ICYMI Health features what we’re reading this week.
This week, an essay struck a cord with as it explored attitudes and traditions surrounding death throughout the world. In the same theme, a video shared the story and life lessons of a Danish mariner, who set his affairs in order every time he went to sea, writing goodbye letters to his children, just in case.
We also highly recommend the Washington Post’s profile of JJ, a 10-year-old girl who was born with HIV, and the moment that she learns the reality of her diagnosis.
Read on and tell us in the comments: What did you read, watch and love this week?
1. More Evidence That Antidepressants Are A Much-Needed Therapy, Not A Threat — The Huffington Post
Mothers suffering from depression shouldn’t be afraid to continue with their treatment.
Children who were exposed to SSRIs in the womb were mostly in the “second-best” skills category, not the “best” — a subtle difference that would not be diagnosable by a doctor.
2. This Must Be The Place — Aeon
A Danish mariner and yogi reflects on life and what it means to what it means to die consciously.
It’s like when I always wrote goodbye letters to my children when I went sailing, and that was extremely difficult as well — preparing and preparing — but a sweet way to start the day.
3. White Men Have Less Life Stress, But Are More Prone To Depression Because Of It — The Huffington Post
White men aren’t used to stress, so they are more vulnerable to its harmful effects.
The strong association between a small number of stressful life events and depression among white men speaks volumes about white privilege. The world treats white men well — so well, in fact, that infrequent negative life circumstances mentally harm them.
4. The Good Death — Aeon
A notion of a good death means different things to different people around the world.
One woman imagined a lovely death arriving as she dozed in a rocking chair on the porch of her childhood home in South Carolina, surrounded by kin. A graduate student described his perfect end in the midst of some exhilarating adventure – skydiving or hiking in the Andes: a sudden accident in the midst of thrill; no lingering pain. A retired nurse with grown children envisioned a serene, solitary demise in her bed, at home in Brooklyn, lulled by the familiar whir and soft wind emanating from the ceiling fan.
5. Telling JJ — Washington Post
JJ, a 10-year-old girl who was born with HIV, learns the truth about her disease for the first time.
For another 20 minutes, the doctor explained to JJ that she was born with the virus, that it was not easily spread, that — again — some people are unkind to those who have it.
6. Transgender? A Doctor Won’t See You Now — Daily Beast
The medical community isn’t providing appropriate care to transitioning transgender people — resulting in devastating consequences for those who fall through the health care cracks.
This is not about [some hazy notion of] being able to be who you are. The ability to get the health care and treatment you need for gender transition contributes significantly to staying alive.
7. These Disturbing Images Reveal Brain Differences Between Men And Women — The Huffington Post
When shown distressing images, women expressed stronger emotional feelings than men did.
Higher levels of testosterone were linked with decreased sensitivity to the images. ‘This suggests that men are more in an active mode when experiencing negative emotions, whereas women have a more purely affective brain response,’ Potvin said.
8. What the FDA’s Approval of ‘Pink Viagra’ Tells Us About the Problems With Drug Regulation — Vox
Critics worry that the FDA is approving too many drugs too quickly.
‘Some women will be hurt from low blood pressure causing fainting and drowsiness,’ they wrote. ‘And other people may be hurt if there are car accidents. The main way to mitigate the potential harms — avoiding any alcohol — is unrealistic.’
9. Europe’s Refugee Crisis and the Biology of Human Altruism — Science Of Us
While selfish impulses may win out on an individual level, at the group level, altruism is much more common than people tend to think.
We’ve all been brainwashed to think that everyone is selfish,’ he said in a phone interview with Science of Us. ‘And it’s against that background that we’re surprised by altruism. I think that if we consult our everyday lives, in our everyday experiences, we experience altruism and generosity all the time.’
Also on HuffPost:
