Write an article based on this "Locate a professional therapist to help. Set therapeutic goals for yourself. Explore medication options. Build a strong support system. Accept yourself."
article: GAD is best treated by a mental health professional. If you are struggling with feeling tension, tight muscles and body aches, difficulty sleeping because your mind won’t shut off, feeling restless and jumpy, or having stomach problems it might be time to seek professional help. Obtain a referral or suggestion from a doctor, or trusted family member or friend. Licensed therapists are trained to help others learn to manage the anxiety that is impacting their lives.  If you feel you and your therapist are not a good fit, look for a different therapist. Every therapist is different and finding one with whom you feel comfortable is essential. Look for a therapist who practices cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy is one that is commonly used to treat generalized anxiety disorders, panic disorders, social anxiety disorders, and phobias. Your therapist will help examine and dispel the negative thought patterns that you have developed. Additionally, a therapy like art therapy might be just the right thing to help you shift your focus on creating art rather than worry. Commit to changing your behavior. In both psychotherapy and physical therapy, you will benefit from setting goals. Engage in it by allowing yourself to be open and vulnerable. Don’t abandon the process just because it gets difficult. Your hard work will pay off and leave you with a healthy sense of accomplishment.  Identify your objectives. For example, would you like to be more at peace about getting good grades in school? Tell the therapist that this is one of your goals. Reward yourself when you reach your goal. Your motivation will increase if you reward your accomplishments.  Adjust your objectives rather than give up. Continue to make new goals as it will keep you engaged in life. A medical doctor (M.D.) licensed to prescribe medication can discuss pharmaceutical options for treating GAD. Medication is intended to be used in tandem with therapy rather than on its own. Ideally, medication is used for a period of time to help you through the roughest part of the struggle. You work with your doctor and therapist to lessen and eventually eliminate the dose once you learn new techniques and strategies to manage your anxiety.  Your doctor or therapist may suggest: Buspirone (considered the safest drug for generalized anxiety disorder); Benzodiazepines (quick-acting but building a dependency is common); Antidepressants (slow-acting and may increase sleep difficulties and cause nausea).  Research the side effects before making a decision to commence taking any drug. Communicate substance abuse issues. Many people suffering GAD also suffer from other disorders. Some use non-prescribed drugs and alcohol to manage symptoms. You must discuss this matter with your doctor or therapist to ensure that you receive the help you need and avoid dangerous drug interactions. Surround yourself with people who care about you. This includes family, friends, and co-workers. Branch out and meet new people to expand your circle of support. You have learned so much through the therapeutic process that you feel resourceful and confident about managing your anxiety. A good support system will help you reduce stress and may boost your immune system. Personal struggles can leave you feeling bad about yourself. Unfortunately, since GAD involves worrying, you may be worrying that you are worrying too much. Anxiety and worry are a natural part of life, and you can learn to manage it rather than try to eliminate it or feel bad about yourself because of it. The cognitive behavior therapy you will be participating in will help you examine your thoughts and develop new more effective ways of thinking about yourself as well as helping you manage anxiety and worry.

Write an article based on this "Be aware of your feelings. Focus on breathing. Take a break. Use visualization. Use the right language."
article: Mindfulness in the work place is a great quality to cultivate. Being more mindful can make you more productive at work, and can also decrease your stress. One way to be more mindful is to check in with your emotions, and take note of how you feel when you're at work. Get in the habit of checking in with yourself. You may be stressed out during the day without even being aware of it. Be mindful, and pay attention to signs of tension. If you find your heart race increasing, or that your shoulders are tense, take a minute to remove yourself from the stressful situation and calm down. Being aware of your breath is very important to being more mindful. Taking deep, calming breaths can help you focus and can also help to lower your blood pressure. Before a big meeting, try taking some several deep breaths to gain your composure. Try setting aside two three minute periods per day to practice your breathing. You can do this at your desk. Simply set aside your work for three minutes and allow yourself to concentrate fully on breathing. Research shows that you are actually a more productive person when you allow yourself to take regular breaks. It is important to allow your brain to relax. Part of being mindful is realizing when you need to let your mind drift. It is ideal to take one ten-minute break every hour. If you can't manage that, try taking several thirty-second mini-breaks. During this brief timeouts, let your mind drift and indulge in some daydreams. This technique can help you be a less stressed, more effective person. Try visualizing yourself doing something great. Perhaps you are delivering an outstanding presentation or cooking an amazing dinner for your family. Whatever you see, make sure you are visualizing your best self. Pay attention to both your words and your body language. You want to communicate that you are present and connected to your co-workers, friends, and family. This will make you a more effective communicator, and increase your mindfulness.  Watch the words that you use in workplace conversations. When you use words like being "swamped" you are telling yourself and your co-worker that you are experiencing a negative situation. Be mindful, and use positive language. Try saying that your schedule is "full" instead. Breathing is an important part of your body language. If your breathing is erratic, it signals to your body and others that you are under stress. This is not a positive image to project.

Write an article based on this "Learn how to identify carpenter ants. Learn where carpenter ants live. Know where to look for carpenter ant activity."
article:
Carpenter ants are a group of ants belonging to the genus Camponotus, of which there are over 1,000 species. Carpenter ants live on every continent except for Antarctica and, as individual species, have a wide variety of differentiating features. However, certain traits common to the entire genus are useful to know when attempting to decide whether the ants in your home are carpenter ants or another variety. Some common traits to look for are:  Color: Usually red, black, or an intermediate shade Shape: Segmented with oval abdomen and boxy, thin thorax. The tops of carpenter ant thoraxes typically have a smooth, even curve, rather than an uneven or bumpy one. Size: Approximately 3/8”-1/2", depending on caste Antennae: Yes Wings: Typical worker ants do not have wings. However, relatively rare male drones may possess them. Carpenter ants can (and will) establish a nest inside or outside of any type of structure, but wooden homes are especially at risk because carpenter ants like to bore tiny tunnels into wood.  Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't eat wood - they only tunnel into the structure to create a nest. Because moist wood is easier than dry wood for carpenter ants to tunnel through, the interior locations of carpenter ants will often be near a moisture source, like a leaky sink or bath.  Sometimes, carpenter ants build a network of one or more satellite or parent colonies  outside a structure and travel between these colonies and their foothold indoors, entering the structure through small cracks or openings. In these cases, outdoor colonies will often be located in tree stumps, landscape timbers, wood piles or other sources of damp wood.  You can often locate carpenter ant trails between colonies in the early morning or early evening when the carpenter ants are foraging. There tracks are like a thin line. When carpenter ants tunnel, they can leave “frass", a substance resembling tiny wood shavings or sawdust, behind. Frass often contains dead insects. This can provide clues to their nesting location. If you come across small piles of frass in or around your house, carefully inspect the wood nearby for tunnels - probing the suspected wood with a thin screwdriver can reveal hollow spots. Though they usually nest in wood, if a carpenter ant colony is within the wall of your home, you may have a hard time finding it. If you suspect you have carpenter ants, it's a good idea to look for them in easily-accessible places where you are likely to find them. Certain common household sites are more supportive of carpenter ant activities than others - especially if these sites are damp and/or have access to food. Look for ants in the following areas:  Carpets – Check around doors, fireplaces, and other areas with easy access to the outside. Patios and foundations Areas with vegetation - Ants like to nest and forage in trails out of sight behind any vegetation, tree stumps, branches which rests against foundations, patios, etc. Pull back the vegetation to look for ants. When you find foraging ants, attempt to follow them back to their colony. Mulch and leaf litter can harbor numerous types of ants in addition to carpenter ants, such as pavement ants, fire ants, and Argentine ants. Rake mulch back from the ground to check for colonies.  Floors – Potted plants, compost bends, or any other suitable item that has ground contact can contain carpenter ants.