FEATURE impulsive, or severely depressed. When you throw drugs and alcohol into the mix, they can become danger-ously suicidal. If there’s a car and a lack of driving experience involved, it can turn into the worst-case scenario within seconds. How do we avoid this? We have to treat the teenagers’ mood disorders EARLY and CORRECTLY. If you’re unsure about whether or not your child has a psychiatric disor-der, here are some telling signs to look out for, from Childmind.org: • Showing signs of sadness for two weeks or more • Trying to harm or kill his or herself/ planning to do so • Regular use of drugs or alcohol • Intense mood swings • Refusing to eat, binging/purging, or using laxatives for weight loss • Irrational worries or fears that hin-der daily life • Involvement in serious physical fights (may include a weapon) • Unable to pay attention in school harmful chemicals and ingredients include: flavorants like diacetyl (a chemical linked to serious lung dis-ease), heavy metals (such as nickel, tin, and lead), and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs (Surgeongeneral.gov). Nicotine addic-tion can cause permanent damage to parts of the teenage brain that are re-sponsible for memory, emotion and critical thinking. It can also cause headaches, shortness of breath, irrita-bility, and feelings of anxiousness. from depression, I suggest the follow-ing lifestyle changes: Exercise: Exercise is the ultimate Antidepressants Antidepressant drugs can be an effec-tive way to treat anxiety and depression in adolescents. However, I think they are prescribed too often and too soon. I’ve seen way too many teen patients who are on medication come into my office and tell me that “all of my friends are on meds these days.” I hate to see this generation of kids move through life numb – they don’t get to feel real emotions or understand that it’s nor-mal to feel sad or anxious sometimes. [Meditation] is especially helpful when we’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. Nicotine addiction There has been a significant increase in nicotine use and addiction in the youth as a result of the release of vaping. Vap-ing according to kidshealth.org, is “the inhaling of a vapor created by an elec-tronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or other vaping device.” Although it was origi-nally designed to appeal to an older crowd of smokers who were trying to quit smoking because it was promoted as a “healthier” option, somehow, it has also appealed to high school kids who never smoked in the first place. In a study by David Hammond of the University of Waterloo, it was discovered that among youth from the ages of 16-19 years old, vaping increased substantially by 74% and cigarette smoking increased by 45% from 2017 to 2018. The vaping liquid contains much more than just nicotine. Some other Their hormones are already so out of whack because of puberty, and some young women are on birth control which can already make them feel a little off. When you throw antidepres-sants into the cocktail, today’s teens truly won’t know what it feels like to be their “normal” selves. Although depression is usually he-reditary, it can also be caused by exter-nal sources, and therefore, could pos-sibly be fixed without medication right away. Some factors that could trigger teen depression include: bullying at school, lack of socialization because of social distancing, confusion about sexual ori-entation, poor diet, pressure to do well in school, lack of sleep, stress from the current state of the world, chronic pain, low self-esteem, problems at home, etc. If any of my patients are suffering natural treatment for anxiety and depression. According to HelpGuide, “studies show that exercise can treat moderate to mild depression as effectively as antidepressant medication,” and it’s also a “natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment” because it “relieves tension and stress, boosts physical and mental energy, and enhances well-being through the release of endorphins.” A recent study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that the risk of major depression is reduced by 26% when a person engages in daily physical activity as simple as 15 minutes of running or one hour of brisk walking. When following a regular exercise schedule, teens will have sharper mem-ory and thinking, higher self-esteem, reduced inflammation, better sleep, more energy, and stronger resilience when exercise is used as a coping mechanism instead of unhealthy habits. Meditation: If you are new to meditation, this may seem silly or a little too “out there” for your taste, but it has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety, depression, and psychological pain. On top of that, it’s been known to be beneficial for sleep, overall mood, and cognition. You’ve probably meditated before and didn’t even realize it. Any time that you take a few minutes to clear your mind, drown out the noise around you, and focus on your breathing, you’re meditating! This is especially helpful when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, and you need to take a second to calm yourself down. Diet: The brain is the engine that keeps the body moving. When it doesn’t receive the fuel it needs, it will shut down. If it receives fuel that isn’t the best quality, it’s not going to produce great results; do you see where I’m going with this? Our bodies need clean, whole foods that provide the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that they require to reach their full potential. Have you seen the amount of sugar that’s in today’s junk www.Cndoctor.ca 18 Chiropractic and Naturopathic Doctor October 2020
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