Problem: Article: Bullies typically seek easy targets. They try to pick on someone who they think lacks the confidence to stand up to them. If you portray confidence, you will avoid a lot of bullying. Give off confident body language by standing up straight when navigating the hallways. While this may seem like a minor change, it can really convey confidence. Make eye contact with people and smile slightly as you walk down the halls. Find ways to increase your own self-esteem. By investing into hobbies or extra-curricular activities, it can boost your self-worth and make you feel good about yourself. If you linger within the eyesight of an adult, bullies will typically stay away. Bullies do not want to cause trouble for themselves, so they avoid tormenting others if a teacher or other adult is near. When navigating your school, stay in areas where teachers and other adults are typically present. For example, eat lunch close to the table where teachers sit. Bullies may be less likely to target a big group of friends. They tend to pick on people they perceive as defenseless or powerless. If you're always surrounded by people, a bully may be intimidated and avoid bothering you. Try to get involved with a group of people who share your interests, such as by joining a club or sports team. Then, spend time with these people throughout the day. This will help to ensure that you are always with a large group of people and you will not be an easy target for a bully. If you know which kids tend to bully others, stay away from them. Avoid areas in the school where bullies congregate. If you don't have assigned seating, avoid sitting next to bullies in class. If you keep your distance from bullies, they'll have a harder time bothering you. Sometimes, bullies show up in areas you can't avoid. If your locker is located next to a bully's locker, for example, some interaction is necessary. Try to minimize this as much as you can by quickly removing your books between classes. You may also consider asking to move to a different locker to reduce or avoid conflicts with the bully.
Summary: Be confident. Stay within eyesight of an adult. Hang out in groups. Avoid bullies altogether.

Problem: Article: Even if you've already been diagnosed with MS, your doctor will want to know that your symptoms have changed. Tell your doctor approximately how long the hug lasted, the degree and type of pain you experienced, and how long it lasted for. Also let your doctor know if the hug prevented you from performing normal activities (eating, driving, sleeping) throughout your day. Your doctor may also be able to recommend helpful practices or treatments that can decrease the unpleasant feeling of the MS hug. If you experience frequent MS hugs, or if they are especially severe or long-lasting, your doctor can prescribe medication that will help decrease the pain felt in abdominal nerves. Nerve pain is often experienced as aching, stabbing, or unpleasant tingling sensations. Your doctor will most likely prescribe a medication like amitriptyline or pregabalin. Side effects of amitriptyline can include skin sensitivity, a dry mouth, difficulty going to the bathroom, and blurred vision. Side effects of pregabalin are typically mild and can include drowsiness, headache, dizziness and fatigue, and slight weight gain. Do not take pregabalin if you are pregnant. The type of medication your doctor will prescribe depends on what type of pain you feel. The two most common types are pain due to fraying nerves in your abdomen and pain due to spasms in the muscles located between your ribs. The small muscles located between your ribs (called intercostal muscles) can constrict due to the nerve damage caused by MS. The constriction can be extremely painful, and is a common cause of the MS hug. If you experience pain from muscle spasms, ask your doctor for a prescription to counter the spasms' effects. In the case of intercostal muscle spasms causing the MS hug pain, your doctor will most likely prescribe a medication like baclofen or gabapentin. People who take baclofen experience side effects about 45% of the time. Side effects include dizziness and fatigue, and having a hard time sleeping. Side effects for gabapentin are similar and include dizziness, weakness, and fatigue. NMES is a process in which gentle electrical currents are applied to tissue. It can help relieve spasms and constriction cause by MS. Ask your doctor if this might be option for you. Your doctor can administer the treatment. When used under a doctor's careful supervision, antidepressants can be a useful way of stopping pain from the MS hug. Antidepressants change the way that your central nervous system processes pain, and can stop your brain from feeling the pain associated with an MS hug. Common antidepressants that can decrease MS hug symptoms include amitriptyline and Duloxetine hydrochloride. Side effects of amitriptyline include constipation and difficulty urinating, nausea and vomiting, tiredness or dizziness, and blurred vision and unsteadiness. Side effects of Duloxetine hydrochloride include nausea and vomiting, dizziness and fatigue, constipation, and weakness. See your doctor if you experience any severe side effects including unexplained bleeding or bruising, or abdominal pain. Vitamin D, alpha lipoic acid, or probiotic supplements may help reduce inflammation and decrease symptoms. Always ask your doctor before taking supplements to make sure that they won't interact with your medication. Your doctor may check your vitamin D levels to see if you need supplements. This is done through a blood test. You can buy supplements at any drug or health food store. Your doctor can help you determine the best dosage for you. If you are concerned that you may be approaching an MS relapse, talk to your doctor and ask for a steroid prescription. Steroids can help decrease the likelihood of an MS relapse, which are typically accompanied by the onset of new symptoms, or the worsening or existing symptoms. Methylprednisolone is the most commonly prescribed steroid for MS relapses. Side effects are mild, and are limited to indigestion, mood swings, slight facial flushing, and difficulty sleeping.
Summary: See your doctor the first time you experience an MS hug. Ask your doctor for a prescription to decrease nerve pain. Ask your doctor for a medication to decrease spasm pain. Discuss whether neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can help. Ask your doctor for a prescription antidepressant. Check with your doctor if taking supplements might help. Ask your doctor about steroids to prevent a relapse.

Problem: Article: Turned up sleeves are an iconic feature of the oversized look. When you are trying on a hoodie, check that the sleeves are about 2.5 inches (6.4cm) longer than a regular fitting hoodie. This will give you plenty of room to roll or fold the sleeves. Look for hoodies that have cuffs as these make them easier to fold. If you are wanting to create a high fashion outfit, wear hoodies that have been made to fit oversized. These garments will fit your arms and shoulders properly whilst still being a large fit everywhere else. Often the label will be on a sticker or on a label inside the hoodie. If you can't find the oversized hoodies, ask a sales assistant to help you. If you are tall, you might need to pick a hoodie that is 3-4 sizes larger than your usual size in order for it to be long enough. Try the hoodie on before you buy it to check that it is a comfortable fit. Aim for the hoodie to look baggy and for the cuffs to fall slightly longer than usual. Avoid wearing a hoodie that is just one size larger than what you normally wear as this will likely look frumpy rather than oversized. Pastel colours and all shades of black, grey, and white, are great options as they will work with almost any colours in your wardrobe. Pick a shade that most expresses your own personal style. Consider what colours you already have in your wardrobe and pick a hoodie that will match. For example, if you have a lot of pastels in your wardrobe, choose a grey or black hoodie to create contrast.
Summary:
Pick a hoodie with long sleeves if you want to be able to roll them up. Wear a hoodie that is labelled as oversized if you want a flattering fit. Pick a hoodie that is 2 sizes larger than your usual size if you want an oversized look. Choose a neutral coloured hoodie if you want a versatile option.