Fear about exposure to rats, or the potential for exposure, may become too strong and begin to overwhelm your life. If this is the case, look for a therapist to discuss your phobia and get you more treatment. Before you visit the therapist, you should list all the ways you feel fear when exposed to rats, situations where you feel that fear, and any steps you may have taken so far to overcome it. Additionally, make a note of any changes in your life or lifestyle, and any medications, vitamins, or supplements you are taking. This is called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Your therapist will likely give you homework assignments, where you will be thinking, writing, and talking about your fear of rats. As your therapist helps you to understand the irrationality of your fear, he will also slowly expose you to the thing you are afraid of. You will begin to learn acceptable behaviors that may bring you close to your fear, but won't expose you to anything actually dangerous. Your phobia may be too strong, making behavior medication the best option. These could come in the form of beta-blockers, which reduce the flow of adrenaline into your body, antidepressants, which block the chemical production in your brain to regulate behavior, or sedatives, which will help you relax. Follow the dosage and treatment time as given by your therapist, which should help to see if the drugs help as intended.  When you discuss drugs, make sure you tell your therapist all other medications you are taking. Ask about how long it should take to feel the effects, and what the side effects may be. It can be a good idea to get an after-hours number for your doctor in case you develop troublesome side effects.  Like many prescription drugs, these can be very addictive, especially sedatives, and should be taken only under your therapist's supervision. If therapy and drugs aren't working, your therapist may suggest some alternative forms of treatment. These could include a variety of meditation and relaxation techniques, including yoga, traditional Chinese medical practices like acupuncture, or natural herbal supplements. These treatments can be helpful in reducing general anxiety, which may make it easier to confront your fears, like rats.

Summary: Schedule an appointment with a therapist. Prepare for your appointment. Work with the therapist to think about your fears. Take medication as prescribed. Consider alternative treatments.


Earaches are very common, and you probably don't need to worry. However, you may need medical treatment if you have a fever or serious symptoms. Visit your doctor if you or your child show signs of a fever, feel hot and shivery, have an earache in multiple ears, feel fluids draining from your ears, feel something stuck in your ear, experience hearing loss, or have a sore throat and vomiting. A minor earache should go away in a day or 2. If your earache persists, you likely need additional treatment. Visit your doctor or an urgent care center if you have an earache that doesn't go away. Your doctor will figure out what's causing your earache so you get the correct treatment. Talk to them about your treatment options, which might include natural treatments. Sometimes earaches are triggered by an accident, such as when you hit your head. If this happens, you need to see a doctor immediately. Make a same-day appointment with your doctor, go to an urgent care center, or visit an emergency room to get treatment. You may notice pain, buzzing, or ringing after an accident. Get these symptoms checked by your doctor. In some cases, earache symptoms can last 1-2 weeks and may affect your ability to work, drive, eat, and sleep. If this happens, it's best to see an ENT specialist to find out exactly what's causing your symptoms. Get a proper diagnosis and talk to the ENT specialist about your treatment options.  Your specialist may prescribe ear drops or other medications to treat your earache. For children, the ENT specialist may recommend putting tubes in their ears to drain away fluid that can cause infections. This is a common procedure that is fairly simple.

Summary: See your doctor if you or your child has a fever or severe symptoms. Get medical treatment for an earache lasting longer than 3 days. Seek immediate treatment if you've had an accident. Consult an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for persistent earaches.


If you determine — through a macronutrient calculator — that you currently eat more than 30 grams of carbs daily, look for ways to decrease your carb intake. It’s crucial to avoid carbs on a ketogenic diet, as carbs easily convert into glucose, which keeps your body from burning ketones for energy.  You should only receive about 5–10% of your daily calories from carbohydrates, by eating about 20 – 30 grams a day.  Focus on getting your carbs through salad greens and non-starchy vegetables only. Avoid carb-heavy foods like pasta and bread. Protein is a necessary part of your diet, and without proteins, you will have very little energy. You may also feel hungrier or develop food cravings throughout the day. However, too much protein will diminish the weight-loss effects of a ketogenic diet.  You should aim to consume about 25 – 30% of your daily calories from proteins.  The amount of protein you eat will vary depending on how much protein you require as an individual. This is often tied to lifestyle, whether active or sedentary. Fats are the cornerstone of the ketogenic diet, and will encourage your body to burn fatty ketones for fuel. Typically, calories from fat should comprise 80 – 90% of your meals. (However, you cannot eat unlimited fats on a ketogenic diet; the calories can still add up and cause weight gain.) Examples of fatty foods include:  Organic butter and lard Coconut oil Fatty cuts of organic, grass-fed meat. Egg yolks and full-fat sour cream Homemade mayonnaise Heavy whipping cream and cream cheese Avocados and bacon Nuts and nut butters Unlike many other weight-loss diets, you do not need to actively keep track of the number of calories in the dishes you eat while on a ketogenic diet. Since a ketogenic diet reduces food cravings throughout the day, you’ll likely be less motivated to eat excess calories anyway.  If you do want to track your calories, use the following breakdown as a guide (assuming that you’ll consume about 1,500 calories a day):  1,050 calories from fat 300 calories from protein 150 calories from carbohydrates Once your body is in ketosis, your kidneys will begin to release excess water which your body had been retaining. This retained water is a consequence of a high-carb diet, and once you reduce your carb intake, water retention will decrease as well.  As a consequence, you may need to increase your daily water intake to avoid dehydration. Headaches and muscle cramps are a sign of dehydration. You may also need to increase mineral intake, especially salt and magnesium, as these are often lost when your body gets rid of retained water.
Summary: Eat as much as 20 or 30 grams of carbs daily. Eat 2 – 8 ounces of protein several times a day. Eat fats with all your meals. Don’t stress too much about calories. Stay hydrated.