoid driving altogether by taking public transportation or riding your bike to work. Phobias may cause emotional and physical symptoms such as: feeling dizzy sweating having chest pain having difficulty breathing trembling or shaking having a racing pulse feeling anxious wanting to escape or run away feeling like you are going crazy or dying feeling powerless to control your fear The first step toward getting over your fear of driving is to try to pinpoint the reason you are afraid. Many people with this issue experienced a traumatic event at some point in their past that turned them off to the idea of piloting a car; for others, the fear arose gradually. For still others, driving fear has a more indirect source. The following are examples of how some driving fears and phobias start: You were in a serious car accident. This is a big reason some people don't like to drive, and it is especially likely to be problematic if it happened when you were a young, inexperienced driver (or as a child passenger). You had a negative experience when first learning to drive, such as being yelled at by an impatient teacher or being a victim of another driver's road rage. You become anxious or feel trapped during traffic jams. You found yourself driving in bad weather such as deep snow, icy roads, heavy rain or fog, or high winds. Whether or not such an event results in an accident, it can lead to fear of driving if it is a frightening experience. You are frightened by stories of traffic accidents. Sometimes just knowing what could happen is enough to generate heightened fear of driving. You are prone to anxiety attacks, which you fear having while driving and losing control as a result. Stress and anxiety in other aspects of your life has boiled over to affect your driving confidence. Phobias, especially when deep-seated, can be difficult to overcome without assistance. If you cannot seem to overcome your driving phobia or if your phobia is impacting your quality of life, you should think about seeing a therapist. A therapist can help you to address the problem and take steps to overcome your driving phobia. Even if you have a fear of driving and not a phobia, a therapist can help you to identify the source of your fear and become more comfortable with driving. Search online for therapists in your area and seek out those who specialize in anxiety disorders (the category under which most driving phobias fall).
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Recognize the difference between a fear and a phobia. Acknowledge the source of your fear. Consider therapy.
Article: Prior to washing leather, you should vacuum or dust the surface to remove any loose crumbs or dirt. This should be done with a soft brush vacuum attachment or dusting cloth. In a small bowl, dilute regular hand soap or dishwashing detergent in warm water. Mix together 1 teaspoon of soap for every four cups (946 ml) of water. Dip a clean cloth into the soap and water mixture. Squeeze the cloth to remove any excess water. The cloth should be damp and not dripping wet. Wipe the leather surface with the damp cloth. Make sure to clean the entire surface. If you are cleaning a leather couch, it is best to start at the top and work your way down to the bottom. Then, take a clean cloth and dip it into plain water. Wring out the cloth so that it is wet, but not dripping. Wipe the entire surface with plain water. This will help remove any soap that remains on the surface. Once you have rinsed the surface, take a dry towel and wipe the leather to remove all of the water. This will help dry the surface. You don't want to leave the surface wet because it could reduce the lifespan of your leather. After washing the leather you should treat it with a conditioner. This will prevent the leather from drying out and cracking. Once cracks form it is much easier for dirt and oil to get trapped in the fabric, causing stains. You can use a commercial leather conditioner that can be purchased from a home store. Follow the directions to apply the conditioner. Alternatively, you could make your own conditioner by mixing together one part vinegar with one part linseed oil or flax oil. Apply the solution with a clean cloth and let sit overnight. Then, buff the surface using a dry cloth.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Vacuum or dust the leather. Mix together warm water and soap. Dampen the cloth and wipe surface. Wipe with a clean damp cloth. Dry the leather. Apply leather conditioner after cleaning.
Article: After a few weeks of keeping track of everything you eat and drink, you'll probably see some patterns emerge. Some patterns will be obvious, like having the same thing for breakfast every day, while others will be a bit more enlightening. Check your diary and think about these questions: Are there patterns related to how foods affect your mood? Which meals seem to leave you hungry, and which are more satisfying? In what situations do you tend to overeat? Many people are surprised at how many snacks they consume in a given day. A handful of almonds here, a cookie or two there, and a bag of chips, while you watch TV at night, can add up in the end. Use your diary to assess whether your snacking habits are healthy or might need a little work. Do you tend to choose healthy snacks, or grab whatever's nearby? If you tend to be on-the-go and don't have time to prepare fresh food every time you need a snack, try thinking ahead and bringing snacks along with you instead of heading for snack machines when you're hungry. Do your snacks leave you satisfied or do they just make you hungrier? Review any notes on how you feel after your snacks to analyze whether or not your snacks should change. For most people, work and school have a big effect on their eating habits. You might find it hard to make time for cooking on workdays, but spend more time in the kitchen on your days off. See if you can find patterns that might influence your eating habits. Do you tend to eat out more on certain days? If you notice that you get takeout four times a week because you work late, that might signify you should do meal prep on the weekends to help support healthier meals during the week. Use the information to help you plan out your meals. If you know you're not going to feel like cooking on a certain night, try planning to have something healthy in the refrigerator. Figure out what life situations might have influenced your eating for any given day or week. You might notice a pattern in the food choices you make during times that are stressful, lonely, or when you're bored. Maybe you can't sleep well so you eat a midnight snack, or you turn to comfort foods after a stressful workday. Knowing this about yourself can be useful when it comes to planning out your diet. See if there's an issue with overeating when you're upset. If so, try engaging in other more relaxing activities instead of turning to food when you're stressed. On the flip side, if certain foods seem responsible for negative emotions, you might want to try giving them up to see what happens. For example, you may feel anxious and jittery after drinking too much coffee. Look for patterns in the way foods impact your body. You might notice that you have lactose intolerance when your notes continually show nausea, upset stomach and bloating after you eat dairy-rich foods. See what foods make you feel bloated, gassy, have a headache, nauseous, or just generally too full. Keep these notes to share with a doctor or registered dietitian. Celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and other illnesses can be greatly helped by altering your diet to eliminate certain ingredients. If you have symptoms that lead you to believe food might be making your problems worse, bring your food diary to the doctor to discuss the possibility that changing your diet could help.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Look for patterns in the meals you eat. Count how many snacks you have daily. Compare your weekdays and weekend days. Jot down notes regarding your emotional connection with food. Circle any food intolerances.