Helping Troubled
Teens
Homeopathic approach to Teenage problems
The homeopathic constitutional modus operandi can come to the aide of teenage
problems associated with physical and emotional stress. Homeopathic treatment is
affordable, safe, natural, effective and permanent. Homeopathic remedies
precisely act at the level of mind and body together, to offset emotional
disruptions such as anxiety, anger, insecurity, obsessive traits, jealousy,
paranoia, depression, neurosis, etc. By relieving these emotions, homeopathic
remedies facilitate a harmonious rapport with health. Homeopathic remedies can
induce a positive change in teens who are suffering from distressing states of
mind, emotions and behavior. Homeopathy can facilitate the patients to be less
hostile, much more accommodating, easier to live with, and more competent in
dealing with stressful situations.
After constitutional homeopathic treatment,
• Patients become more rational,
• Much less reactive and more compliant.
• The traits of impulsivity and hyperactivity become much more controllable.
• Conflict with parents, siblings, schoolmates, and friends, lying, stealing and
hurting others become significantly less frequent.
• You appreciate your own value by building self esteem and helping develop a
better sense of right and wrong.
Helping troubled teens
Whatever problems your teen is experiencing, it is not a sign that you’ve
somehow failed as a parent. Instead of trying to assign blame for the situation,
focus on your teen’s current needs. The first step to doing this is to find a
way to connect with what he or she is experiencing emotionally and socially.
Tip 1: Connect with your teen
It may seem hard to believe—given your child’s anger or indifference towards
you—but teens still crave love, approval, and acceptance from their parents.
Positive face-to-face connection is the quickest most efficient way to reduce
stress by calming and focusing the nervous system. That means you probably have
a lot more influence over your teen than you think.
To open the lines of communication:
1. Be aware of your own stress levels. If you’re angry or upset, now is
not the time to try to communicate with your teen. Wait until you’re calm and
energized before starting a conversation. You’re likely to need all the patience
and positive energy you can muster.
2. Be there for your teen. An offer to chat with your teen over coffee
will probably be greeted with a sarcastic put-down or dismissive gesture, but
it’s important to show you’re available. Insist on sitting down for mealtimes
together with no TV or other distractions. Look at your teen when you speak and
invite your teen to look at you. Don’t get frustrated if your efforts are
greeted by nothing more than monosyllabic grunts or shrugs; you may have to eat
a lot of dinners in silence, but when your teen does want to open up, he or she
will have the opportunity to do so.
3. Find common ground. Trying to discuss your teen’s appearance or
clothes may be a sure-fire way to trigger a heated argument, but you can still
find some areas of common ground. Fathers and sons often connect over sports;
mothers and daughters over gossip or movies. The objective is not to be your
teen’s best friend, but to find common interests that you can discuss
peacefully. Once you’re talking, your teen may feel more comfortable opening up
to you about other things.
4. Listen without judging or giving advice. When your teen does talk to
you, it’s important that you listen without judging, mocking, interrupting,
criticizing, or offering advice. Your teen wants to feel understood and valued
by you, so maintain eye contact and keep your focus on your child, even when he
or she is not looking at you. If you’re checking your email or reading the
newspaper, your teen will feel that he or she is not important to you.
5. Expect rejection. Your attempts to connect with your teen may often be
met with anger, irritation, or other negative reactions. Stay relaxed and allow
your teen space to cool off. Try again later when you’re both calm. Successfully
connecting to your teen will take time and effort. Don’t be put off; persevere
and the breakthrough will come.
Roadblocks to connection If your teen is under the influence of alcohol or
drugs, their ability to connect emotionally or socially will be compromised. If
your teen is taking antidepressants, make sure the dosage is no more than
absolutely needed.
Tip 2: Make healthy lifestyle changes
The tips below can help put balance back in your troubled teen’s life, no matter
the exact diagnosis of his or her problems:
1. Create structure. Teens may scream and argue with you about rules and
discipline, or rebel against daily structure, but that doesn't mean they need
them any less. Structure, such as regular mealtimes and bedtimes, make a teen
feel safe and secure. Sitting down to breakfast and dinner together every day
can also provide a great opportunity to check in with your teen at the beginning
and end of each day.
2. Reduce screen time. There is a direct relationship between violent TV
shows, movies, Internet content, and video games, and the violent behavior in
teenagers. Even if your teen isn't drawn to violent material, too much screen
time can still impact brain development. Limit the time your teen has access to
electronic devices—and restrict phone usage after a certain time at night to
ensure your child gets enough sleep.
3. Encourage exercise. Even a little regular exercise can help ease
depression, boost energy and mood, relieve stress, regulate sleep patterns, and
improve your teen's self-esteem. If you struggle getting your teen to do
anything but play video games, encourage him or her to play activity-based video
games or "exergames" that are played standing up and moving around—simulating
dancing, skateboarding, soccer, or tennis for example. Once exercise becomes a
habit, encourage your teen to try the real sport or to join a club or team.
4. Eat right. Healthy eating can help stabilize a teenager's energy,
sharpen his or her mind, and even out his or her mood. Act as a role model for
your teen. Cook more meals at home, eat more fruit and vegetables and cut back
on junk food and soda.
5. Ensure your teen gets enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can make a teen
stressed, moody, irritable, and lethargic, and cause problems with weight,
memory, concentration, decision-making, and immunity from illness. You might be
able to get by on six hours a night and still function at work, but your teen
needs 8.5 to 10 hours of sleep a night to be mentlly sharp and emotionally
balanced. Encourage better sleep by setting consistant bedtimes, and removing
TVs, computers, and other electronic gadgets from your teen's room—the light
from these suppresses melatonin production and stimulated the mind, rather than
relaxing it. Suggest your teen tries listening to music or audio books at
bedtime instead.
Tip 3: Take care of yourself
The stress of dealing with any teenager, especially one who’s experiencing
behavioral problems, can take a toll on your own health, so it’s important to
take care of yourself. That means looking after your emotional and physical
needs and learning to manage stress.
• Taking care of yourself
• Take time to relax daily and learn how to regulate yourself and de-stress when
you start to feel overwhelmed.
• Watch out for signs of depression and anxiety and get professional help if
needed.
Don’t go it alone, especially if you’re a single parent. Seek help from
friends, relatives, a school counselor, sports coach, religious leader, or
someone else who has a relationship with your teen. Organizations such as Boys
and Girls Clubs and other youth groups can also help provide structure and
guidance.
This won’t last forever
It’s worth reminding your teen that no matter how much pain or turmoil he or she
is experiencing right now, with your love and support, and professional help
when it's needed, things can and will get better—for both of you. Your teen can
overcome the problems of adolescence and mature into a happy, successful young
adult.
Teens treated successfully with Homeopathy can truly be called trouble-free
kids. Their parents, family members, teachers, and friends can finally go back
to living a more peaceful life.