To quit smoking, it is critical to first be firm in the decision to quit. Then, make a clear plan and stock up on the appropriate aides (mentioned in pervious comments). In addition, the person should try to remove reminders of smoking from the surrounding environment, which includes asking friends and family to not use nicotine products around the quitting smoker.

Burning cigarettes release noxious fumes such as hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide that often contain tar (which has carcinogens!). Because e-cigs don't release these toxic fumes, they are often seen to be a better alternative to regular cigarettes.

cartridge or reservoir - holds liquid nicotine solution (also containing various flavorings and chemicals) https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/electronic-cigarettes-e-cigarettes

I think part of the reason why people are fearful of legalizing marijuana is because, no matter how much scientific data might prove otherwise, a lot of people still feel, deep down, that marijuana is much more dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes. Part of the reasoning behind this is how normalized drinking and smoking are in our society; very rarely do people see alcohol and cigarettes as the harmful substances they are. Marijuana, on the other hand, is not only less normalized but (honestly) even sounds more drug-like. Perhaps this subtle difference in connotation has something to do with the controversy.

I definitely think marijuana's presence in the media is helping to normalize it. So many songs mention "smoking weed" every other line, sometimes even bringing up even stronger drugs. In addition, many of the actors, artists, singers, and other public figures that kids and teens look up to smoke weed and are very open about it. This reinforces into people's minds that smoking marijuana is "cool" to do for fun, and that being high is great. I think this is part of the reason why there is still debate about the legalization of marijuana — the benefits of medical marijuana are overshadowed by the danger of the media hooking people on recreational marijuana as a status symbol.

I think the "tortured artist" trope is much more ingrained into our society that we may like to believe. In the music industry, for example, the need to make music passionate and emotional often blurs the line between healthy struggles and the type of pain and sadness that requires professional help. Over the years, I've heard so many people say "wow, you can feel the pain in that song" or "wow, I really hope [artist] is okay" or "[artist]'s songs are always so depressing." As much as it is important for music to showcase emotion and be relatable, the number of musical artists that pour unhealthy amounts of sadness and pain into their work is scary. As many other posts in this forum have showed, musical artists are very often already at risk of developing depression because of the incredible stress and expectations dumped on them, but I think we also need to consider the additional weight of the buried but still present notion that certain types of music are only "good" if they're tortured.

Postpartum depression used to seem strange to me. I guess that, growing up hearing parents go on about how children are "the best thing in our lives" and "the most amazing thing to ever happen to us," it was difficult for me to understand how receiving a "gift from the heavens" could also trigger something like depression. It is important to realize, though, that these mothers are not depressed because they are unhappy with or do not love their babies; sometimes it is simply caused by a complication during the birth process. I have realized over the years that depression, in all of its forms, is an insanely uphill battle. In my mind, anyone who fights or has fought it is a hero, no matter how battered and bloody the end result may be.

Geriatric depression is often linked to environmental factors more than genetics and social learned behaviors. In addition, patients diagnosed with geriatric depression often report symptoms that differ from those of adolescent depression, including physical issues such as headaches, backaches, and fatigue, along with cognitive difficulties such as forgetfulness and slowed thinking. As a result, many elderly patients with depression do not recognize it as such, believing that they are simply struggling with the natural problems that come with aging. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/two-takes-depression/201609/what-everyone-needs-know-about-geriatric-depression

I think some of the main reasons for elderly depression include a sense of failure and isolation. When the elderly retire and their health begins to fail, they are often forced to stay at home and watch as the rest of the world speeds ahead in development, seemingly leaving them behind. From this point of view, it may appear as if their own accomplishments had hardly been meaningful at all in the grand scheme of things. In addition, as the elderly's children have children who are engaged in their own busy lives, the elderly may only rarely get to see their family; this situation is also often exacerbated by the death of a partner. When these and more factors come together, many elderly people fall into depression.

Although portraying depression in a comedic light may seem to downplay the severity and pressing nature of depression, it is actually quite helpful in generating conversation. With heavy issues like mental health and its disorders, the most comfortable form of discussion is often through humor. With that being said, there are definitely certain jokes regarding "depression" that are inappropriate, such as not treating the disorder and people affected by it with respect. Ultimately, though, I think humor, when used right, can be a great way to allow more people to comfortably express their opinions about and personal experiences with depression.

Many teenagers are hesitant to seek help because they are afraid of the stigma that is often associated with mental health disorders. There are, however, many great anonymous resources that teens can turn to, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/). The Suicide Prevention Lifeline has a hotline (1-800-273-8255) that is available 24 hours a day and an online chat. Even though it can sometimes be difficult for teenagers to talk about depression with family and/or friends, but there are always anonymous resources that can help.

I agree that it is better for society as a whole if everyone is vaccinated, but as the above comment mentioned, it's not always that simple. Might it be a bit harsh to say that anti-vaxxer parents are violating their duty to their children and depriving their children of the right to health and life? After all, these parents may simply be doing what they believe is best.

Yes, vaccines are extremely beneficial and not getting vaccinated can have serious repercussions. When the majority of a society's population is vaccinated, a phenomenon known as herd immunity is able to protect the certain individuals who are unable to be vaccinated due to specific health reasons. But when people able to be vaccinated decide that they or their children would rather not do so, the safety net of herd immunity is pulled away, leaving the people who are unable to be vaccinated vulnerable to various diseases. So, the next time you decide whether or not you or your children should get vaccinated, keep in mind that your choices affect not only your own health but also that of others around you.