As someone who was wrongly prescribed some very hardcore drugs for a problem I never had and then suffered immeasurable dependency and neological disruption as a result after extreme, and I mean extreme difficulty getting off them. Iam experiencing my self and consciousness and my sensory input in a fractured and disrupted way, and the amazing thing is, I have insight into how my brain gives rise to experience itself and the oddities it creates when things are not functioning correctly, especially when it comes to visual processing and modelling the physical world.

No one ever wished up severe abuse, neglect, 3 hip replacements, etc. Sure, we get to choose our tesponses. But, when all you have to choose from is a rock or a hard place, then it doesn't seem to matter anyhow.

The list of health benefits that come along with regular exercise may have grown with a new study uncovering a link between staying active and the size of parts of the brain responsible for memory and learning capabilities.

Even better, the exercise doesn't have to be overly intense or prolonged to have brain boosting effects, according to the experts behind the study. The team included researchers from the Pacific Neuroscience Institute Brain Health Center (PBHC) at Providence Saint John's Health Center and Washington University in St. Louis.

The study looked at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans of 10,125 people, finding those who said they regularly engaged in some kind of physical activity – like walking, running, or sports – had larger brain volumes in specific areas.

Those areas included the 'decision making' frontal lobe and the hippocampus – a part of the brain that's important in how memories are stored and handled. The study also measured the total volume of each brain's gray matter, which helps the brain process information, the its connective white matter.

Prisoner's dilemma is a problem commonly featured in game theory. Each player is given an option to be either nice or nasty. Each combination of player plays multiple number of rounds. When tested against different strategies, it is found that the best performing strategies are :

• nice first ( they don't start the provoking),
• retaliatory (when opponent is nasty they also resond nasty),
• forgiving (they don't hold grudges),
• clear (their strategies are clear for opponent to interpret) and
• generous (when the opponent has been nasty, they do not retaliate 10℅ of the time )

Jennifer Benton’s daughter was just 5 years old when her kindergarten teacher pointed out something unusual: the young girl was developing breasts.

“It was really alarming,” said Benton, 39. “She may have been a tall little girl, but she was still a little girl.”

It was 2019 and the little girl loved playing with dolls, going out for ice cream, and watching her favorite Nick Jr. cartoon, “Bubble Guppies.”

“How is her body older than her actual age?” Benton remembers asking. At the teacher’s suggestion, Benton took the girl to see her local doctor in Ashtabula, Ohio.

At the time, Benton had never heard of precocious puberty. Having grown up in the Black community, where early puberty rates are among the highest in the U.S., Benton had known 7- and 8-year-old girls who’d had their periods or needed bras. But nobody in Benton’s family realized there was an actual medical diagnosis, or that prescription hormone treatments called puberty blockers could help slow the physical changes, if needed.

After months of reading about the supposed benefits of cold showers (mainly youtubers and tik tok), from increased alertness to improved skin and hair health, I finally decided to ditch my steamy, comforting showers with the harsh bite of cold ones. It sounds torturous, right? Trust me, I had the same thought. But the experience and results were surprising enough that I felt compelled to share.

For context, nearing two months ago, I began a personal experiment - starting every day with a cold shower. The initial chill was shocking, but it's all part of the "wake-up” process, right? But it was also important to detach from the idea that showers need to be purely comforting. Instead, I began viewing it as a routine part of my wellness journey.

First off, the claim of it being a potent morning wake-up call? Absolutely true. I no longer needed my early morning cup of Joe to feel alive. In fact, the cold shower jolted me into immediate alertness more effectively than any caffeine could.

Surprisingly, over time, the cold showers became therapeutic. It extended my tolerance and improved my ability to control my reactions when faced with discomfort - although, mind you, a few minutes into the shower, it was no longer discomfort but a newfound peace. From a physical health perspective, I have noticed a radiant glow in my skin and the reduced hair fall was a very welcome outcome. I won't lie, the first week was intense. Each day, standing at the cusp of another cold shower was a battle on its own. But the results, coupled with the mental fortitude that came along with it, were really worth the plunge.

So does this mean I'm swearing off hot showers forever? Not necessarily. I have found that I prefer the balance - cold showers in the morning to awaken my senses, and lukewarm showers in the evening to relax.

It's been an intriguing journey of self-discovery, one that has taught me how my body and mind respond and adapt to discomfort. To anyone considering cold showers, I’d suggest giving it a try. Start slow, and most importantly, listen to your body.

Anyhow, curious to know if anyone else has any interesting stories around trying new health or wellness routines?