Opinion
Bijaya Dhakal
MPH, Health Promotion Specialist
April 2, 2025
Teens' Mental Health and Natural Therapy: What does Your Gut say About Your Child's Health?
Background
Mental health is an important concern for all age groups of people around the world these days. It is hard to say if this is the result of increasing social advancement, social media, electronic use, genetic factors, family environments, school environments, food security, and employment security, so many determinants of health! Children and youth's overall health status and mental health status are assets of future generations. A healthy child of today is a healthy adult and a community of tomorrow. Promoting children to live healthy lives is no different than seedling and nurturing it. The current challenge is HOW TO FIX these issues.
I Asked Myself, "Are Natural Therapies Better than Medications to Treat a Child with Mental Health Issues?"
Can natural methods ease anxiety, depression, autism, and ADHD symptoms in teens? Understanding the potential of natural approaches can be a key part of mental wellness. Overuse of electronics, TV shows, and games can be more than just a hobby; they might be signs of underlying mental health needs. It's essential to recognize when these habits are impacting well-being. Is this a sign of social anxiety? Is this a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder? Or other mental and neurodevelopmental conditions?
Naturopathy is a system or method of treating disease that employs no surgery or synthetic drugs but uses special diets, herbs, vitamins, massage, etc., to assist the natural healing process. Naturopathy can be started with a child’s blood test, finding out deficiencies and fulfilling the requirements with natural food supplements that provide the specific vitamins and minerals.
I believe natural products, supplements, yoga, and mindful meditation can be practical tools for mental health. It's essential to understand and promote holistic approaches to well-being. Sometimes, children just need understanding, love, compassionate care, empathy, and open, friendly discussion with parents. Children often need hugs and warm touches from parents. They do not exactly understand their need, but we are adults who have already gone through these emotional fluctuations and hormonal changes. So, we must understand their deeply rooted thoughts, needs, emotions, and psychology. Healthy and positive emotions, along with positive psychology, are the real cause of mental health disease prevention because most of the environmental and personal factors can be fixed by positive psychology, besides genetic factors. Trying does not harm, but if it does not work, there are medical professionals for more severe cases.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy(CBT)
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is something readers may like to find out about in their local areas, and connect with the therapist. CBT is also called talk therapy or psychotherapy. CBT professionals assess patients' psychology, emotions, and perceptions and try to divert negative mindsets or perceptions to positive ones. There are many published books available on CBT, and can be found on Amazon online. CBT has been proven to be effective in improving depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other social problems such as marital problems, alcohol and drug use problems, and even severe mental health illnesses. CBT makes clients aware of their thinking patterns and their relationship with behaviors. Knowing this connection helps clients to recognize the challenging situations and know how to deal with them in specific situations by providing tools from the therapist. CBT is a first-line therapy for mental health diseases, which is a non-medical approach used by certified healthcare professionals.
Positive Mindset and Mindfulness Practices
Spiritual and mindfulness practices provide a unique approach to emotional and psychological wellness by balancing the mind, moods, and awareness. By observing our emotions during meditation sessions and focusing on the ongoing processes happening within us, such as automatic breathing, bodily sensations, and thoughts- both negative and positive- we can alleviate emotional imbalances and fluctuations in mood. When thoughts subside, we conserve our positive energy and cultivate calmness within by retaining that energy.
Spiritual and mindfulness practices offer a unique approach to emotional and psychological wellness by balancing the mind, moods, and awareness. By observing one's emotions during meditation sessions and focusing on the continuous processes happening within ourselves, such as automatic breathing, bodily sensations, and thoughts- both negative and positive- we can help alleviate emotional imbalances and fluctuations in mood. When thoughts subside, we conserve our positive energy and cultivate calmness within ourselves by retaining that energy.
Let's do it this way
Why don't we try these natural approaches first? Love, connections, social networking, understanding teens' needs by parents, and providing supportive care can be a great solution for anxiety. Taking them for CBT and mindfulness meditation practices is not so easy and quick steps when children and adolescents have their autonomy. That means if they are not ready, they do not want to join, and forcing them may impact them negatively and cause their mental health to worsen. But parents can try making them ready, try to create positive environments so that they slowly develop positive perceptions, and promote them for good practices in their daily lives.
Sometimes, the prescribed medication, which has unwanted side effects, may cause more problems than fixing the real problem, and have to give different medication to your child to fix another issue.
What does your gut say about it? If confused, the health professional's advice is there for the correct direction.