Natural Depression Treatments for Teenagers: Depression and Anxiety Hacks That You Can Do at Home

How to Treat Teenage Depression Naturally

In English, the word “depression” is used to describe a variety of different experiences that all involve some kind of apathy or lack of emotion. Sometimes “depression” is experienced as a type of sadness or a profound sense of being disconnected. Sometimes depression might feel more like a physical sluggishness, resistance, and even a deep, impenetrable fear. And at other times, depression might feel like an existential problem–like a spiritual disconnection that penetrates every aspect of our lives.   Depressed teenagers don’t respond in the same way to this mood state as adults with depression. Though adults can become suicidal, adults have other tools and advantages at their disposal that give them an edge in treating depression before it gets out of control. Suicide is a major issue to consider in teens who are depressed because their lack of experience in the world causes them to believe that their feelings of depression are eternal and possibly normal. Normally, when a person is healthy and happy, their emotions are in a state of constant flux and this change in emotional content marks time helping feel like there's always something ahead of the bend--some new experience and things to look forward to. But in those with depression, a lack of emotion and generalized apathy leaves them feeling like they’re stuck in an eternal hell of "not caring about anything" and a near total sense of disconnection from others.    If depression were a landscape, it would be a desert. Shifting sands cause a total lack of landmarks in deserts like the Sahara. And though there may be mountains and forests and other landscapes nearby, the heat waves from the desert can create the illusion that there’s nothing for miles except sand dunes. And inside the hostile environment of a desert, there are often oases where trees are growing and water is flowing. One never knows when they’ll stumble upon an oasis like this or even stumble out of the desert completely.    When we work with people who are struggling with depression, we need to work with body, mind, and spirit. Stories and metaphors provide structure to the lack of structure and the lack of solid ground that depressed teens are experiencing. When Lydi and I work with depressed teenagers, we start by addressing several layers of body-related problems that can cause depression. It can be helpful to involve parents in the teen depression equation whenever possible. This isn't always possible though, so we've compiled a list of fail-safe, depression self-treatment for teens that can be used safely at home.   Often, depression starts in the spirit and moves into the body. Working with the physical causes of depression can make people stronger and better able to move onto mental and spiritual treatments with great success. In this article, we’re going to discuss some of the major physical causes of depression and provide links to information about ways to administer these depression treatments for teenagers at home.

Junk Food Addiction and Depression in Teenagers

Junk food addiction is something that causes teenagers to become predisposed to depression and substance abuse addictions. Indeed, all addictions are fundamentally caused by a dopamine deficiency. Even healthy eaters in developed countries that are growing and selling genetically modified products like corn, wheat, and soy (staple foods) are struggling against dopamine deficiency because these plants no longer produce the amino acids that our bodies need to be able to make neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Read more about how consuming GMO plants causes depression in teenagers and adults here.

When a teenager receives the nutrients that he or she needs in order to produce dopamine, they're much less likely to get tethered to any addictive situation, behavior, food, or substance. Being fully stocked up on dopamine fuels healthy, wise decision making in both kids and adults. Taking amino acid supplements like L-tyrosine and L-tryptophan as well as herbs that contain high levels of dopamine precursors like Mucuna pruriens or Pueraria lobata / Kudzu  keeps the brain fully stocked on dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps the brain evaluate our decisions in terms of whether the decision resulted in positive or negative results. Teenagers who take herbs like Mucuna and Kudzu are less likely to get caught up in toxic relationships, drinking, drugs, and food addictions. Both Kudzu and Mucuna take action within 4 to 6 hours after each dose, but L-tyrosine takes a bit longer to work its magic because it is a more distant dopamine precursor than the precursors in Mucuna. L-tyrosine starts to have an effect on the mind and emotions within about 12-18 hours after the initial dose. Amino acids are a key nutrient for depression treatment in teenagers. The B-complex vitamins are also needed in order for teens to properly process the amino acids into neurotransmitters that relieve depression. Parents often see noticeable mood improvements within 24 hours after initial dosing with aminos and herbs like Mucuna pruriens and Kudzu.

Click here to download the Anti-Addiction Encyclopedia and learn more about how to treat junk food addiction naturally.

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Natural Treatments for Depression in Teens

Please note that we link to articles that don’t always pertain directly to depression, but these articles give readers a sense of how the treatment works, dosing, and how to administer the treatment.

• • • Poor Diet / Food Addictions

• • • • Most teens today in the developed world are constantly being exposed to addictive foods. These foods contain refined sugars and chemicals that cause the rapid and unnatural release of dopamine in the brain. If the teenager is also not eating foods that contain healthy, unheated oils, essential amino acids, and the nutrients required to process these amino acids, the brain won’t be able to produce neurotransmitters to keep moods balanced.
      • Several essential nutrients and essential amino acids have been removed from foods as a result of genetic modification (GMOs) which has created the perfect storm in terms of teens and mental health issues. Read more about these government-sponsored nutrient deficiencies here.
    • Lack of Healthy Oils
      • The brain is made up of omega fatty acids and teenagers need a lot of these nutrients to have a healthy mood state. The Budwig Diet is a simple smoothie that teenagers can drink before and after school to load up on healthy oils to rebuild brain tissues that have been ravaged by addictive foods.
      • Read more about the Budwig Diet here.
    • Lack of Essential Amino Acids
      • L-Tyrosine and L-Tryptophan are two amino acids that are no longer produced by GMO foods. These two amino acids are necessary for the production of dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, serotonin, and melatonin.
      • Administer 1500 mg of L-Tyrosine 4 times daily (6000 mg total).
      • Take one vitamin B-100 complex pill daily so that the body can process the amino acids properly.
      • Read more about amino acids and addiction here.

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  • • Lack of Essential Nutrients
      • Vitamin K2 - By age 17, about 40% of all kids in the U.S. today have pineal gland calcification. This means that they are in a near constant state of “jet lag”, even though they’re technically health. But pineal gland calcification causes teens to feel similar to what kids with autism experience. Read more about pineal gland calcification here.

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• • • • Lugol's iodine is another nutrient deficiency that can cause depression in teenagers. Many teenagers feel like iodine supplementation makes them feel "awake and alive again". It should administered as Lugol's Iodine 2% at 50 mg / 20 drops per day. Read more about Lugol's iodine and vitamin K2 nutrient deficiencies here.

Our Amazon links to supplements that actually cure addiction and mental health issues often disappear mysteriously shortly after we publish. Please click here to buy Lugol's iodine 2% and support our outside vendors.

• • • Blood Sugar Irregularities
      • Kudzu / Pueraria lobata is an herb that helps regulate blood sugar levels and that also normalizes mood states. Many people with food addictions really love this herb because it helps them overcome withdrawal as well as low blood sugar that often accompanies the process of changing to a healthier diet. Read more here about herbs like Kudzu that help people with dopamine levels and blood sugar levels.
  • Nature's Way Herbal Kudzu Root, 1,226 mg per serving, 50 Capsules
    • Gallbladder / Liver Congestion
      • Gallbladder and liver congestion are often a cause of depression and apathy. As organs located just under the rib cage, the gallbladder and the liver are at sites where people normally feel emotions physically in the body. Congestion of the liver and gallbladder often involves intense feelings of anger that can be misdirected inward to gum up decision-making and clear-thinking. This can be particularly serious in teenagers. Liver and gallbladder congestion is a problem that happens with poor diet, high stress, and hormone changes. The Hulda Clark Gallbladder Cleanse naturally removes gallstones that cause congestion in the liver and gallbladder. 
      • Low bile flow from the liver and gallbladder can lead to fecal impactions in the intestines. Read about how to use enzyme therapy to clear the intestines as a treatment for depression.
  • Intestinal Irritation / Fecal Impactions 
    • Intestinal irritation and fecal impaction in the intestines due to poor diet and low bile flow can create a condition ripe for parasites to grow. Many parasites hijack mental health. Read more about parasites and mental health here.
    • Fecal impactions and leaky gut can cause low energy levels and other types of infection such as Candida albicans yeast infections too. Read more about how to cure Candida here.
  • Adrenal Exhaustion
    • Parasite infection or Candida infection can cause adrenal exhaustion. 
    • Adrenal exhaustion is also a symptom of food addiction because adrenaline is manufactured from dopamine as a precursor. If dopamine levels are low (due to explosive releases caused by consuming addictive foods), adrenaline levels will also be low. Some teenagers may develop bipolar disorder as a result. 
    • Lithium orotate can be used to balance moods and get rid of parasites and Candida. Read more about low-dose Lithium Orotate here.
    • Administer 5 mg twice daily.
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  • Neurotransmitter Imbalance 
    • Mucuna pruriens 
      • As a dopamine precursor, the Mucuna bean can be put in food or it can be taken in capsule form.

• • • • Mucuna has a balancing effect on mood and sense-of self. It takes effect within 4-6 hours after dosing. 

• • • • Mucuna can be administered to prevent teenagers from getting addicted to drugs, toxic relationships, social media, and more.
      • Administer 1500 mg 4 times daily (6000 mg total) as a natural treatment for teens with mental health issues. To prevent depression in teens, administer 250 mg 4 times daily.

1. • N-Acetyl Cysteine or L-Cysteine
     • N-Acetyl Cysteine / NAC or L-Cysteine is a sulfur detoxifying supplement that helps get rid of ammonia in the brain tissues. Ammonia buildup in the brain can cause headaches, negative nagging thoughts, and obsessions.
     • NAC also helps clean the liver and the gallbladder to assist with the problem of liver / gallbladder congestion. 
     • Administer 600 mg 6 times daily (2400 mg total). 

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Looking for depression cures? Check out the AliveNHealthy Living Databases...

The AliveNHealthy Living Database is a constantly updated source of information on scientifically proven cures and treatment options for depression, as well as for a long list of other mental health problems and physical illnesses. The Living Database started as a way that we could keep the information we found organized and easily searchable; now, we're sharing this database with our readers! Click here to visit the Living Database and learn more about this tool for health.