Q: ARFID is a clinical condition with both physical and psychological symptoms. Some of the most common behavioral warning signs include a fear of choking or vomiting when eating, avoidance of eating in public, and food pickiness that progressively gets worse. If you notice these symptoms in a loved one, talk to them about going to the doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.  People with ARFID may also wear thick or baggy clothing to hide weight loss, not be interested in or excited about food, or will only eat foods of a certain texture. Unlike many other eating disorders, ARFID generally isn't associated with body image issues. Having ARFID may prevent people from eating the foods that give them necessary nutrients. Beyond being underweight, people with this condition could experience many physical changes signaling that their health is being compromised by their eating disorder. These are troubling symptoms that require immediate treatment by a doctor. They include:  Stomach cramps and/or constipation. Menstrual irregularities if they're a girl or woman. Dizziness or fainting. Dry skin and nails. Muscle weakness. Feeling cold. Trouble recovering from minor wounds and/or illnesses. Abnormal lab results including anemia, low blood cell counts, and/or a slow heart rate. ARFID is still being studied by doctors and psychiatrists, so the treatments are relatively new. However, once the doctor has confirmed this diagnosis, they'll likely recommend working with a qualified psychiatrist who has experience addressing eating disorders. The psychiatrist will develop a plan to slowly build up to a diversified and healthy diet. This type of treatment will be long-term, so be patient if someone you love is struggling with ARFID.  Don't expect results or dramatic changes overnight. If ARFID has caused the health of someone you're close with to decline significantly, a hospital stay may be called for to provide them with vital nutrients and stabilization. The doctor will determine whether or not this is necessary. They may also prescribe supplements as a long-term solution for providing essential nutrients.
A: Spot behavioral signs associated with fears of eating. Watch out for weight loss and nutrition issues. Expect a psychiatrist to prescribe exposure therapy for problem foods. Seek medical treatment for your loved one to address nutritional deficiencies.

Q: Avoiding eye contact is the best way to ignore someone. Once you lock eyes, you're acknowledging that you know that person exists and are blowing your cover. If that person is near you, avoid their eyes at all costs by making sure to make eye contact with every person but them, looking straight ahead, or even looking at the floor.  If the person is shorter than you, then just stare right over their head. If the person's taller than you, make sure not to look up. If the person is the exact same height as you and standing nearby, try blurring your vision so you have a "dead" look in your eyes if you do lock eyes by accident. Another way to ignore someone is to walk as quickly as possible. This will show that you're a busy person with places to go, and that you have no intention of lingering around to catch up with the person you're ignoring. Walk with your arms at your sides and your head held high, like you're staring ahead at your next goal, even if you're really not going anywhere special.  If you see that person approaching from a distance, leave enough space between you so you don't brush up against that person. Don't go out of your way to walk away from that person. If you cross the street or duck into a hallway, that will make it look like you care too much. But if you see the person from a far distance and you're sure he doesn't see you, then you really should just try walking in the other direction. " If you happen to be near the person, fold your arms over your chest, cross your legs, slouch, and do anything you need to do to look completely unapproachable. Your body should say, "Don't talk to me, buddy," and hopefully the person will get the message.  Don't smile, either. Keep a straight face, or even a frown, planted on your face to look like you don't want to talk to anyone. You can also go for the creepy blank look on your face - that will scare anyone off from trying to talk to you. If you have longer hair, bangs, or a hat, try to keep part of your face covered to discourage the person from trying to make eye contact. As an alternative to looking closed off, you can also just look really, really busy, like you couldn't possibly talk to that person because you have your hands full and don't have a second of time to spare for a silly conversation with him.  If you're with friends, turn toward them and gesture wildly, looking so animated that you couldn't possibly stop to talk to the person you're ignoring - let alone to look at them. If you're alone, look engrossed in a book, magazine, or a textbook. You can even quietly read the words to yourself, looking like you're intent on memorizing them. Keep your hands full. Whether you're walking or sitting, hold your phone, textbooks, or even an unwieldy potted plant. This will discourage the person from trying to talk to you.
A: Don't make eye contact. Walk quickly. Look "closed off. Keep your body busy.

Q: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean-up. After pulling as much pulp away from the seeds as you can, place them in a bowl of water and wash the seeds clean. After washing, pat them dry with a towel. A little pulp on the seeds is fine. Put the seeds in a bowl with a teaspoon of olive oil, a teaspoon of fennel seeds (or whatever spice you like) and a pinch of salt. Toss the seeds until they’re evenly coated. Make sure they’re separated from each other; this will help them cook uniformly. The seeds should turn golden. The seeds may begin popping during baking. This is normal, but should be taken as a sign that the seeds are done cooking. Spiced seeds can go in a salad, in trail mix, or by themselves as an appetizer.
A: Preheat your oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Wash the pulp from the seeds. Toss the seeds in a bowl with oil and spices. Spread the seeds evenly onto the aluminum-covered baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Let the seeds cool down before you eat them.

Q: Lightning often strikes the tallest object in the area, so avoid open fields or any hilltops. Look for a low-lying area like a valley or ravine, preferably obscured from the rain. Take refuge here until the storm passes. Crouch down with your heels touching and your head between your knees: this will make you a smaller target. Do not lie down flat, and minimize your contact with the ground. Lightning can be fatal up to one hundred feet away from the initial strike. Check weather forecasts early in the day, and avoid going to a swimming pool, river, lake, or beach on rainy days. If you find yourself in open water during a thunderstorm, return to land immediately. If you are in a boat and cannot return to safety, drop anchor and crouch as low as possible.  Do not return to the body of water until thirty minutes after the last lightning strike. Any earlier, and the storm may not be over.  Indoor swimming is equally unsafe. Avoid all large bodies of water during a storm. Taller objects are more likely to be struck by lightning. Wherever you are, don't become the highest object anywhere. Avoid standing under trees in a lightning storm, and stay away from tall objects like light posts.  If you're in a forest, stay near a lower stand of trees.  Umbrellas can increase your risk of getting hit if it is the tallest object in the area. Metal conducts electricity, and you are much more likely to get hit. If you are carrying large metal objects, let them go. Small metal objects, like piercings or electronic devices, do not carry a large risk and are safe to hold.  If you are riding a bicycle, drop the bike and crouch to the ground. Most bikes are made of metal and are excellent lightning conductors.  Rubber shoes or other rubber objects will not actually protect you from metal's conducting properties.
A:
Stay away from open fields or hilltops. Avoid swimming or watersports on rainy days. Don't stand near trees or tall isolated objects. Avoid metal objects, like fences or exposed pipes.