Research has shown that people have a more difficult time blocking unwanted thoughts when they believe that they should be able to do so easily. When it was explained to them that blocking any though, even positive ones, is difficult, it was much easier for them to block out the thoughts they wanted to ignore. So relax, and don't put so much pressure on yourself. The pressure will only bring bad thoughts back to you! Research has shown that if we try too hard to distract ourselves from otherwise normal unpleasant thoughts, our minds can focus on them so much that they become destructively bad, obsessive thoughts. Another study showed that subjects who distracted themselves from bad thoughts with music were eventually soured on the experience of music itself.  A normal unpleasant thought might be a "what if" scenario about something undesirable happening, like a burglary. This is, in fact, a very natural, and useful thought, as it can remind us to lock our doors and windows at night and not take risks with our safety or the safety of those we love. It's when this thought becomes irrational – you never leave your house, buy two pitbulls, and install a security system even though you live in a quiet, low-crime neighborhood – that it reduces your quality of life. Instead of trying to distract yourself every single time you have a bad thought, let them run their course. If it is a normal unpleasant thought, you can acknowledge it and, if necessary, take action (your thought about being burglarized reminds you that you didn't lock the back door, so you go and lock it.) You can also try thanking your brain for trying to protect you, and move on. If the thought does not go away, then you can practice the process outlined in methods one and two to help you resolve them. We all have undesirable or counter-productive thoughts from time to time. It will be easier to deal with bad thoughts if you have a plan in place for how you'll react if they pop into your mind unbidden. Your strategy should follow the formula: “If X thought pops into my mind, I will do Y action.”  The action might be as simple as, "I will acknowledge it and not engage with it at the moment." You might get up and do a physical activity that occupies your mind every time you have a bad thought — 50 jumping jacks, for example. Use coping strategies to deal with undesirable or counter-productive thoughts and emotions such as: getting out in nature, creating art, writing, exercising, or praying. Mindfulness-based meditation is a great way to deal with bad thoughts. It will not "clear your mind" or stop the bad thoughts – it's impossible to control what might pop up in your mind, but it teaches you to examine those thoughts in a calm, objective manner. With practice, you will learn to dismiss the bad thoughts as they arise.  Find someplace with as few distractions as possible. Sit in a chair with your back straight, with your hands resting on your thighs. Close your eyes and focus on the blackness. If you see colors in the darkness, you can focus on those. Try to simply be aware of the present moment: how your body feels, the thoughts that come and go. The idea is to be in that moment with whatever thoughts may arise. When negative thoughts come, acknowledge them and try to examine them with detached curiosity. Where did this thought come from? Why do you believe this particular thought? Remind yourself that thoughts and feelings are impermanent, and your bad thoughts are not who you are. Do this for 20 minutes every day. Again, it will take some time to be able to observe your negative thoughts with detachment. Sometimes, writing an idea down and fleshing it out on the page helps your mind work through its problems. If a bad thought keeps coming back to you, journal about it. Keep journaling every day until the idea no longer takes up so much space in your mind. Don't make bad thoughts more important than they are. This is called cognitive diffusion. Everyone has thoughts that they don't want — it's nothing special. In fact, the simple act of not wanting a thought makes it take center stage in your mind, even if it's not a particularly bad thought. For example, try not to think of a cute puppy right now!  Do your best not to make a mountain out of a molehill. Accept that having a bad thought says nothing about you as a person, and it will leave your mind more quickly.
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One-sentence summary -- Accept that it's a challenge to block unwanted thoughts. Let them run their course. Create coping strategies. Practice meditation and mindfulness. Keep a journal. View your thoughts as hypotheses.


The top of the garment should be situated at the natural waist; the two aprons will overlap in the front. It should hang around your knee. Take your right arm and wrap it around your front. The edge of the right should meet up with the left, where there is a small hole in the lining for a strap to go through. Most kilts have a leather strap on the right apron, which is often called the under apron. Pull the strap through to the outside until it's comfortable. You should be just able to get your thumbs inside the waistband.  Fasten it to the buckle, just like a belt, at the outer edge of the left waist. With your left hand on your right hip, fasten the leather strap on the left apron, or front apron, to the buckles on the right; usually, there will be two. Do the top strap first. If your kilt features a third strap further down the right hip, fasten it to create a smooth fit across the stomach. Make sure it's not bunching toward the top or along the buckles. If you have buckled the kilt correctly, the fringed edge of the kilt should be along the right side and the kilt should be centered on the body. Most kilts feature a pivot point in the tartan in the center of the front apron. This is the place where the tartan pattern mirrors itself. This pivot point should be in the center of your body. It should have a good A shape to it. Adjust as necessary, making sure that you're comfortable and everything is laying correctly.
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One-sentence summary -- Wrap the kilt around your body with the pleats to the back. Fasten the kilt by buckling the aprons. Adjust the kilt.


It’s normal to have itchy skin after you shave, and it should go away on its own after a few days. However, it’s possible for your skin to develop an infection that needs treatment. See your doctor to get your skin checked so you can get the proper treatment.  You may have an infection if you have extreme redness, blisters, pus, cracked skin, pain, and swelling. Additionally, you may have other symptoms, such as fatigue or fever.  Tell your doctor that you started experiencing the itchiness after shaving, as well as how long it’s continued. Your doctor may be able to prescribe you a more powerful anti-itch cream if you need it. However, they’ll likely recommend that you try over-the-counter options first. If nothing else helps you, your doctor may give you corticosteroids for short-term itch relief. Your doctor is more likely to give you a prescription treatment if your skin has developed an infection, the itchy area is widespread, or the itch is greatly impacting your life. For instance, they may give you a prescription cream to relieve persistent itching after you try to shave your entire chest or back. If your skin has an infection, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic or antifungal cream to treat it. Take your prescription exactly as your doctor says, and be sure to finish it, even if you feel better early. It’s possible for an infection to rebound if you stop your medication too soon. Your doctor is more likely to give you a prescription treatment if you have bumps or sores around the area, which are a sign of an infection.
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One-sentence summary --
Visit your doctor if your itchy skin won’t go away. Ask about a prescription anti-itch cream or corticosteroids. Use an antibiotic or antifungal cream if your skin develops razor bumps.