Before jumping on line, spend some time exposing yourself to a scary ride. Look at pictures and video of it online so you can see it in action, and what you would do while on it. If you go to a theme park or carnival, walk by the ride and watch it in action. The more you see of it, the more comfortable you will be around it. This is exposure therapy, a common method for overcoming fears. One way to help push yourself on to the ride is to put yourself in a position where you have to go on one. Maybe tell your friends you'll definitely ride it, or buy an expensive ticket to the park. Make it very difficult for yourself to back out of going on the ride. Do your best to forget past times where you avoided the ride, or got in line only to back out. Don't dwell on the past, but instead stay focused on the future, that this time you will go on the ride. This is a common type of negative thinking, where you can only think of a worst-case scenario when you think about going on a scary ride. This could be something like worrying about falling out of a roller coaster each time it goes upside down. Before you get on line, or get on the ride, use some mindfulness techniques to help relax yourself. These simple exercises are great for reducing your stress and tension, which will make you feel better as you approach the ride. Progressive muscle relaxation. This exercise involves you slowly clenching and relaxing the muscles in your body. Tense for about 5 seconds, then relax for 30, thinking not just about moving your muscles, but how it feels when they are relaxed. It can help to start in one part of your body, maybe down at your feet, and work your way up your body, tensing and relaxing all your muscles in succession. Controlled breathing. Take a normal breath, then a deep breath. Breathe in slowly through your nose, and let the air fill your lungs and abdomen. Exhale slowly--it's best to do so through your mouth, but it can be through your nose, if that is more comfortable.
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One-sentence summary -- Slowly expose yourself to the rides. Get in line for the ride. Avoid catastrophizing. Use relaxation techniques to stay calm.

Kids are always paying attention to the things we do and say whether we realize it or not. One easy way to teach kids about friendship, then, is to let them see you being a good friend. Modeling friendship will give them an example of how friends act and reinforce some of the things you teach them about friendship. Let kids see you interacting with other people in a positive way. For example, allow them to overhear you greeting a friend or colleague warmly. For instance, you might tell your kids, "My friend is a little sad, so I need to be a good friend and try to cheer him up." Children of all ages enjoy spending time with their peers and socializing is an important part of their development. By providing structured and unstructured time for kids to socialize you can teach them about friendship. These opportunities will give them real-world experience in making friends and maintaining friendships. If you're a parent, then set up a play date for your kids. Stay for a while to monitor how the kids interact and to meet the other parents. If you are a teacher or mentor then try to encourage positive interactions between peers by assigning group activities and giving the kids opportunities to learn and play with one another. Just as kids watch adults, they also learn from other people and situations around them. There are examples of friendship all around that you can use to teach kids how to have positive social interactions. For example, if you're watching TV with your kids, you might say, " Wow! They seem like they're really good friends. Look at how they act with each other. "
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One-sentence summary -- Model being a good friend. Provide opportunities to socialize. Show them other friendships.

Many herbs have not been tested for safety during pregnancy, so if you are pregnant or dealing with gestational diabetes, make certain you speak to your physician before adding any herbs or supplements. Also, even though these herbs and supplements are natural, they CAN interact with various medications. You can also ask your pharmacist about drug-herb/supplement interactions. Make sure you buy national brands of herbs and supplements and that the companies follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). For herbs, make certain that the suppliers use pesticide and herbicide free organically and sustainably grown herbs. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is often recommended for diabetes control. However, bitter melon has been associated with miscarriages and induced abortions in animals, so it should be avoided if you are pregnant or want to get pregnant. Bitter melon has been shown to improve blood glucose levels, increase the secretion of insulin and decrease insulin resistance. Gurmar, also known as Gymnema sylvestre has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine and has been shown to improve the control of blood sugar. Gymnema is generally taken in doses of 200 mg twice a day. Gymnema appears to be safe in pregnancy, but speak to your physician before using. Prickly-pear cactus or nopal has been shown to improve blood sugar control. Prickly-pear cactus has not been tested in pregnancy, but has been used for centuries as food, suggesting but not proving that it is safe. Cinnamon has been used to help control blood sugar levels and is considered safe for pregnant women in the amounts used in foods. This corresponds to approximately 1 gm (1000 mg) every day. 500 mg of cinnamon taken twice a day has been shown to improve A1c levels (and the levels of blood fats). A1c is used to determine average glucose levels for the previous 3 months. Lowered A1c levels reflect improved diabetic control.
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One-sentence summary -- Ask your doctor before adding herbs. Buy quality herbs and supplements. Try bitter melon to possibly help with insulin. Consider Gurmar to possibly help regulate your blood sugar. Look into prickly-pear cactus. Add cinnamon to help with your blood sugar.

Foam paintbrushes are perfect for getting deep into the spaces between your air conditioner vents' slats. They're inexpensive and available at your nearest home improvement, craft, or dollar store. You could also purchase a set online. Combine equal parts of warm water and white vinegar. Try using lemon-scented cleaning vinegar if the smell bothers you. If you can't find lemon-scented vinegar, add a teaspoon of lemon juice to your cleaning solution. Dab a foam brush in your cleaning solution and press it between your vent slats to remove dust and grime. Rinse your brush as needed to remove the debris it accumulates, or simply use another brush. Finish by wiping the vents down with a dry brush if you've left any excess cleaning solution. Wash your used brushes with warm water and a dab of dish detergent. Squeeze them out and rinse well to remove excess soap. Let them dry, place them in a plastic baggie, and store them in your glove compartment for quick use.
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One-sentence summary --
Purchase a set of foam paintbrushes. Create a homemade cleaning solution. Insert the foam brush between each vent slat. Rinse and dry used brushes.