Matrescence by Lucy Jones review – smashing motherhood myths

A thrilling examination of what it means to become a mother challenges assumptions in bravura fashion

I couldn’t do chores or hold the baby – even the doctors were fed up with me: my life with chronic pain

What started as an ache in my arms got so bad I had to stop driving and could barely work. Three years on, I am one of 3 million people in the UK living with pain that never goes away

Drinking alcohol is bad for you – end of. Ignore the headlines that claim otherwise

Another week, another article suggesting that alcohol may have health benefits. It’s amazing how desperate drinkers are to fool themselves, writes Adrian Chiles

A moment that changed me: the missile alert promised sudden death. That awful hour taught me how to live

I had stopped being an active participant in my own life. Now I knew I had to shorten my list of regrets – and I began meeting the world with a resounding ‘yes’

More than one in 10 women struggle to bond with their baby, survey shows

73% of surveyed women say they received no information on bonding in first weeks after giving birth

‘It’s been called a vitality meter!’ What your grip says about your health – and how you can improve it

Strong hands help with everything from opening jars to swinging a racket. And weak ones? They can warn of trouble far beyond the kitchen or tennis court

‘I started to unravel’: Why do so many women over 40 struggle with stress?

I coped with kids and a busy career, so why was I suddenly overwhelmed?

Breast is best if you want top marks for your children? You’ve got to be kidding

A piece of research that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny is piling the guilt on to mothers

It took me a long time, but I’ve finally fallen in love with being gay

I owe my happiness to the queer friends I made. And to my younger self who hated being gay: all is forgiven, says i newspaper columnist Eleanor Margolis

In the company of men – and Zen: a male-only wellness retreat in Wiltshire

A wellness retreat deep in an ancient Wiltshire forest offers jiu-jitsu, wild swimming and an emotional detox among like-minded strangers