STUDY UP

Yoga and meditation might be boosting your ego, not freeing you from it

Or, at least, it seems ego-quieting isn’t necessarily a benefit for Westerners.

In both Buddhism and yoga philosophy, yoga and meditation are supposed to help free us of self-centeredness. But a recent study found practicing a skill—any skill, including yoga or meditation—makes people feel good about themselves (which ain't exactly an egoless sensation). This falls right in line with psychologist William James's "self-centrality breeds self-enhancement principle," an idea that basically boils down to, "When you get good at something, it feeds your ego." Which, as the smart folks at Quartz point out, does not exactly come as a surprise to anyone who's suffered through a class next to a Lululemon-clad yoga competitor.

Hang on—is this really a bad thing?

Well, no. This kind of self-enhancement is good for you in the sense that it can help with depression and make you feel more satisfied with life. And the people in the study did have high self-esteem, which is ultimately good, even if it's not in line with the philosophical roots of yoga and meditation.

Of course, the subjects of this study weren't exactly living testaments to the Buddha's teachings

The study's participants were, on average, 40-year-old German women who had been practicing either yoga or meditation for 4 to 5 years. So they weren't exactly part of a culture built on the principles of Buddhism or yoga—nor did they practice a philosophy of egolessness outside the studio.

Still, the learnings are legit. You may find that these practices boost your ego too, which, again, is not necessarily a bad thing.

Try this

Who's tired? ✋ If you happen to have 30 spare minutes, go get a small coffee, black. Cool it down with a few ice cubes then drink the whole thing quickly. Next, nap. Try to sleep for 20 minutes—that way you get enough stage 1 and 2 sleep to reduce sleepiness, and when you wake up, the coffee will kick in.
Dr. Michael J Breus PhD, the Sleep Doctor

IT'S DEBATABLE

Is "gaming disorder" a legit mental health condition?

According to worried moms everywhere, yes. According to the WHO, also yes. According to many psychologists and the video game industry, no.

The yays 👍

Some people say video games are clearly an addiction. Many gamers routinely prioritize gaming over other elements of their daily life, and that can become a problem if it hurts their relationships, jobs, education, or health.
By formalizing the disorder, the WHO is allowing psychologists and doctors to diagnose and treat people exhibiting symptoms, which would ideally help them live healthier lives.

The nays 👎

Some researchers argue there isn't enough science yet and this classification is premature. (The WHO says it did look at research; skeptics say it didn't bother to talk to people who disagreed.)
Plus, they argue people addicted to video games are often dealing with an underlying disorder like social anxiety or depression and treating the symptom (i.e., gaming) is only putting a Band-Aid on the problem.
The video game industry is just mad it won't sell as many video games. Probably.

Some fine print

The WHO released the update this week in a preview of ICD-11 (the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases). ICD-11 will be formally presented May 2019 but won't actually go into effect until 2022—this preview is meant to give everyone time to train providers and prepare strategies to combat the new disorder.

Basically, nothing is changing yet.

ICD-11 is also bringing great news for the trans community

The last revision of ICD was released in the early '90s, and it categorized being transgender as a mental disorder. That was dumb.

In ICD-11, the WHO is taking out that section and adding "gender incongruence" (experiencing one gender but being assigned the other sex) as a sexual health condition. "Condition" sounds harsh, but the hope is this will reduce stigma for trans people while opening up access to better health care.

The at-home test that taught me more than I expected about my health

Time for a little overshare: A little while ago, I was having some awkward bloating after meals—and frankly, it sucked. I tried to pay more attention to the way different foods made me feel but no obvious pattern emerged.

Like everyone else, I’ve been reading tons about how the bacteria in your digestive tract affect everything from weight, inflammation, and digestion to sleep issues, allergies, illness, and stress. But I had no idea how to apply this new knowledge to my life (and my own miserable gut).

Then I found out about Viome, an at-home gut test

I was honestly floored. Viome told me what my specific problems were and provided me with actionable recommendations for solving my gut's issues—like, for instance, I should eat less protein and avoid raisins. Weird, but OK. Raisins are whatever.

Look, I'm as skeptical as can be

No test is perfect, and it's still SUPER early in our understanding of the microbiome. Plus, Viome isn't cheap (although it's significantly cheaper than most tests like this at a clinic), so it can feel like a big commitment.

But these results convinced me that understanding the gut is an important new area of health full of potential, and getting to know your own digestive track can be the start of a healthier relationship with yourself.

-- Derek Flanzraich, founder and CEO of Greatist

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*Greatist receives an affiliate fee for purchases made.

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Turns out keeping kids in cages away from their parents isn't great for their mental or physical health

According to an article in The New York Times, psychologists confirmed that the 2,000 children being held in detention centers are experiencing trauma and the longer they're kept from their families, the greater the chance of developing a lifelong risk for cardiovascular and mental health disease.

What you can do

Donate to groups that are working to protect kids who are separated from their families.
Contact your representatives and voice your disapproval. If you're not sure what to say (or just hate the phone—we feel you), the ACLU has a handy script to make it easier.
Attend a protest near you.

HERE'S THE REST

Good job, team! Your efforts to save water are actually making a difference 💧PopSci

If you want to buy a $349 towel to make period sex less messy, you can 🌋 Well+Good

Police are mistaking traits of autism as suspicious behavior. What can we do? 🚓 The Atlantic

Are you a night owl? You might have a higher risk of depression 🦉 New York Times

Watching nature shows is (surprise!) good for your body image 🍃 Science Daily

Left-handed people might be at a disadvantage when it comes to treatment for mental health issues 🤚Science Daily

Well Now is Greatist's new roundup of all the health stories you were too busy to read this week. We won't be sending it to you forever, so sign up to make sure you keep getting it.