| How to Help a Depressed Boyfriend Posted: 26 Aug 2016 05:00 PM PDT It can be quite challenging to help a loved one through depression. When this person is your boyfriend, you will feel your own emotional pain. Your boyfriend may be angry and lash out at you often. He may even try to withdraw from you completely. You may feel neglected, or even to blame for your boyfriend's depression. Learn how to assist your boyfriend through this trying time while still taking time out to care for yourself, too. EditHaving a Candid Discussion - Recognize his symptoms. The ways men experience depression are slightly different than women. If you notice most or all of the following symptoms, your boyfriend may be suffering from depression.[1]
- Being tired most of the time
- Losing interest in things once enjoyed
- Getting irritable or angry quickly
- Having trouble concentrating
- Feeling anxious
- Overeating, or not eating at all
- Experiencing aches, pains or digestive problems
- Having difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
- Being unable to meet responsibilities at school, work or home
- Having thoughts of suicide
- Share your concerns. Maybe your boyfriend doesn't seem to be aware of his mood lately, but after weeks of observing him, you're confident he's struggling with depression. Go to him in a non-confrontational way and ask to talk.
- Some ways to start a conversation may include: "I have been feeling concerned about you over the past few weeks" or "I've noticed some differences in your behavior lately, and I want to talk to you."[2]
- If there is tension between you and your boyfriend, refrain from bringing up the notion of his depression. This could come off as accusatory and cause him to shut down.
- Use "I" statements to avoid blame. It is natural for men with depression to be argumentative or angry.[3] He may demonstrate these characteristics no matter what you do. However, if you approach him in a loving, nonjudgmental manner, he may be willing to listen.
- It can be easy to come off as blaming or judging your boyfriend if you are not careful with your language. A statement like "You have been really mean and irritable lately" might cause him to become defensive.
- Use an "I" statement - that focuses on your own emotions - instead, such as "I am worried that you may be depressed because you haven't been sleeping at all. Plus, you're avoiding your friends. I would like us to talk about ways we can get you feeling better."
- Listen to him and affirm his feelings.[4] If your boyfriend decides to open up to you about what he is experiencing, know that this takes courage. Strive to help him open up by letting him know that he is safe to share his feelings with you. If he talks to you, listen attentively, making sure to nod or respond reassuringly. Afterwards, summarize what he said and repeat it back to him to show you were listening.
- For example, you might say "It sounds like you have been feeling really agitated and can't get yourself out of this state. Thank you for sharing that with me. I am sorry that you have to go through this, but I will do whatever I can to help you."
- Ask safety-related questions. If your boyfriend is struggling with depression, he may have thoughts of hurting himself.[5] Even if he does not have thoughts of suicide, your boyfriend could be engaging in risky behaviors, such as driving recklessly or using drugs or excessive amounts of alcohol to self-medicate. Be straightforward in your concern about your boyfriend's safety and wellbeing. You might ask the following questions:[6]
- Are you having thoughts of hurting yourself?
- Have you ever tried to commit suicide in the past?
- What plan do you have for ending your life?
- What means do you have to hurt yourself?
- Get your suicidal boyfriend emergency assistance. If your boyfriend's responses indicate a clear desire to end his life (along with a detailed plan and means to carry it out), you need to get him help right away. If you are in the US, call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.[7]
- You might also call 911 or a local emergency services number if you believe your boyfriend is an immediate threat to himself.
- Have someone remove any items that could potentially be used as a weapon. And make sure someone stays with him at all times.
- Express your readiness to support him. A depressed person may feel incapable of asking for help, no matter how badly he requires it. Extend a helping hand to your boyfriend by asking what how you can support him, how you can help him relieve stress, and whether you can run errands or take him somewhere.[8]
- Keep in mind that he may not have any idea what you can do to help. With that being said, asking something like "How can I be there for you right now?" could allow him to tell you what support should look like for him.
- Help him seek treatment for depression.[9] Once your boyfriend has accepted the notion that he is, indeed, depressed, you will want to encourage him to get treatment. Depression is a treatable illness quite similar to many medical conditions. With proper professional assistance your boyfriend can enjoy improvements in his mood and functioning. Offer to help him search for a psychologist or psychiatrist, and, if he likes, accompany him to his doctor's appointments.
EditFacilitating Your Boyfriend's Recovery - Suggest a physical activity to do together. In addition to medication or psychotherapy, physical exercise can be very effective at improving the mental health states of people with depression. Staying active provides mood-enhancing chemicals called endorphins that can make your boyfriend feel better about himself. It can also provide a positive distraction from some of the negative thoughts and feelings he has that contribute to his mood.[10]
- Consider a shared activity that you and your boyfriend can do together that will provide health-promoting benefits to the both of you. Suggestions might include new fitness class in the gym, a home workout program, running in the park, or participating in group sports.
- Ensure he is eating healthy foods. Researchers believe there's a connection between diet and depression. This doesn't mean that your boyfriend's late-night junk food habit caused him to feel so low, but, it does imply that maintaining this unhealthy habit could keep him stuck in a negative mood state.[11]
- Help your boyfriend stock his fridge with heart and brain healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, fish, and limited amounts of meats and dairy which have been associated with lower rates for depression.
- Help him discover ways to manage stress.[12] You can help your boyfriend minimize the stress in his everyday life by introducing him to healthy stress coping skills. Firstly, ask him to write down all the things in his life that are causing him stress or anxiety. Then, work together to brainstorm ways you can reduce or eliminate these stressors. Next, create a list of go-to strategies he can incorporate into his daily life to relax and keep stress at bay.[13]
- Possible activities that may help him to manage stress include deep breathing, going for walks in nature, listening to music, meditating, writing in a journal, or watching funny movies or videos.
- Recommend he keep a mood journal. Creating a mood chart can help your boyfriend get in touch with his feelings, and become more aware of how he feels from day to day. People with depression can track their sleeping and eating habits to look for patterns that lead to negative mood states. Your boyfriend can also write down his thought patterns and feelings each day to spot fluctuations in his mood.[14]
- Help him connect with others. Both men and women who are dealing with depression tend to withdraw socially. Unfortunately, maintaining social connections can actually help depressed persons reduce feelings of isolation and fight depression.[15] Come up with activities that you and your boyfriend can do with others so that he can forge new bonds. Or, talk to his existing friends and encourage them to get together.
- Steer clear of enabling your boyfriend. Yes, your boyfriend will have to recover in his own time and in his own way. However, you may worry that you are enabling him to continue the cycle of depression. If you are doing so much for your boyfriend that it removes any potential for him to gather the strength to do for himself, then you might need to back off.
- Try being supportive instead of enabling.[16] Gently push your boyfriend to be physical active, join in on social activities, or get some fresh air, without demonstrating "tough love" or neglecting him. Your boyfriend wants you to show empathy and love, but he does not need for you to take all the responsibility of healing away from him.
EditTaking Care of Yourself - Don't take your boyfriend's depression personally. Remember that depression is a complex illness, and you can't control the way your boyfriend feels. It's natural to feel helpless or pain when you see him hurting. Still, you should not take what he's going through as a sign that you are lacking something, or that you aren't a great girlfriend.
- Strive to stick to your regular routine as much as possible, making sure that you are fulfilling your own responsibilities at work, school, or home.
- Also, set clear limits of what you can and cannot do for him. You may feel guilty, but, know that you are not responsible for making him feel better. Trying to do too much might jeopardize your own health and well-being.[17]
- Acknowledge that you can't "fix" him, but you can support him. No matter how much you may love and care for your boyfriend, you alone cannot help him.[18] Believing that you can "fix" him will only set you up for failure, and may even irritate your boyfriend if you are treating him like some sort of project.
- Aim to just be there, and offer your assistance and support wherever needed. Your boyfriend will have to overcome depression in his own time.
- Find a support system. Your boyfriend's depression is such a huge battle to fight that it may seem like he hardly has any energy to put into the relationship. Supporting him during this time may cause you to put your own emotions aside. This is hard for the both of you, and you need to seek support as well.[19] Join a support group, maintain regular social activities with supportive friends, or talk to a counselor if you need to.
- Practice daily self-care. It can be easy to spend so much time caring your boyfriend that you forget to care for yourself. Try not to neglect participating in activities that are enjoyable to you such as reading, spending time with friends, or taking a hot bath.[20]
- And, don't feel guilty for taking time out for yourself. Remember, you won't be of any help to him, if you are neglecting yourself.
- Prove to him that you are strong and independent enough not to rely on him. If he is worried about how you will cope without his attention, he will find it harder to be honest with you and focus on getting better.
- Be patient. Hopefully, your guy will feel better soon enough, and, perhaps, your relationship will be renewed with a sense of closeness and trust. He will likely love you even more for standing by him.
- Watch out if depression is very frequent or habitual, or if it starts becoming part of the guy's general character. He might need medical assistance. Also this might end up making him overly dependent on you, which is not healthy. If the depression gets serious (suicidal thoughts, etc.), it's time to involve someone who can help.
- In some cases, you might be accused of ulterior motives, or he might start distrusting you. Don't take it personally. Wait until his depression improves, and then bring it up. Tell him how his accusations hurt you (use "I" statements), and how you would like for him to refrain from doing that in the future. The same goes for rude behavior on his part when depressed.
- If he asks you to leave him alone for a while, respect his need for space. However, have family and friends keep a close check on him if you fear he may be a danger to himself.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Make a Sales Presentation Posted: 26 Aug 2016 09:00 AM PDT An effective sales presentation not only educates prospective customers about your product or service, but it also explains how you can meet a customer's specific needs and help him achieve his goals. Creating a successful sales presentation requires thorough research and careful preparation. Time invested in doing your homework will lead to a higher percentage of closed sales. EditPreparing Your Research - Organize your information in advance. Make a list of all of the information you need and where to find it. Itemize and gather all of the necessary materials. Plan your research process and devise a system for keeping all of your information organized.[1]
- Keep separate files for product information, company information and details about your prospective customers.
- Include lists of sources for all of your data so can refer back to them as needed.
- Create an organized filing system and naming conventions for your files so you can access them as needed.
- Research the product or service you are selling thoroughly. Learn about the product inside and out, and strive to keep abreast of any new developments. Ask questions and read all available literature. Train yourself on the use of the product if appropriate. Learn the features of your product or service and the potential benefits to your specific customer. Don't rely on jargon or buzzwords to describe your business. Rather, assume your client has no prior knowledge about your company, and be prepared to discuss it in detail.[2]
- Take care to distinguish between features and benefits. A product or service can have many features, many of which are not important to a prospective customer. The salesman's task to show how a specific feature will have a meaningful benefit to the prospect.
- For example, features may include cost, size, usability, lack of maintenance, easy repair, or warranty, among others.
- Have an exhaustive understanding about how the product is manufactured and packaged.
- Know the history of your product and learn about any advances in product development.
- Familiarize yourself with shipping procedures and policies.
- Study the history of your company and how it has grown, and be prepared to discuss your company's values.
- For services, identify important features and benefits like peace of mind, security, cost, ease of use, etc.
- Gather as much information as possible about the strengths and weaknesses of your competition. Understanding who you're up against will make your presentation more meaningful. It will allow you to respond to questions and objections about how your company can better meet the needs of your prospective customer. If your prospect is already working with your competition, identify key differences that set you apart. These differences can be either product/service based or company-based. If required, a salesman can distinguish himself from other salesmen. Compel your customer to invest in you because of the higher value you offer.[3]
- To beat a competitor, first try to determine their competitive advantage. That is, why customers buy their products rather than yours. Again, it is not the features that count but the perceived benefit that the customer expects to receive from the purchase.
- Scrutinize the details of their product or service and how yours compares. If you are a caterer, for example, determine if you use fresher food or better ingredients, or if you prepare food in a unique way.
- Learn their marketing and communication strategies and how they differ from yours. Perhaps you offer special discounts that they do not, or your printed materials are in full color and are printed on higher quality paper.
- Fully acquaint yourself with your prospective customer's business. To argue convincingly about the potential benefit you offer, you need an exhaustive understanding of your customer's products, services and clients. Learn how long he has been in business. Assess how adequately he meets his customer's needs. Know whether your competition is currently selling to him.[4]
- Learn your potential customer's needs. If you can, talk to him before you pitch (by phone or in person) and learn as much as you can about what will really make him interested in buying. Does he need lower price, better reliability, finance terms, faster delivery, etc. Try to figure out his "trigger."
- Consult the company's annual report, trade publications, website and the local chamber of commerce to learn this information.[5]
- Understand the market in which your prospective customer competes. Characterize her target customers and what their expectations are. Identify her key challenges in meeting her clients' needs. Assess how you can help her to be more competitive.[6]
- Analyze her business and current economic indicators to determine if her product and services are in demand. A food services distributor, for example, could help a coffee shop improve their menu with new equipment or better ingredients.
- Determine her biggest competitors[7] and the benefits the competitor provides to the customer. To get a sale, you will need to offer a better benefit than what she might be receiving.
- Consult trade groups, business magazines and academic institutions to learn about business trends and how your prospect could use your services to be more competitive.[8]
EditWriting Your Presentation - Tailor your presentation to connect with your target audience. Once you've written your presentation, adjust your delivery style to match the expectations of your audience. Find out whether you will be presenting to a large or small audience. Speaking to a large group, a small group, or an individual is entirely different, and the amount of interaction necessary is directly proportional to the size of the audience. Tweak the length of your presentation, your presentation tools, and the amount of visual aids to deliver your message most effectively.[9]
- Shape your presentation to the power-level of attendees in the meeting. Are they decision-makers or gate-keepers? Understand (ask if you don't know) the process for making a purchase decision and who will be making it.
- If the audience will be small, deliver a short, interactive presentation and then lead a discussion. Ditch the Powerpoint and instead try printing out a few detailed slides to pass out to the small group.[10] Keep in mind the importance of body language and eye contact with your audience.
- For a large audience, prepare a staged, formal presentation with polished visuals. Avoid distracting colored text or ClipArt. Use clear language, show enthusiasm for your product, and keep things moving at a lively pace.[11]
- Write a complete script for your presentation. Whether you're planning a formal presentation for a large audience or an interactive meeting with a small group, write out every detail of your presentation in advance. This guarantees that no important information will be left out. An ad-lib presentation lacks structure, appears disorganized and confuses the audience with repeated or omitted information.[12]
- Write the introduction. Confirm your prospective customer's need (which you determined before the presentation) and how your company can help. State your understanding of the customer's objectives and get an affirmative response before proceeding. Then, detail how your product or service fills her needs, and repeat this constantly during the presentation. Discuss your company's history and what sets you apart (but only if this information will give you an advantage). Lay the groundwork for the rest of your presentation and create a compelling argument for why your prospect needs you.[13]
- Use simple, short terms for more punch. Try using action verbs when possible.
- A caterer pitching to a wedding planner, for example, would discuss his proven history of providing high quality food at a reasonable price.
- A cleaning service presenting to an office manager would state that they can enhance employee productivity by keeping the office clean and organized.
- Confirm your customer's expectations and objectives for the meeting. List all of your key tasks. Give an overall time-frame for the delivery or completion of all of your objectives. Be ambitious but honest about what you can deliver. Earn your customer's trust by providing realistic goals.[14]
- Your opening should include a restatement of his objectives and the assurance that you will meet those objectives during the presentation.
- A caterer's objectives, for example, would include planning a menu, ordering food, preparing food and arranging for delivery within a given time-frame.
- A cleaning service would list daily tasks, such as cleaning the floor, sanitizing bathrooms and removing the trash. Less regular tasks, such as cleaning the windows or equipment dusting, would also be listed with the expected frequency.
- Explain how you will accomplish each of the objectives. Provide details about how much time you need for each step. Include the results the customer can expect to see at the conclusion of a step. List deliverables, or tangible objects, the customer will receive at different intervals throughout the project.[15]
- The steps for planning a menu, for example, might include meeting with clients and setting up taste tests. The deliverable would be a written copy of the menu.
- The details a cleaning service would specify include how long it takes to complete tasks, the materials and number of personnel used and whether or not they bring their own equipment.
- Provide the cost of your services. Be as meticulous as possible. Disclose information about all potential costs so the customer knows exactly what to expect. Prepare detailed spreadsheets that fully explain the costs involved.[16]
- Detail the advantages you can offer your potential customer. This is not the time to be modest. Withhold no information about how valuable you are. Explain how your product or service can help the customer overcome his key challenges.[17]
- A caterer would use this opportunity to emphasize his skill at timing food preparations so everything is perfectly cooked and doesn't get cold before it is eaten.
- A cleaning service would highlight the positive impression that a clean, organized space makes on clients and how this also maintains property values.
- Ask for the order. Find out the timeline for the sales process, if it is appropriate. You should have already learned the process and who will make the buying decision. If you are with the decision maker, ask. If it is a gate-keeper or expert who will make recommendation, find out when and to whom. Confirm that no other information is needed to make a decision. If other information is required, write down what is needed so that you can provide it.
EditCreating Visual Aids - Create presentation slides thoughtfully and editorially. If your slides look like nothing more than your speaking notes, then you shouldn't even use them. [18] A list of bullet points not only bores the audience, but it also reduces the likelihood that they will remember what you said. Pictures communicate messages more clearly than written text or even the spoken word.[19]
- Find fresh graphics instead of using stock ClipArt or templates. If the budget permits, enlist the help of a graphic artist.
- Bring a model or example of your product if possible. If you are selling a product, have a model available for your customers to see. Allow them to interact with the product as you discuss its features and benefits. If you can't bring the product, bring a video or photographs.[20]
- Skip old fashioned overhead projectors or slide projectors. Not only are they noisy and unreliable, but the projector obscures the screen for some audience members. If you must use them, arrange the room so everyone can see the screen and speak audibly to be heard over the motor. If at all possible, opt for digital presentation tools.
- Make sure you check the visual aids and sound equipment that might be available in the venue, and find out the requirements for use.
- Record comments during interactive meetings or brainstorming sessions. If appropriate, use a whiteboard if appropriate and record comments. Write neatly and legibly, and make your letters large enough that all audience members can easily see them. Use black or blue for writing since other colors may be difficult for others to see. Take notes as necessary, but limit the amount of time spent with your back to the audience.[21]
- If a smart board is available, use it to annotate graphics with your customer's feedback. Save your annotations at the end of your presentation so you can review them later.
- Bring a flip chart or white board and an easel for taking notes and recording comments if an interactive whiteboard is not available. Test your markers ahead of time and only bring those that work. If your paper is unlined, draw lines with a pencil to keep your handwriting horizontally aligned.
- Distribute handouts. Share them at the beginning only if the presentation contains complicated charts or graphics, which may be easier for audience members to read in a handout than on a screen. Save handouts with relevant summaries of key information for the end of the presentation. Otherwise, audience members may read the handout instead of listening to you.[22]
- You would only distribute them if you are not talking to a decision maker who is not ready to make decision.
- Be aware that anything left with client is likely to wind up in the hands of a competitor.
EditRehearsing Your Sales Presentation - Practice delivering your presentation. Commit it to memory so you need only glance at your notes. Practice your mannerisms, enunciation and the pitch and volume of your voice. [23] Record yourself or go through the presentation with a friend or colleague in order to identify areas that need improvement.[24]
- Avoid slang and jargon and never, ever curse.
- Exude confidence and enthusiasm with your body language. Smile and shake hands when entering a room. Make eye contact and address people by name. Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Wear the appropriate clothes and be sure your shoes are polished. Keep your hands out of your pocket and don't fidget during quiet moments.[25]
- If you are giving a presentation to a very large audience, don't just stand on the stage as people file in. Mill about, introducing yourself and greeting people you know.
- Familiarize yourself thoroughly with all technology used in the presentation. Practice working with a smart board or with a laptop and projector so you can troubleshoot any problems ahead of time. If necessary, bring your own equipment with you. If possible, set up all technology in advance on the day of the presentation.[26]
- Anticipate objections and rehearse answers. Go through your presentation and write down any potential questions or objections on a separate piece of paper. Ask a friend or colleague to role play as the customer and ask questions or raise objections that you did not anticipate. Draft answers to all possible objections and be prepared to deliver them.[27]
- Practice assessing whether your audience is following along. Pause for questions where appropriate. Watch body language that indicates your audience doesn't understand something. Maintain your energy and enthusiasm throughout the presentation. Try to control the meeting by announcing when questions will be taken. This can help you to avoid interruptions at a critical time. Recognize, however, if you are speaking to a decision maker, you might not have a choice.[28]
EditClosing the Sale - Ask for the sale directly if you detect a positive response to your presentation. Ask if you have the authority to proceed with the order. Request a signature on an order form. Confirm delivery and invoice addresses. These actions communicate that you expect to receive the customer's business.[29]
- Convert negatives into positives. Use customer objections as an opportunity to explain a benefit your product or service provides. If a customer raises an objection about the price, for example, discuss the added value you provide with higher quality materials or craftsmanship. A caterer might respond by discussing his use of organic, local produce for better taste and freshness, or extra staff for more efficient food preparation. Be careful, however, not to contradict the customer or dismiss his concerns.[30]
- Alleviate concerns by offering choices. Examples include flexible payment schedules or expedited delivery. If necessary, offer compromises to help you close the deal. For example, if you normally charge for delivery, but the customer has an objection to price, consider offering free delivery in order to make the sale. [31]
- Establish the next step in the process. If you sense that the customer is not yet ready to commit, show you are serious about doing business by scheduling a follow-up meeting or phone call. Schedule that follow up before you leave the office. Otherwise you risk never hearing from that customer again.[32]
- Ask questions and listen to the answers. Prepare open-ended questions that assess your customer's interest. Ask how your product or service can benefit the customer or whether you haven't covered something that is important to her. Take notes so you can adequately respond to the customer's comments.[33]
- Understand your audience and follow their lead. Executives may be under time crunches and dislike small talk or extended presentations. Be prepared to shorten your presentation upon request.
- Build genuine rapport by discussing sports, asking about family, or mentioning common acquaintances or colleagues. People like to do business with other people they like and trust.[34]
- Don't put your customer in a superior position by saying, "I won't take up too much of your time," or "I really appreciate you making room in your busy schedule to see me." These statements sound like you think he is doing you a favor, when you should communicate with your demeanor and confidence that you are there as an asset to him.[35]
- Be aggressive but honest about what you can offer to a prospective customer. Remember that it's better to under-promise and over-deliver.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Reduce a Fever Without Medication Posted: 26 Aug 2016 01:00 AM PDT If you are running a fever (or if your child is), you naturally you want to reduce it as quickly as possible. Fevers do serve a purpose, though: higher body temperature is believed to stimulate the immune system and kill off infectious agents.[1][2] So, there is some good reason to allow a fever to proceed normally, at least for a while. You do, however, want to control the fever so that you or your child can be as comfortable as possible while the immune system does its job. Fortunately, home remedies can help. EditCooling Down - Take a warm or lukewarm bath. Start off by drawing a warm bath. Have the person suffering from the fever get in and relax while the warm temperature of the water slowly drops. Because the temperature of the water drops slowly, the person cools down slowly as well.
- You don't want the water too cool because you don't want to drop the body temperature too fast.
- Do a wet sock treatment. This method works best overnight. Take a pair of pure cotton socks long enough to cover the ankles and thoroughly wet the socks in cold running water. Wring out all excess water and put the socks on. Cover these cotton socks with pure wool socks to supply insulation. The person wearing the socks should rest in bed for the rest of the night. They should be covered with a blanket as well.
- Most kids will be pretty cooperative because they should begin to feel cooler within a few minutes.
- This treatment is a traditional naturopathic approach. The theory is that the cold feet stimulate an increase in circulation and an increased response from the immune system.[3] The result is that the body expends heat and ends up drying the socks and cooling the body. This treatment can relieve chest congestion as well.
- Use a wet towel treatment. Take one or two hand towels and fold lengthwise. Soak the towels in either very cold or ice water. Wring out the excess water and wrap the towel around the head, around the neck, around the ankles or around the wrists. Don't use the towels over more than two areas-- that is, use the towel around the head and the ankles or around the neck and wrists. Otherwise, you may cool down TOO much.
- The cool or cold towels draw heat out of the body and can lower the body temperature. Repeat when the towel is dry or not cool enough anymore to give relief. This can be repeated as often as needed.
EditAdjusting Diet to Reduce Fever - Cut back on eating. The old adage, "feed a cold, starve a fever" actually has some truth to it, according to recent scientific studies.[4] You don't want to waste the body's energy for digestion when that energy should be used to control the infection that's causing the fever.
- Snack on healthy fruits. Choose fruits such as berries, watermelon, oranges and cantaloupe. These are rich in Vitamin C, which can help fight infections and lower fever.[5] They'll also help keep you hydrated.
- Avoid heavy, fatty or oily foods like barbecued or fried foods. Avoid spicy foods like chicken wings, pepperoni, or sausages too.
- Eat some soup. While you can have chicken broth on its own, you could also eat chicken soup with rice and some vegetables. Studies have shown that chicken soup may actually have medicinal properties.[6] It will also help keep you hydrated.
- Make sure you include a good and easily digested source of protein such as scrambled eggs or chicken (add a few pieces of meat to your chicken broth).
- Drink plenty of water. Fever can lead to dehydration which can make the sufferer feel worse. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water or an oral rehydration solution like CeraLyte, Pedialyte. Call your physician before you do and ask your doctor's advice. Be prepared with a list of symptoms and about how much you or your child has been eating, drinking and how high the fever has been. Also keep track of how often you have to change diapers or, for an older children, how often they have to urinate.
- If you are breast feeding your baby, keep that going as much as possible. You're adding food, water, and comfort.
- Kids (and you) might enjoy frozen popsicles as a way to stay hydrated. Just try to avoid too much sugar. Look for all-natural fruit popsicles, frozen Italian ices, frozen yogurt, or sherbet. Just don't forget to keep drinking water too!
- Drink an herbal tea fever reducer. You can either buy these teas or make them yourself. Simply add a teaspoon of dried herb for every cup of water. Steep the herb in boiled water for 5 minutes and flavor as desired with lemon and honey. Avoid adding milk, since dairy products tend to increase congestion. For small children, reduce the herbs to ½ a teaspoon and make sure the tea has cooled down! Don't use teas with infants, except with the advice of a physician. Try an herbal tea made from the following herbs:[7]
- Holy Basil (Sweet basil will work-- just not quite so well)
- White willow bark
- Peppermint or spearmint
- Calendula
- Hyssop
- Raspberry leaf
- Ginger
- Oregano
- Thyme
EditRecognizing When to Get Medical Attention - Know when to call your doctor. Body temperature can vary throughout the day, but a normal temperature is considered 98.6oF or 37oC. The recommendation[8] in infants less than 4 months old is that if they have a rectal temperature of 100.4oF (38oC) or more, immediately call your physician for advice. For children of any age, if their rectal temperature is 104oF(40oC) or more, immediately call your physician for advice. Any child 6 months or older with a fever of 103oF(39.4oC) should also be seen. If your child has any fever along with any of the following symptoms, call your doctor (or emergency services) as soon as possible:
- looks sick or has no appetite
- fussiness
- drowsiness
- obvious signs of infection (pus, discharge, streaky rashes)
- seizure
- sore throat, a rash, a headache, a stiff neck, an earache
- other rarer signs to watch and immediately seek medical attention for:
- high-pitched cries or sounds like a seal barking
- difficulty breathing or has a bluish tinge around the mouth, fingers or toes
- swelling on the top of the baby's head (the soft spot called the fontanelle)
- Limpness or lack of movement
- Watch for signs of mild dehydration. Call your physician for advice even if you are just seeing the signs of mild dehydration, especially in babies. These can become serious dehydration pretty quickly. Symptoms of mild dehydration include:[9]
- Dry, sticky mouth or crustiness around the lips/eyes in a baby
- More sleepiness, fussiness or tiredness than usual
- Thirst (Look for a "lip smacking" behavior or pursing of the lips to tell if infants are thirsty.)
- Decreased urine output
- Dry diapers (They should need to be changed because of wet diapers at least every three hours. If the diaper is dry after 3 hours, that may mean some dehydration. Keep pushing fluids and check after another hour. If the diaper is still dry, call your physician.)
- Dark urine
- Few or no tears when crying
- Dry skin (Gently pinch the back of the baby's hand, just pinching the loose skin. Well-hydrated babies have skin that bounces right back.)
- Constipation
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Recognize severe dehydration. If you see any of these, call emergency services and your physician right away. Severe dehydration symptoms include:[10]
- Extreme thirst, fussiness, or sleepiness in infants and children (In adults, this is seen as irritability and confusion)
- Very dry mouth, skin, and mucous membranes or crustiness around the mouth and eyes
- No tears when crying
- Dry skin that doesn't "bounce back" when gently pinched into a fold
- Decreased urination with darker than normal urine
- Sunken eyes (This may appear as darker circles under the eyes.)
- In infants, gently check for a sunken fontanel, the soft spot on the top of a baby's head.
- Rapid heartbeat and/or rapid breathing
- Fever
- Look for febrile seizures in infants. A febrile seizure is a convulsion that can happen in babies with a fever. They are scary, but usually over very quickly and do not cause any brain damage or major harm. Febrile seizures usually happen in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. They may re-occur, but are rare after the age of 5. If your child has a febrile seizure:
- Make sure there are no sharp edges, steps or anything nearby that could hurt the child.
- Do not hold or try to restrain the baby.
- Place the child or baby on his side or stomach.
- If the seizure lasts longer than 10 minutes, call emergency services and have the child examined (especially if they have a stiff neck, are vomiting or seem listless or lethargic).[11]
- Rectal temperatures are considered the most accurate measurement of body temperature,[12] but they differ, sometimes significantly, from oral temperatures or those taken by a forehead scanner or ear temperatures.
- Rectal temperatures tend to be higher than oral temperatures by 0.5°F (0.3°C) to 1°F (0.6°C).
- A forehead measuring device (scanner) is usually 0.5°F (0.3°C) to 1°F (0.6°C) lower than an oral temperature and so 1°F (0.6°C) to 2°F (1.2°C) lower than a rectal temperature.
- Ear (tympanic) temperatures are generally 0.5°F (0.3°C) to 1°F (0.6°C) higher than an oral temperatures.
- If your child has a fever for more than 1 day (for children less than 2 years old) or for more than 3 days in an older child, call your physician.
- Body temperature is normally lower in the early morning and normally higher in the afternoon.[13]
- Always drink lots of water.
- Do not overheat your child. Overdressing your child can increase body temperature by trapping body heat. Dress your child in light cotton pajamas and light socks. Keep the room warm and cover your child with a blanket.
- If you have a thyroid disorder known as thyroid storm (a very high level of thyroid hormones), this is an emergency situation and you should call emergency services. The approaches listed here will NOT address the problem with thyroid storm.
- Avoid any caffeinated teas (black, green and white) because these teas have some thermogenic (increasing heat) properties.
- If you have a fever, avoid alcohol and any caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea or soda.
- Never give infants and children aspirin, unless directed by a physician. Avoid giving anyone under the age of 18 aspirin.[14]
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