If your fear of stairs is debilitating and likely classified as a phobia it is best to consult a therapist or mental health professional. Most specific phobias, such as a fear of stairs, are treated through therapy:  Cognitive behavioural therapy: is a process of replacing your fears and anxieties with more rational thoughts. This therapy often involves learning relaxation techniques combined with a process known as systematic desensitization.  Exposure therapy: is a form of psychological treatment that acknowledges that exposure to feared objects, activities, and situations will help reduce fear and avoidance.   There are two methods commonly used in exposure therapy:flooding and desensitization. Flooding is when an individual confronts their fear or trauma all at once whereas desensitization takes a systematic approach and introduces an individual to their fear slowly one piece at a time. Some fears and anxieties need to be treated through medications. Your doctor can help assess your specific phobia and prescribe the appropriate medication. There are three general categories of medication that can be useful when treating fears and phobias:  Beta blockers: work by blocking the effects of adrenaline on your body. For example, they decrease elevated heart rate and blood pressure, as well as shaking limbs.   Antidepressants: or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) influence your mood by acting on serotonin chemical neurotransmitters in your brain and are often used to treat anxiety.   Sedatives: help you to relax by reducing anxiety levels. These medications should be used with caution because they can be highly addictive. It is recommended that if you have a history of substance abuse you should avoid sedatives as a form of anxiety treatment. Sometimes a fear of stairs is not directly linked to a phobia, but instead stems from another physical or medical issue that makes climbing or descending stairs physically strenuous. A physical injury, such as a torn ligament or muscle may influence your ability to navigate stairs. Speak with a doctor or physiotherapist in order to learn appropriate exercises and stretches catered to your injury.

Summary: Consider therapy. Try medication. Use physiotherapy.


Pose a question that compares two scenarios side-by-side, asking the player to choose one that they would hypothetically rather do.  For example, a question could be “Would you rather meet an alien visitor or travel to outer space?” or “Would you rather live one life that lasts 1,000 years or ten lives that last 100 years?”  The goal is to make questions very difficult to answer, either because a player cannot choose between two things they’d like to do, or because both options are bad or uncomfortable and he or she wouldn’t want to do either. Use a tactic of asking questions that pair together two different scenarios that are generally desirable to people.  For example, you could ask a question about super powers or special abilities, like, “Would you rather have the ability to fly or to be invisible?” or “Would you rather be able to speak fluently every language in the world or be the best in the world at something of your choosing?”  You can also provide a scenario that questions ethics, such as, “Would you rather end hunger or hatred?” or “Would you rather make headlines for saving somebody’s life or winning a Nobel prize?” Make questions humorously uncomfortable for people by asking questions that pose two different scenarios that are in some way undesirable.  Come up with scenarios that would be physically uncomfortable and absurd, like “Would you rather wear a snow suit in the desert or be naked in Antarctica?” or “Would you rather be without elbows or be without knees?”  Try a question that would be embarrassing for the other person, such as “Would you rather get caught singing in the mirror or spying on your crush?” or “Would you rather, on senior prom night, have to take your parent or your 12-year-old sibling?”

Summary: Create a dilemma of two similar things. Try offering two good options. Try offering two bad options.


If your pot cannot hold that much, fill it up as much as you can. Keep in mind that your soup will be more concentrated and that you may have to scale back on some of the seasonings. Even though you will be serving the soup clear, it still needs to have some flavor to it. Because you will be straining everything out of the soup later on, it is best to leave the vegetables whole or in large chunks. If you have not yet done so, get out your vegetables, and prepare them in the following ways:  Peel 4 large (or 6 small) beets, then cut them in half. Cut the stem off of 1 medium-sized carrot, then peel the carrot. If the carrot is too long for the pot, cut it in half. Cut the stem off of 1 medium-sized parsnip, then peel it. Peel 1 large onion, then cut it in half. Rinse 1 leek, then trim off the leaves. Cut it in half lengthwise. Peel a celery root, then cut it into fourths. Save one of the pieces for your soup, and save the rest for another recipe. Peel 8 garlic cloves. Do not crush or mince them. Place the prepared beets, meaty bones, carrots, parsnip, onion, leek, celery root, mushrooms, garlic, bay leaf and marjoram into the pot. There should be enough water in the pot to cover all of the ingredients. If there is not enough room in the pot for more water, take out some of the ingredients.  Start with 8 garlic cloves. You can always add more, if needed. For a spicier soup, add some peppercorns. Don't add the salt, pepper, lemon juice, or sour cream/yogurt just yet. You are ready for the next step when the meat falls off the bones and the vegetables turn soft. Place a colander or strainer over a new pot, then pour the borscht through it. Press the ingredients against the mesh with the back of a spoon or rubber spatula to strain out any excess liquid.  At this point, you can discard the meat and vegetables or save them for another recipe. Don't worry if some of the dried marjoram gets into the strained soup. If it is too watery and flavorless, let it boil over medium heat for 30 minutes, or until the flavor intensifies. If it is too flavorful, add more water. The ideal taste should be sour and somewhat garlicky, with beet-y sweet undertones. At this point, you can add in more seasonings, such as salt, pepper, lemon juice, or dried marjoram. You can also add a few more garlic gloves, then simmer the soup for another 1 to 2 minutes. At this point, do not let the soup boil, or it will discolor. Peel the garlic cloves first, then press them with the flat side of a knife before adding them in. Be sure to scoop them out before serving. If you'd like a richer borscht, stir in a spoonful of sour cream or yogurt.
Summary: Fill a large pot with up to 12 cups (2.8 liters) of water. Prepare the vegetables. Add the vegetables, meaty bones, herbs, and spices into the pot, then bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Scoop out any foam, then simmer the soup over low heat for about 2 hours. Strain the borscht into another pot. Give the borscht a taste. Stir in the lemon juice, season it with salt and pepper, then taste it. Serve the borscht in small bowls.