Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Reduce sensory input to help an overwhelmed autistic person. Touch them only if they are okay with it. Try massaging an autistic person who wants to be touched. Let them stim safely as much as they need to. Offer to apply gentle pressure to their body.

Answer: Often, autistic people have problems with sensory input; they hear, feel, and see things much more intensely than others do. It is as if the volume for everything has been turned up.   Turn off distracting devices like TVs or radios (unless the autistic person tells you that they want it on). Try dimming the lights. Let them hide in small places if they want. For example, if they want to hide in a closet or shut themselves into a cupboard with their phone, let them. (Just make sure that they can get out on their own.) Hold them, rub their shoulders, and show affection. Use firm touch, instead of light touch, because this is more reassuring. It could help them calm down. If they say or show they don't want to be touched, don't take it personally; they simply can't handle touch at the moment.  You can offer a hug by spreading your arms and seeing if they come to you. If you hug them, and they stiffen or push away, let them go. Maybe they aren't able to handle the sensory input of hugging right now, or maybe your clothes have a texture that's uncomfortable to them. Many autistic people have benefited from massage therapy. Help them into a comfortable position, gently squeeze their temples, massage their shoulders, rub their backs, or their feet. Keep your movements gentle, soothing, and careful. They may direct you to areas that they want you to touch, such as by pointing at their shoulders or squeezing their face. Stimming is a series of repetitive movements that are calming mechanisms for autistic people. Examples of stimming include hand flapping, finger flicking, and rocking. Stimming is a crucial self-calming mechanism during emotional distress.   If they are hurting themselves, see if you can redirect them to doing something safer (like hitting couch cushions instead of their head). Don't restrain them, no matter what they are doing. Grabbing and holding an autistic person against their will is dangerous, especially when the person is in fight-or-flight mode. Both of you could get seriously hurt during the autistic person's attempts to break free. If the person is sitting up, stand behind them and cross your arms over their chest. Face your head sideways and rest your cheek on them head. Squeeze them tightly, asking them if they want you to squeeze less or more tightly. This is called deep pressure, and it should help them relax and feel better.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Eat a healthy snack before dining out. Use to-go containers at restaurants. Plate takeout food rather than eating out of the box.

Answer: Never show up at a restaurant or party hungry! It’s much harder to control your portions when you’re hungry or chatting away with friends. Consider snacking on hummus and carrots, yogurt, or fruit and low-fat cheese before leaving home. Most restaurant portions are twice the necessary size. Ask for a to-go container shortly after your food arrives to remind yourself not to eat it all. Before digging into your meal, set a goal for how much to bring home--such as 3 slices of pizza or half of a chicken dish. It’s almost impossible to estimate how much you’re eating when you’re sharing multiple cartons of takeout with friends. Dish your food onto a plate and evaluate how much you really need.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Know how to identify a tick and its preferred environment. Gather the correct tools before you look for ticks. Make sure your pet is in calm and happy state. Search your dog for ticks. Use a comb if your dog’s hair is very thick or curly.

Answer:
Ticks enjoy tall grass and low shrubs. Some ticks are very small— almost flea sized—while others are much larger. Ticks are generally black or brown and oval in shape. Like spiders and scorpions, they belong to the group of arthropods called arachnids, and they have eight legs. You will need a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and a jar filled with alcohol. You will also want to have some disinfectant around such as a chlorhexidine solution (Nolvasan) or povidine iodine solution (Betadine) to clean the wound after removing the tick from your pet.  If you live in an area where ticks are common, you may also want to get a device designed to remove ticks. These clever instruments looks like a spoon with a notch cut into the side and works great to remove ticks off people and pets. Though a common belief, you cannot actually kill ticks by flushing them down the toilet. The only way you can properly kill them is to put them in alcohol or spray them with flea and tick spray. Removing ticks isn’t fun for your dog either. Give him his favorite toy to chew on and a treat or two (along with your love and affection) before you get started. You should check your canine friend for ticks whenever he has been somewhere that is known to have ticks (hiking trails, yards with tall grass, etc.) You should feel for small bumps with your hands and look for dark, circular bumps with your eyes. Begin your search on the top of your dog's back and move down each side towards his chest and belly. Be sure to search in and around his:  Legs Between his toes and pads of his feet Under his legs (armpits), belly, chest, and tail On top of, inside, and under the ears Face and on the crown of the head Chin The front of the neck If you have a hard time going through your pet’s hair, you might want to enlist the help of a fine-toothed comb to search your dog for ticks. If that doesn’t seem to work, you can set a blowdryer on cool and use that to part your dog’s hair. Just be aware that some dogs are afraid of hairdryers. You should use these instruments in addition to your hands since feeling the bumps is still the best method.