Time Magazine this month has it’s feature article on the problem of anxiety, depression and the American adolescent. This problem is multifaceted. Simply addressing it with chemical intervention doesn’t get the job done. As a society, we’ve approached most problems, physical or emotional with drugs. If you’re a hammer, all problems look like nails.
As in my last article, we’re reaping an empty harvest from the nutritionally void seeds we’ve sown. The brains and nervous systems of our kids are reflecting the destruction and alteration of what once were healthy foods. With this in mind, There are things we can do concerning restoring nutrition and peace of mind.
Besides nutritional and developmental failures, we’re living in a society that puts too much emphasis on areas which really shouldn’t be of concern to our younger generation. We’re demanding they grow up too early without getting a chance to be a kid.
The electronic age has introduced concerns to our kids they should never be faced with. The need to be involved in deep relationships too early puts an additional stress on our kids. When these relationships fall through, they leave emotional scars which frequently show up in the form of physical scars, as these kids frequently resort to cutting and physical disfigurement.
With many families, both parents have to work, leaving our kids the impression that all life has to offer is work and more work, with little or no time for interpersonal relationships. If a child believes that communicating with their parents is an inconvenience, stresses remain inside, and the only way to get it out is to cut, or some other detrimental behavior.
Although we have multiple avenues of communication like cell phones, computers, the internet, and Facebook, much of what’s inside remains there. We live in a society where it’s not alright to be not alright. As a society we’ve become really good at faking it. We have to have the best cars, designer clothes, and the newest cell phone, even if we can’t afford it. When we go into debt trying to look like we’ve made it, anxiety and depression show up over how we’re going to pay for it all.
One of the worst contributors is the television. We see actors playing out what we want, but don’t have. When our kids fall short in any of these areas, feelings of failure and inadequacy increase and depression results. The portrayal of happiness in many sit-coms, isn’t always what’s experienced in real life. Some of the happiest and most well adjusted kids I’ve seen live in homes with no television, or the use is greatly restricted. In these homes there’s real communication with each other.
Now for the nutritional aspect. Serotonin along with many other neurotransmitters involved in maintaining balance in our emotions, is produced in the gut. The gut has been called the second brain. When digestion is interfered with, or when improper foods are consumed, we get to see all kinds of alteration in moods. Attention deficit disorder is frequently aggravated by consumption of various allergy initiating foods.
Bitters don’t just aid digestion, absorption, and repair of the gut, they actually impact moods, and can reduce depression. Unfortunately, Bitters are something usually not sought out by our youth, much less adults. With the ease of obtaining acid blocking drugs without a prescription, many self-medicate for digestive weakness, defeating normal digestive process. This results in neurological changes which favor depression and anxiety.
In treating this epidemic, it’s important to know what the environmental stressors are. What’s expected of the person, and what kind of mental, emotional, and psychosocial support they have. Secondly, identifying any underlying digestive issues and addressing them. Lastly, restoring function with nutrition, and appropriate botanical support.
There are many wonderful herbs which nourish the nervous system, restoring balance there. Some of my favorites include Skullcap, St John’s Wort, Schisandra, and Saffron. These four are included in a wonderfully crafted support by Medi-Herb and available in our office. Add to that the benefit of Digest Forte for the bitters, and you have a winning recipe for success.
As in my last article, we’re reaping an empty harvest from the nutritionally void seeds we’ve sown. The brains and nervous systems of our kids are reflecting the destruction and alteration of what once were healthy foods. With this in mind, There are things we can do concerning restoring nutrition and peace of mind.
Besides nutritional and developmental failures, we’re living in a society that puts too much emphasis on areas which really shouldn’t be of concern to our younger generation. We’re demanding they grow up too early without getting a chance to be a kid.
The electronic age has introduced concerns to our kids they should never be faced with. The need to be involved in deep relationships too early puts an additional stress on our kids. When these relationships fall through, they leave emotional scars which frequently show up in the form of physical scars, as these kids frequently resort to cutting and physical disfigurement.
With many families, both parents have to work, leaving our kids the impression that all life has to offer is work and more work, with little or no time for interpersonal relationships. If a child believes that communicating with their parents is an inconvenience, stresses remain inside, and the only way to get it out is to cut, or some other detrimental behavior.
Although we have multiple avenues of communication like cell phones, computers, the internet, and Facebook, much of what’s inside remains there. We live in a society where it’s not alright to be not alright. As a society we’ve become really good at faking it. We have to have the best cars, designer clothes, and the newest cell phone, even if we can’t afford it. When we go into debt trying to look like we’ve made it, anxiety and depression show up over how we’re going to pay for it all.
One of the worst contributors is the television. We see actors playing out what we want, but don’t have. When our kids fall short in any of these areas, feelings of failure and inadequacy increase and depression results. The portrayal of happiness in many sit-coms, isn’t always what’s experienced in real life. Some of the happiest and most well adjusted kids I’ve seen live in homes with no television, or the use is greatly restricted. In these homes there’s real communication with each other.
Now for the nutritional aspect. Serotonin along with many other neurotransmitters involved in maintaining balance in our emotions, is produced in the gut. The gut has been called the second brain. When digestion is interfered with, or when improper foods are consumed, we get to see all kinds of alteration in moods. Attention deficit disorder is frequently aggravated by consumption of various allergy initiating foods.
Bitters don’t just aid digestion, absorption, and repair of the gut, they actually impact moods, and can reduce depression. Unfortunately, Bitters are something usually not sought out by our youth, much less adults. With the ease of obtaining acid blocking drugs without a prescription, many self-medicate for digestive weakness, defeating normal digestive process. This results in neurological changes which favor depression and anxiety.
In treating this epidemic, it’s important to know what the environmental stressors are. What’s expected of the person, and what kind of mental, emotional, and psychosocial support they have. Secondly, identifying any underlying digestive issues and addressing them. Lastly, restoring function with nutrition, and appropriate botanical support.
There are many wonderful herbs which nourish the nervous system, restoring balance there. Some of my favorites include Skullcap, St John’s Wort, Schisandra, and Saffron. These four are included in a wonderfully crafted support by Medi-Herb and available in our office. Add to that the benefit of Digest Forte for the bitters, and you have a winning recipe for success.
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