Let’s face it, being a teenager is tough. They’re worried about grades, their hormones are raging, and they are dealing with peer pressure, balancing extracurriculars and part-time jobs, and navigating relationships on top of everything else. If your teen is abnormally stressed out and not feeling 100% themselves, they’ll likely either try to push through it, maybe talk things out with a friend, or they might even be tempted to consult with a doctor. However, it’s important to know that those aren’t your child’s only options.
Holistic health means nurturing both the mind and body. Many forms of holistic healing are becoming much more mainstream, and many of them can be on their own or integrated into an overall treatment plan for overall health and mental wellbeing. As your teenager is likely learning how to care for their mental and physical health for the first time, encouraging them to do so proactively can be extremely beneficial for their development.
While conventional medicine focuses on treating the symptoms of illness, holistic therapies work to address the entire person. Mental health and physical health are considered to be equally important. That’s why many holistic therapies focus on techniques that will help your child learn how to manage stress while supporting their physical health at the same time.
Let’s take a look at several holistic therapies for teens and how they can make a difference.
Holistic Therapies for Teens
Teenagers are still learning how to process their emotions while dealing with a body that’s continuously growing and changing. Holistic therapies are fantastic for managing and overcoming anxiety and depression, as well as physical issues, such as hormonal changes and digestive issues.
Yoga for Teens
Most teens respond very well to yoga practice. It’s a proactive way to support emotional and physical health, and the benefits can extend well into their adult years. It improves body awareness and boosts self-confidence.
During their “teens,” your child’s brain is still developing, and yoga supports the development of the part of the brain that regulates impulse control, including how we react to emotions and stress. The poses, which synchronize movement with breathing, encourage a stronger mind-body connection.
Studies show that yoga calms the nervous system of teens. The techniques taught in yoga can be used to help you relax and focus during tests, get better sleep, calm your emotions, and reduce stress overall. Many people notice a boost in their mood after yoga practice due to the release of endorphins.
Yoga offers a wonderful form of exercise as well, which we all know is crucial for maintaining a healthy body weight and supporting overall physical health.
Meditation for Teens
Meditation is extremely effective in reducing anxiety and depression. It can help your child learn how to regulate and manage their emotions and improve their attention and concentration. Practicing meditation regularly can even reduce the symptoms of ADHD and enhance brain function.
Colon Hydrotherapy for Teens
It may be a less common therapeutic treatment, but colonics can actually be incredibly healing for teens, as they help to remove excess waste from the gut. Over time this waste can cause toxins and bacteria to build up in the intestinal system, leading to many chronic conditions like constipation, emotional imbalance, acne, and migraines. Not all teens will have signs or symptoms to fit the criteria for pursuing this option, though many find that colon hydrotherapy provides a natural solution for relieving digestive issues and anxiety, which they’re often experiencing for the first time.
Outdoor Adventure Therapy for Teens
What is outdoor adventure therapy, exactly? Well, it can be almost any outdoor activity that your child enjoys. Common options are rock climbing, paddleboarding, hiking, skiing, or running. Whatever your teenager practices in order to be active in nature and unplug will improve their mood, reduce stress, and promote physical health.
Studies also show that outdoor adventure therapy can promote self-awareness, increase emotional wellbeing, and strengthen social connections for teens. It gets them active and out in the sunshine and fresh air. Adventure therapy can help your child gain confidence and resilience by teaching life skills and teamwork.
Creative Art Therapy for Teens
Creative art therapies provide a wonderful way for teens to express themselves and process their feelings. They can help your child tap into their inner self and promote self-confidence. Writing, music, and creating art are all wonderful forms of creative art therapies.
Encourage your child to remember that everyone is unique, so something that works for their friend to express themselves creatively may not work for your teen, and that’s ok. It’s important to try different approaches until they find what works for them.
Supplements/Nutrition for Teens
When constantly on the go, which is common for most teens, eating healthy foods can be tough. Although multivitamins can’t take the place of nutritious foods, they can fill in any gaps in your child’s diet and support their immune system, skin, and overall physical and mental health.
Gut health plays a key role in your overall mental and physical health, as mentioned above, so probiotics are a must for teens. Eating probiotic foods (like yogurt) or taking a probiotic supplement each day can help to balance hormones, reduce breakouts, relieve digestive issues, and even improve mood.
Magnesium is another key nutrient for teens because it helps relieve those uncomfortable leg cramps many people refer to as growing pains. It can also help to balance your child’s moods and improve their sleep.
They may also want to consider taking a B complex vitamin daily, too. B vitamins support energy, concentration, and boost the immune system. B6 is especially important for teens because low levels can lead to hormonal imbalances, sugar cravings, acne issues, and mood swings.
Be sure that you and your teen consult with their doctor before they start a supplement regimen. Some supplements should be avoided if your child has a health condition or takes certain medications.
Final Thoughts
There are lots of holistic health therapies for teens that support both mental and physical health naturally, without the need for pharmaceutical drugs. Many can be used on their own or as a complement to conventional medicine. Whether dealing with acne, digestive issues, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, or all of the above – holistic health might be just the answer your teen is looking for.
Good to know of these healthy things to do!