Are you a teen with depression or do you know one? Chances are the answer is yes. There are millions of teens diagnosed with depression every year and for most of these teens, traditional medical approaches have failed miserably. Fortunately, there are now 100% natural treatment options available which offer teens and their families a much more effective alternative.

Teenage depression is a very troubling condition. Teens are already subjected to the not inconsiderable stresses of puberty and peer pressure, which can make the teenage years unbearable. Throw in the very real effects of disrupted brain chemistry and you can have a volatile combination. In fact, depression is the leading cause of teen suicide, drug use, and other damaging behaviors such as cutting.

Because life can be so difficult for a teen with depression and their entire family, parents will often jump at the easy solution offered by prescription antidepressants. While these medications can control symptoms, they do nothing to treat their underlying cause and they can carry very serious side effects, including the threat of becoming addictive.

Rather than automatically opting to go the traditional route, many parents are now considering natural remedies. This is an important step in treating teenage depression because it offers the ability to treat the cause of the condition, namely chemical imbalance in the brain. By addressing this imbalance, natural remedies can help to restore mental equilibrium and control mood swings, and they do so without significant side effects.

Made from a unique blend of herbs and other plant based ingredients, natural remedies offer safe and effective treatment for a teen with depression based on centuries old healing principles. Ingredients such as St. John's Wort can control mood swings by stabilizing the levels of various brain chemicals while others like Passion Flower serve as nerve tonics, to produce a sense of calm and relaxation.

Of course, like any treatment, these natural remedies are just one step in combating the difficulties of teenage depression. Along with restoring proper brain chemistry, making healthy lifestyle choices and seeking support are extremely important. A healthy diet, plenty of exercise and the right amount of sleep are all vital to promoting good health of mind and body.

Perhaps nothing is as crucial to a teen with depression as realizing they are not alone. Have a strong support system around them can make a huge difference. Sometimes what is needed most is a friendly ear. Be sure to listen to what they have to say and reinforce the point that their feelings matter. The more you can do to buoy their self esteem, the better they'll be able to fight off feelings of depression.

As depression continues to be a real issue for teenagers, it is important that family and friends do everything they can to help battle the problem. This means remaining open to all treatment options, including natural remedies to help maintain good brain chemistry. Depression doesn't have to take over you teen's life, together you can make the right choice and help them feel better naturally.