It's normal to be frustrated, confused, worried, or otherwise unhappy when you don't know how to help someone you love. It's not easy to watch someone struggle with problems they can't articulate. Give yourself time and space to feel your difficult emotions.  Reach out to a loved one, and explain that things have been tough lately. Once they're calm, say "What happened?", "What was bothering you?" or "How can I help you the next time this happens?"   If the person says "I don't know," you can ask specific questions (like "Should I help you take a break?") or you can encourage them to think about it and tell you later. Write a note to help them remember. If the autistic person can't speak or use AAC, then this takes top priority. Find a therapist who can teach them, so that they can start communicating their needs. It's possible that they've seen people struggle with similar or the same issue before, and that they can tell you how to help. If their advice focuses on controlling the person instead of understanding and accommodating them, then ignore it. You don't want to silence the distress and teach them to bottle it up. You want to help fix the problem. If you have autistic friends, explain what's been going on, and ask for advice. You can also go to the #AskingAutistics or #AskAnAutistic hashtags. While no autistic person is alike, many autistic people have similar experiences and can intuitively understand things that non-autistics may not get right away. An autistic person may be able to understand the situation and tell you what's wrong and how you can fix it.  If you're posting online, protect your autistic loved one's privacy by using a fake name.
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One-sentence summary -- Keep in mind that you're allowed to be upset. Ask the autistic person about it afterwards (if possible). Talk to a therapist, special ed teacher, parent, or other person who works with autistic people. Ask autistic adults.


Chamomile is a mild herb that shows some promise in fighting anxiety and depression. It’s most common as a tea, but there are also chamomile supplements that you can try as well. Chamomile is in the same plant family as ragweed, marigolds, daisies and chrysanthemums. If you’re allergic to these plants, then chamomile may cause a mild allergic reaction. This plant helps reduce excitability and nervousness, both of which make anxiety worse. It comes in capsule form, but can also be mixed with tea. Valerian root is another herb that may be effective for treating anxiety. While long-term studies are lacking, you can take it for a few weeks at a time and see if it helps your anxiety. Some preliminary studies suggest that passionflower is another useful remedy for anxiety. You can take the supplement as a capsule, or mix it in with boiling water to make your own herbal tea. John’s Wort if you also have depression. This supplement is used more often to treat depression, and its success with anxiety is limited. However, many people have both anxiety and depression, so St. John’s Wort supplements may help you in this case. Kava is also effective for treating anxiety, but long-term use or high doses can cause liver damage. Use this herb in small amounts and for a short period of time.
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One-sentence summary -- Drink chamomile tea. Use lemon balm to reduce nervousness. Take valerian as a supplement. Try passionflower tea or supplements. Use St. Take kava in small doses.


Use a microwave or stove to heat the water to temperature.
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One-sentence summary -- Heat 2 to 3 cups (470 to 710 ml) of water to 100 °F (38 °C).


Textiles that are very old, worn, or stained can be very useful for cleaning up around the house. Cut your textiles into 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm) squares, and use them instead of paper towels to clean counters and other surfaces. Textured fabrics, like terry cloth towels, can make good rags for washing dishes. If you’re the crafty type, you may want to save any old textiles with attractive patterns and reuse the parts that are in good condition. Keychains, handkerchiefs, and phone cases are all simple projects that can be made with fabric scraps. using pieces of old textiles. Quilting is a great way to use up fabric scraps of any size, especially if you have old items that have sentimental value. If you don’t have any experience quilting, consider taking a class and starting with a very simple pattern. This is a convenient use for any textiles that are too worn or stained to be presentable. You can put them in shallow cardboard boxes to create pet beds, or add them to the pet beds you already have for extra padding. If you have a sheet or tablecloth that is still in good condition but has a tear or stain that makes it unusable, cut out the damaged part and turn the rest into napkins. Cut 18 in × 18 in (46 cm × 46 cm) squares out of the sheet and make 1 in (2.5 cm) hems on the edges.  You can make a simple hem by folding each edge of the square back about 1 in (2.5 cm) and sewing it in place. This will keep the edges from fraying. It can be helpful to iron the fold so it stays in place while you sew it. Start by cutting the sleeves off, making each cut from the armpit to the collar. You should leave about 6 in (15 cm) of collar when you cut.  On the back side of the shirt cut a straight line across between the armpits. Fold the remaining piece of collar under about 1 in (2.5 cm), then sew it in place. The collar will now have a small hem that you can run a string or cord through, which you can tie around your neck to hold the shirt in place. If the hems or knees of your jeans have worn out, but they still fit well, they can be used as shorts. Put the jeans on and look in a full-length mirror to determine how long you want the shorts to be, and mark the length with a pen so you will know where to cut.  Use fabric scissors to make clean cuts. It’s a good idea to use a ruler or measuring tape to make sure your shorts are the same length on both legs. Cut the sleeves and collar off of your shirt and turn it inside out. Sew a straight line along the bottom, then sew over the line again to reinforce it. You can then turn the T-shirt right side out and use it as a tote bag, with the shoulders of the shirt acting as handles.
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One-sentence summary --
Cut old linens and T-shirts up for rags. Use colorful fabric scraps for jewelry and art projects.  Make a quilt Turn old clothing into pet bedding. Make napkins out of an old sheet or tablecloth. Cut an old T-shirt into a  halter top. Turn ripped jeans into shorts. Make tote bags out of old T-shirts.