From the Desk of Carolyn Dean MD ND
These days, I’m hearing more and more from young men aged 19–29 struggling with anxiety, depression and insomnia and they’re labelling it as stress. However, stress manifests for you, I want you to know that it strips your body of magnesium; the mineral that keeps you calm, focused, and sleeping like a rock. You can read my book The Complete Guide to Mental Health for lifestyle and supplement advice, but now I’ll share quick thoughts for young men.
What Dr. Google or an MD might say about young men’s mental health
According to Dr. Google young men aged 19 to 29 have a higher risk of depression and higher anxiety than older men. The expression of their mental health struggles might show up in high-risk behavior, drug and alcohol use and outbursts of anger.
Stress Triggers in Young Men:
- Juggling societal and peer pressure
- Having difficulty navigating expectations from friends and family, and of themselves
- Daily pressure from school, college and / or work
- Relationship pressures
- Financial and career concerns
- Substance abuses that masks emotional issues
- For some men, trauma from bullying or abuse
Dr. Google’s solution is to get a hobby, be social, exercise and eat well. With that anemic online response, no wonder you’re turning here for more insight.
Symptoms associated with stress in young men:
- Insomnia: Can’t fall asleep or stay asleep? Your brain’s on overdrive and you wake up feeling pummeled.
- Anxiety and Irritability: Feeling on edge or blowing up over nothing – that “exploding head” feeling.
- Fatigue and Brain Fog: Exhausted but can’t focus or make decisions – makes you just want to binge eat and veg out.
- Physical Symptoms: Headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, or even sexual dysfunction – makes you feel ancient and out of control.
- High-Risk Behaviors: Some guys turn to alcohol, drugs, or reckless choices to cope – the adrenaline high seems to make that behavior worth it.
Note: These aren’t just “life” problems—they’re signs your body’s magnesium reserves are running on empty. And if you’re taking meds for ADHD, anxiety, or depression, you’ll be depleting magnesium even faster.
Dr. Google might … I mean, Will, suggest drugs
Young men who are searching for help online are given Dr. Google’s solutions – to get a hobby, be social, exercise and eat well or – worse – pop a pill.
Antidepressants like Prozac (SSRIs) or Cymbalta (SNRIs) and anti-anxiety meds like Xanax or Ativan are handed out like candy, promising to “fix” your mood or sleep (without making any lifestyle adjustments). In truth, they deplete magnesium, cause drowsiness, and trap you in a cycle of dependency. In my book Death by Modern Medicine, I expose how these quick fixes ignore the root cause and harm your body long-term.
Unfortunately, many young men are opting for medication to help them deal with the stress they don’t think they can change easily enough. Let me just put in a sidebar here. About 10% of school-age children take medication for ADHD, which makes these kids think that taking meds is normal. This makes it easier for them to accept prescriptions for other symptoms that present.
Take Jake, a 22-year-old college student who follows my work. Stressed to the point of nightly insomnia, he went to his doctor for help. Without even a proper exam, he was prescribed sleeping pills and an antidepressant. Not only did they make him groggy, but his headaches got worse, and he felt more disconnected. Sound familiar? The good news: Jake turned things around with my approach, and you can too.
What I say about young men’s stress and mental health
Start with Magnesium!
“Stress” is such an overworked word, but we all suffer physical, emotional, and mental stress every day, and every bit of it drains magnesium. Magnesium: The Missing Link to Total Health,
As you know, if you’ve been following me, the first order of business for anyone, and in this case for young men dealing with stress and mental health challenges, is to fortify your life with picometer, stabilized magnesium ions. It’s even more dire that you replenish your magnesium if you have been taking medications because they further diminish your magnesium.
Stress – whether from world events, exams, relationships, or just life – drains your magnesium reserves. This mineral is your body’s natural stressbuster, keeping your nervous system calm, your muscles relaxed, and your sleep on track. In The Magnesium Miracle, I explain how chronic stress dumps magnesium into your bloodstream to help you cope, leaving your reserves dangerously low. Without enough magnesium, your stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) go haywire, spiking your heart rate, tensing your muscles, and keeping you up at night. You’re hearing your blood pounding in your ears and felling it pounding in your heart.
You can start with magnesium in picometer-sized, stabilized ions which absorb directly into your cells, replenishing magnesium fast. It’s a game-changer for stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Jake started with 300 mg of magnesium daily, split into two doses, and within two weeks, he was sleeping through the night and feeling like himself again.
So, get your magnesium sorted! Especially if you are taking any of the above medications as their usage severely depletes your magnesium levels.
Insomnia – what problem are you trying to solve?
While insomnia is one of the first complaints young men have that’s corrected with magnesium therapy, we also want to pay attention to the idea, “what’s keeping you up at night?”
In German New Medicine/ Total Biology, as explained in The Psychic Roots of Diseases, by Björn Eybl, insomnia can stem from a subconscious conflict your brain’s trying to resolve. Maybe it’s a fear of failure, a repressed emotion, or something you’re avoiding – like a tough conversation or a lingering trauma from bullying or abuse.
Often, it’s the subconscious mind that’s running this program so it might not be a problem that’s front and center.
Here’s how to start uncovering what’s keeping you up at night:
- Journal: Ask yourself, “What or who do I keep avoiding?” or “What fear keeps popping up?” “What do I avoid talking about?” Write without judgment for 10 minutes.
- Reflect: Think about unresolved conflicts – at work, with family, or even a subconscious fear of death can affect your ability to sleep deeply.
- Seek Support: Talk to a trusted friend or practitioner to process these emotions safely.
Supplements to support your mental health
For my wellness protocol, I’ll refer you to my book Total Body ReSet for Men which is available to members at DrCarolynDean.com. In it I talk about magnesium, multiple minerals, methylated and food-based B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids. This handful of nutrients support the growth of healthy brain and body cells.
Stress doesn’t have to run your life. You’re not broken, and you certainly don’t need a prescribed pill to “fix” you. By rebuilding your magnesium reserves and addressing the root causes of stress, you can sleep better, feel calmer, and take on life with confidence. I’ve seen it happen for thousands of men, and I know it can work for you.
I know you’re reading this blog because you’re already tapped into the kind of information I share about illness and disease and their underlying explanations, solutions and interventions to achieve health and wellness. And I know you’re likely frustrated because you’re in possession of this information that could help someone you care about. Please forward this blog to someone you care about who is interested in mental health and stress management for younger men.
Be sure to call our knowledgeable Customer Service if you have any questions or if you want to take your supplement program further.
Carolyn Dean MD ND
The Doctor of the Future
