Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 11/8/2009

Question
QUESTION: My name's Jarrod, I am 16 years old. I have a good life in small ways. I have good family and good friends. Yet when it comes to friends, especially female friends. I feel lonely, and I don't want them to leave me. This could because I have had only a few girlfriends and I learned a lot about sill love and just growing up, the normal. When I feel lonely, I feel as if I can't get enough company, guy friends just don't cover it anymore, I feel as if I need female compassion. I have 3 girl- friends that I can talk to more than anything and when they leave I feel cut off from everything else. I feel as if their company gone is horrible and I can't stand being alone anymore.All these thoughts keep occuring to me more often.
If i sound like just a complainer,and a total hypocrite, I could see why But I don't know if I am some what lonely/depressed or just regulary down,just noramlly sad??? If this is just me complaining, then whoever just let me know. Please email me back  with whatever help,advice, or even corrections, thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Jarrod,

It is pretty normal for 16 year old to feel that way.  But if you feel depressed it could be due to hypoglycemia. When you have hypoglycemia, you may feel depressed and have a low self-esteem. This is because in hypoglycemia your body is bombarded with stress hormones, that may make you feel anxious in company of other people.

Please test yourself with the:
The Nutrition-Behavior Inventory Questionnaire at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/nutrition-behavior_inventory.html

and the

The Hypo Quizz at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.org/hypo_test.asp

If you score high it may be positive for hypoglycemia. This can be treated by going on a hypoglycemic diet (Search our web site for this). Please discuss with a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychologist, if self-help therapy fails.

Other articles on depression are:

Depression is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/depression_disorder.html
Depression: a Disease of Energy Production at:
http://curezone.com/upload/PDF/Articles/jurplesman/depression_energy3.pdf
Treatment of a Low Self-Esteem at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/psychotherapy/TOLSE.html

and discuss with a Nutritional Doctor or nutritional Psychologist.

Also read:

Summary of Self-help Pyschotherapy at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/self-help_personal_growth.html#PSYCHOTHE

in its entirety from beginning to end. It includes a program showing you how to overcome a negative self-image, and assertiveness training program, communication course and values clarification course.

I hope I have been of some help.
_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychologist
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help once again. But I believe if I still might not be satisfied with results and readings. I was glad to read what I read and it helped clear my mind of a few small and minor things. But I need to know If I should go along by myself and talk to a doctor and/or psychologist. I'm not sure if I should consider this a big deal. I took the 20 question hypoglycemia test and got a 23 out of 20. I do question my own answers because I had quite a few "nevers" yet I want to see someone or e-mail someone. I'm not sure if I should go to my parents about this because I don't want to alarm anyone, plus I don't know if they'll understand me. I do not want to make this a bigger case than it might actually be but I would rather have myself proven wrong so i know everything is as it should be. Please reply whenever, thank you.

Answer
Hi Jarrod,

I suggest that you do discuss this with your parents. Being depressed is quite prevalent among teenagers, and this is mainly due to a nutritional disorder. Thus yes, this is not a big deal. It is not a "mental illness", but a physiological illness, that can be treated. You have to try to treat it without recourse to drugs and this is why I suggest you ask to be referred to a Nutritional Doctor. Ask them to test you with a Glucose Tolerance Test as explained at:

The four hour medical Test for Hypoglycemia explained at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/testing_hypoglycemia.html

Testing for Hypoglycemia
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/self-help_personal_growth.html#Testing

There is a letter attached that can be copied and given to the doctor. It explains how to test for Pre-diabetic hypoglycemia.

Show this response to your parents, please.
_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman