Teenage depression is pretty saturated in most adolescent communities, regardless of such factors that may be causing it. But what are the exact effects of it? Can the scope of it be limited to mere psychological symptoms like decreased performance? Or does it delve a little deeper in which it leads to health problems?
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I think one of the most common misconceptions of depression in the U.S. is that it's a condition that starts in the mind and stays in the mind. It's widely accepted in today's society that depression is a "choice" that victims can just deal with and get over. In reality, depression may be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from social struggles and childhood abuse to physical conditions like insomnia and neurotransmitter imbalances. On the other end, depression can be devastating to a person's livelihood and long-term health. Most interesting to me is the effect of depression on the immune system. Studies have shown that people who struggle with prolonged mental illness have a harder time fending off both minor infections and more serious cardiovascular issues. Vaccines can also be less effective in adults with depression. If these facts were more well known, I think society might reconsider the psychological tag assigned to depression- which, in my mind, is a disease like any other.