Distraction is a mechanism used to avoid dealing with difficulties and feelings in our lives. Some distractions that are considered unhealthy include eating junk food when stressed or turning to alcohol or drugs. For example, if you have an anger management problem, you might turn to drugs to handle your overwhelming feelings. It’s healthier to acknowledge and let go of the negative feeling that you’re experiencing. You can still use a distraction, but know that the distraction is drawing you away from something that may need to be processed. Otherwise, you’re just covering up or ignoring the negative emotion you’re feeling. If you have an addiction, you might use a distraction to prevent yourself from using more.  This need for distraction happens because you’ve acknowledged the negative feelings of wanting to use. You are making a conscious decision to positively address your addiction.  Count to 100 to buy yourself time when you feel the desire to use drugs or alcohol. Use a distraction to give yourself a time-out before you deal with the negative feelings. Your natural inclination to a stressful situation or feeling might be to engage in an unhealthy distraction. You might want to eat too much junk food, for example, or drink too much alcohol. It’s fine to distract yourself after acknowledging the feeling. But choose more productive activities so that you’re treating your body and mind with respect and care. These might include:  Taking a walk Eating some fruit instead of a candy bar Reading a book Cleaning up your desk

Summary: Know that distraction can be an unhealthy response. Acknowledge the feeling that you’re having. Recognize that distractions can help you through unhealthy responses. Transform your response into a healthy distraction.


Depending on the location of your rash, it may not be possible for you to keep it exposed all the time. Loose fitting clothing that barely grazes the surface of your skin will help keep your skin cool.  Keep dry washcloths or towels on hand so you can dry your skin when it becomes moist. It can also help to have a fan blowing on the area. If the rash is on your feet, set your shoes outside in the sun to dry whenever the weather is clear. Not only will this keep your shoes dry, it will also eliminate odor. Placing gauze or cotton in between the folds of skin where intertrigo has developed keeps the folds from rubbing together and creating friction that can worsen your rash. It also helps keep the skin dry. If you tape the gauze or cotton to your skin, use surgical tape and make sure you don't put any tape on the rash itself. Powdering your skin will help it stay dry throughout the day, particularly if you won't have opportunities to dry it. Talcum powder also works if the rash develops in a place where you normally sweat, such as your armpits or your feet.  For example, you can find inexpensive medicated foot powder at a local drug store, or you can just use regular corn starch. Make sure your skin is clean and completely dry before you apply talcum powder. If your rash is on your feet, you can also put talcum powder or anti-fungal powder in your shoes to absorb the moisture. Skin barrier protectors, such as zinc oxide ointment, can help protect your skin and keep the rash from spreading or getting worse. You can find these ointments at any grocery store or pharmacy, or buy them online.  Many of these ointments are packaged and advertised for use for diaper rash, which is a type of intertrigo. They work for adults as well. Although it's messy, it's okay to use both zinc oxide ointment and cornstarch powder at the same time. Using them together will increase their effectiveness. Rashes that are caused by a fungus and become infected may get better if you use an anti-fungal cream or spray. You can buy these online or at a drug or grocery store.  If you think you may have an infection, you really need to visit your healthcare provider. Keep in mind that an infection is contagious, so you could be spreading the rash. Anti-fungal creams won't necessarily work for all rashes. It's worth trying, but if you have a reaction or the rash gets worse, stop using the cream immediately. Petroleum jelly serves as a barrier to keep moisture from the rash. It also keeps your skin from rubbing together and creating as much friction as it would otherwise.  After physical activity, take a shower and wash all of the petroleum jelly off, then make sure you've dried your skin completely. Petroleum jelly works best for people who occasionally get a rash during sports. However, it might make the situation worse if you have recurring intertrigo. Take a shower using a gentle, unscented soap that is safe for sensitive skin. Dry your skin completely after your shower, and avoid applying moisturizers or lotions that will lock moisture into your skin. Make sure your skin is completely dry before you put on clothes. Otherwise, that moisture will become trapped in the folds of your skin and can worsen your rash.

Summary: Keep your skin dry and exposed to air if possible. Separate skin surfaces with gauze or cotton. Use talcum powder to dry the affected area once or twice a day. Try a barrier ointment if the rash is not infected. Use anti-fungal creams if the rash is infected. Cover the area with petroleum jelly before physical activity. Wash your skin thoroughly every morning and evening.


Give yourself time to think about what you really want. Consider what happened, how you feel, and what he said during your conversation. Then, make a decision that’s right for you. If you know you want to end things, it’s okay to go ahead and do that. However, don’t feel like you need to make the decision quickly if you aren’t sure. Your boyfriend’s cheating might make you lose trust, which is understandable. If you’re unable to trust him, your relationship may not be fixable. Consider if you feel like you can work through this or not. Then, decide if you want to break up or stay together. It’s okay to get advice from other people, but make the decision that feels right to you. so you can feel better. Take as much time as you need to forgive. Then, do it so that you feel better, not for him. When you feel ready, tell him that he’s forgiven or write it in a letter that you never send. This will help you move on.  You might say to him, “What you did hurt me so much, but I’ve chosen to forgive you and move on.” Forgiving him is not about forgetting what happened or saying it’s okay. It’s your way of telling him that you aren’t going to let him affect your future. If you want to work things out, you’ll have to leave the cheating episode in the past. That means not bringing it up when you’re angry or feel hurt by him. Do your best to focus on your future together, not your past. For instance, you might be tempted to accuse him of cheating every time he’s late. If you do this, it’ll ruin your relationship. It’ll take time to get the trust back in your relationship, but it’s possible. Work with him to rebuild your trust by talking every day and spending more time together. Additionally, follow through on your promises and hold him accountable for his. For instance, if he promises to take you on a date, remind him to do so. Similarly, if he promises to text you at certain times of the day, text him if he forgets. if you decide to end the relationship. It might be best for you to break up with your cheating boyfriend, especially if he’s cheated more than once. If you make the decision to break up with him, talk to him in person. Tell him how you feel and that you think it’s time for you to end the relationship and focus on your future. Say, “After you cheated, my feelings for you changed. I’m really hurt and angry over what happened, and I can’t be in this relationship anymore. I’m ending this so I can focus on my happiness.”
Summary: Take time to think over your decisions. Decide if you can continue the relationship or not. Forgive him Focus on the future if you want to rebuild the relationship. Restore the trust you lost when he cheated. Break up with him