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Natural Ways to Help Manic Depression in Teens

Teen-agers who suffer from manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, experience episodes of mania and depression cycles. Manic depression can cause many complications in the lives of teens who have the condition, leading to trouble at school, affecting academic performance and resulting in behavioral problems and issues. Teens suffering from manic depression also may feel isolated and separate themselves from others. To battle the effects of manic depression in their teen, parents can try a multitude of natural methods to help remedy its symptoms.

  1. Therapy

    • Therapy is a beneficial natural way to help teens deal with manic depression. Various types of therapy help teens understand why they are experiencing manic depression and teach them how to cope with the stressful situations of adolescence and challenges that can trigger manic depression symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches teens how to change their patterns of negative thinking and behavior to optimistic, pro-active thinking and behavior. Interpersonal therapy teaches teens how to develop healthy social relationships at school and at home. Psychotherapy allows teens to explore feelings and events that are stressful, painful and troubling to them and shows them how to develop coping skills to deal with negative feelings.

    Being Active

    • Teens can treat manic depression symptoms naturally by staying busy with activities such as playing sports, participating in school functions and working on hobbies to help them focus on positive feelings and emotions rather than concentrating on negative manic depression feelings or behaviors. Creating healthy relationships with new friends and teammates also may provide a social outlet and build self-esteem. Parents can encourage teens to create an exercise routine that includes being active for at least 60 minutes each day. Teens can run, walk, swim, ride bikes and try strength training for physical activity. Being active will help prevent weight gain, improve their health, and reduce negative thoughts and depressive feelings while boosting their self-esteem.

    Herbal Supplements

    • Hypericum, also known as St. John's Wort, has recently stimulated enormous interest as an alternative treatment for depression in both teens and adults. Although St. John's Wort has been promoted to have anti-depressant qualities, no studies to date effectively prove those claims. Medical institutions, however, are conducting research to determine the anti-depressant efficacy of St. John's Wort. Before self-medicating your teen with St. John's Wort, you should seek the advice of your doctor to prevent your teen's further depression symptoms, including suicidal thoughts and attempts.

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