Not all infants can breastfeed, and not all people can breastfeed infants — With formula shortages threatening the health of infants nationwide, some misinformed people on social media and elsewhere have shrugged off the direness of the situation with a “why not breastfeed? It’s free!” and offering a breezy “breast is best!” by way of argumentation. Everyone will have different experiences with infants…

Learning about it during an author chat with the Vagina Museum was doubly discombobulating. — A few Sundays ago, my middle son came into the family room, a Covid rapid test in hand. Naturally, I asked him why, and he said his throat felt sore, and he thought he should test. The test was negative, so he returned to his dorm that evening, as he…

Mental lapses people attribute to aging aren’t inevitably dementia and regardless shouldn’t be targets of ridicule — One of the easiest-access targets in U.S. culture — especially in political and comedic commentary — is any hint in someone over age 60 that their brain is “failing” them somehow. A misspeak or a forgotten fact, and we’re off to the political horse races with people tossing around terms…

A prolonged experience I had with a non-progressing pregnancy in 2005 involved two procedures and timing that could draw the eyes of the law today. — In 2005, I had an abortion. In fact, if we use the limitations of common parlance, I essentially had three in a row, in the space of about 8 weeks. If this had happened to me in 2022 in Texas or any of the other states attempting to limit abortions…

Get moving, at least a little, to maintain mood. — Even a low weekly “dose” of physical activity may offer benefit against depression, according to a new analysis of 15 published studies. The 15 studies covered 191,130 people and 2,110,588 years of human life, and the new findings emphasize that physical activity is linked to reduced risk for depression. The…

When children tell you who they are, believe them. — This week, a longread of mine about gender-affirming care for trans children was published at Grid News. The article looks at this care through a few lenses: medicine, mental health, politics, and the international landscape. My piece is grounded in science that is reinforced by clinical expertise and the stories…

Alleged therapies for autistic children rely on dehumanizing them, and yes, Nazis are threads in the fabric of this history The United Nations has designated April 2 as “World Autism Awareness Day.” I’m taking it as a given that you’re aware that autistic people exist (if not, consider this your notice and consider not turning anything blue). So instead of observing that “day,” I’d like to make you aware of…

A study at the famous Second City improv club in Chicago shows the benefits of purposely aiming for discomfort — When it comes to building athletic strength and resilience, a well-known phrase captures the process: “no pain, no gain.” That rhyming philosophy may apply to mental growth as much as muscle growth, according to research involving one of the world’s most famous comedy clubs, Second City in Chicago.

Consequences aren’t cancellation; they are correctives. Bigotry is not bravery; it is the ugliest side of being human. — Some national outlets lately have featured opinion pieces bemoaning “self-censorship” and fear of “speaking up” because of concern about the consequences, framing it as part of “cancel culture.” Those who ought to know better have even conflated these normal and helpful impulses, as age-old as our species, with state actors’…