INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If your loved one is abusing alcohol, you might use denial or rationalization. This might involve you telling yourself that their behavior isn't “that bad” or “at least” they aren't using illicit drugs. Denial and rationalization won't help them recover.  Instead of turning your head or ignoring the drinking, look at it head-on. See the problems that are cropping up in your loved one's life due to their drinking. Don’t just try to focus on other things because the person’s drinking will be like an elephant in the room. You'll feel more equipped to stop enabling if you get informed about the issue. Reading up on the signs and symptoms will likely force you to face the truth: your loved one is an alcoholic. It will also help you learn about the negative effects of enabling an alcoholic. One good resource for learning about alcoholism is the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Deep down enabling shows that you have little faith in your loved one's resilience or ability to change. But, they can change--because millions of other alcoholics have. Hear the stories of others who have recovered from alcoholism by attending an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting or visiting the website: https://www.aa.org/.  Your lack of faith may be apparent in comments like, “oh he's always been a heavy drinker” or “he got that from his dad.” No matter what the circumstances are, your loved one has to change. Enabling because you think they are stuck in these destructive habits only serves to keep them stuck. Another common reason you might enable an alcoholic is because you are blaming yourself for their circumstances. You think it's your fault, so you do whatever you can to “save” them out of guilt.  You must realize that you did not cause your loved one's alcoholism. While they may not have chosen to become an alcoholic, they did make the choice to drink in excess and they will have to make the choice to become sober. The responsibility lies with them. Keep learning about addiction. The more knowledge you develop, the more you will be able to be objective about the situation.

SUMMARY: See the alcoholism for what it is. Educate yourself about alcoholism. Believe that the person has the capacity to change. Resist the idea that you are responsible.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: After your practice session, you will likely have some rosin, sweat, and grime on your hands which you don’t want to accidentally transfer onto different parts of your violin. Cleaning cloths help prevent buildup of rosin and other substances and also keep your violin looking nice by removing fingerprints and other markings. You always want to have at least two soft, clean, lint-free cloths to wipe down the various parts of your violin.  Be sure to keep these cleaning cloths in your violin case so that they’re on hand at all times. You can buy cleaning cloths that are specially made for violin cleaning, such as SHAR or Glaesel, but you can also use what you have, such as flannel. Just be sure you are using a cloth that is soft and non-abrasive. It is important to wipe down the strings of your violin after each playing session because rosin can quickly accumulate and change the sound of your instrument. This is an easy step that should become a regular habit after practicing.  Using one cloth, wipe the rosin off each individual string, moving up and down each string in a sliding motion. Be sure to wipe off any rosin flakes that might break off during this step. If there is a build-up of rosin on your strings that you cannot wipe off, you can use pure alcohol to remove this. Put a few drops of alcohol on the cloth and rub on the strings, but be careful to ensure that the alcohol does not touch any other part of the violin as alcohol will damage the varnish. Just like on the strings, rosin can build up relatively quickly on the bow. You can use the same cloth you used for the strings as you are wiping away the same substance. Just as with the strings, simply take the cleaning cloth to wipe down the bow in the direction that the hairs are running in. Do not go against the grain, just wipe up and down using a light touch. The face of the violin refers to its body, excluding the strings or neck of the violin. You will want to use a different cloth for this step, as you want to avoid rubbing rosin or any other substance onto the violin. When wiping the F-holes, take care to ensure the cloth does not get caught in them. The woodwork of F-holes is delicate and can change or ruin the sound of the violin if damaged. The bridge of the violin is liable to have collected some rosin during your practice session. Use a cloth to dust the rosin out from under the bridge but maintain a light touch, as the bridge is very fragile. Try using a Q-tip for those spots that are especially hard to reach.

SUMMARY: Wash your hands. Get several cleaning cloths. Wipe down the strings. Wipe the bow. Wipe down the face of the violin. Clean the bridge.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Breath in slowly through your nose. You should see your lower abdomen and belly rise as you intake air into your lungs.Then breathe out slowly through your mouth. This process will slow the heartbeat and lower blood pressure. Imagine yourself in a situation where you are confidently facing your fear. Be very thorough with your visualizations. For example, visualize a specific set of stairs, who you are with, how each step feels etc. This will help you familiarize yourself with the scenario and build your confidence while reducing anxiety. Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can relax. Close your eyes and visualize a happy place. For example, a beach that you have visited. This will provide you with a coping mechanism to help manage anxiety levels. Although exercise will not cure your fear or phobia it will help with relaxation and managing anxiety levels. If your fear of stairs is closely related to a physical malady exercise may also help to strengthen your muscles which will make tackling stairs easier.   Exercise can lead to muscle development and improve your overall physical fitness. Yoga is an excellent exercise that will focus on relaxation and breathing as well as developing core strength and flexibility. Exercise releases endorphins that can result in a calming sensation and help reduce stress and anxiety levels. In some instances herbal remedies can also help to decrease stress and anxiety levels.  Kava is an herbal supplement that some studies have shown to be as effective as certain medications at reducing anxiety. It is recommended that you use Kava to treat anxiety under the supervision of a medical professional.   In some cases anxiety levels can be caused by nutrient deficiencies. For example, magnesium supplements and drinking water may help with reducing anxiety.

SUMMARY:
Try deep breathing. Visualize yourself conquering your fear. Practice meditation. Take part in regular physical exercise. Reduce stress through herbal medicines and dietary changes.