There was a time when no one talked about stress because it wasn’t a common word, least of all when pertaining to de-stressing kids.

What could children possibly be stressed about?

Fast forward to today and let’s look at the definition of stress: “a mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances”.

Today, no one would even hesitate to question whether our kids are possibly stressed out – the issue now is how to control the level of stress in our children’s lives.

Here are some helpful suggestions to consider for de-stressing kids:

• Reduce environmental stress by:
  • Establishing regular routines for both daytime and nighttime
  • Controlling the electromagnetic frequency (EMFs) in the house
  • Reducing excess noise
  • Greening your home by removing everything toxic
  • Buying organic and non-toxic products
  • Improving the air and water quality in your home
• Remove the following from your child’s diet:
  • Fast foods
  • Chemical preservatives
  • Glutamates
  • Food allergens such as gluten, casein, soy, sugar, grains, nuts and other identifiable antigens
• Buy local fruits and vegetables in season
• Give your child probiotics and fermented foods to heal the gastrointestinal tract and microbiome by repopulating the good bacteria
• Increase your child’s intake of Himalayan, Celtic or other unprocessed salt
• Make sure your child eats breakfast and has some protein in the morning
• Ensure your child doesn’t skip meals
• Give your child good-quality fats, which are essential for optimal brain function, such as:
  • Cod liver oil
  • Evening primrose oil
  • Borage oil
  • Flax oil
  • Hempseed oil
  • Coconut oil
  • Ghee
  • Lard
  • Chicken schmaltz
  • Tallow
  • Duck fat
  • Olive oil
  • Avocado oil
• Remove dangerous fats from your child’s diet:
  • Corn oil
  • Soy oil
  • Canola oil
  • Other vegetable oils
  • Sunflower oil
  • Safflower oil
  • Margarine
  • Hydrogenated vegetable oils
  • Trans fat
• Ensure your child is drinking enough water and getting enough electrolytes to avoid dehydration
• Supplement nutritional deficiencies, after having your child tested, with:
  • B vitamins, which are calming to the nervous system
  • Pantothenic acid (B5), which is the vitamin for stress, trace minerals and electrolyte
  • PharmaGABA, which is a type of GABA (inhibitory neurotransmitter) that crosses the blood brain barrier to calm the brain
  • SAMe, which elevates serotonin in the brain to improve the mood, essential fatty acids
  • DHA
  • Neuromins (microalgy)
  • Lithium orotate
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Phosphatidylcholine
• Test for irregularities and imbalances in:
  • Neurotransmitters (brain)
  • Endocrine system (hormones)
  • Gastrointestinal system (GI)
  • Immune system (inflammation)
• Ensure enough sleep by:
  • Limiting computer and TV before bed
  • Making sure your child is not overstimulated during the day by technology
  • Reducing sugar and carbohydrates in the diet
  • Supplementing with L-tryptophan, melatonin, homeopathic sleep remedies (coffea cruda), valerian root, chamomile, and essential oils for sleep (lavender).
• Rid the body of:
  • Yeast overgrowth
  • Candida
  • Mold
  • Fungus
  • Parasites
  • Heavy metals
  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Other pathogens that can be stimulating and over burdening the nervous system and sensory system.
• Detoxify the body with:
  • Epsom salt baths
  • Homeopathy
  • N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
  • Garlic
  • Cilantro
  • Alpha lipoic acid
  • Zeolith
  • MSM (methylsulfonylmethane)
  • Chlorella
  • Other natural detox supplements
• Support the adrenals by giving:
  • Rescue Remedy
  • Adaptogenic herbs
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Pantothenic acid
  • Homeopathic remedies
• Avoid low blood sugar drops and too much processed salt because they cause adrenal fatigue
• Make sure your child has normal cholesterol levels. Low cholesterol affects cortisol levels, causing stress and anxiety.
• Do structural therapies such as craniosacral therapy and chiropractic.
• Consider:
  • Reflex integration therapies
  • Correcting vision dysfunction with vision therapy
  • Neurobiofeedback
  • Brain balancing
  • Chiropractic neurology
• Reduce sensory overload with:
  • Sensory integration occupational therapy
  • Auditory integration therapy
  • Sound stimulation
  • Music therapy
• Exercise such as:
  • Yoga
  • Swimming
  • Karate
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Gymnastics
  • Movement activities of any kind
• Participate in activities such as:
  • Blowing bubbles
  • Hands-on comforting and nurturing
  • Deep breathing
  • Music

If your child is non-verbal, try to find modalities that create some form of communication to avoid frustration and high anxiety.

Also use visuals to communicate what to expect or what’s coming next to avoid anxiety due to the unknown.

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