My youngest daughter was diagnosed with depression after her father died. I took her to a psychologist who promptly said she needed drugs.... yes, on the first visit... within the first 10 minutes. I had done my research and knew the stats - "The FDA has determined that antidepressant medications increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders..." http://www.medicinenet.com/teen_depression/page2.htm so why would I make this choice for my daughter?
Instead, I searched the web and found several places where a change of diet and an addition of specific herbs helped. http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsatod/a/Depression1.htm Please note - not all of these are good for teens, you must read up on each and determine the best solution for your family.
I took away all processed foods, all refined sugars, all fast food and replaced with as many fruits and vegetables as I could. I also regulated fatty foods and breads. In addition she started a multi-vitamin for teens, omega 3-6-9 daily, and 60mg of gingko. And finally, a daily exercise routine - no less than 30 minutes of sustained daily exercise.
Please remember, this is what worked best for my daughter. Every child is different. We had to experiment with the treatment over a couple week timeframe. But in the end, you could tell a MARKED improvement in her behavior after only three days. And if she missed a day... it was VERY obvious. This isn't a short term fix. She has been on this for 4+ years and can still slide backwards.
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