Puberty (7 page)

Depression

If you feel low all of the time during puberty, you may have depression. People who are depressed often feel unhappy, have no interest or energy, suffer sleep problems, and withdraw from others. The way they feel starts interfering with their everyday lives, stopping them from doing things that they might otherwise do because they lose interest or just feel too tired. They may feel so low that they start to have thoughts about
self-harming
or even suicide.

If you think you may be depressed, it is important to see your doctor. He or she can get help for you, either through medication or counseling. Never bottle up feelings of depression: talking about them to someone you trust—whether a relative, school nurse, counselor, doctor, or youth worker—is the first step to feeling better.

Teenage boys and young men are a high-risk group for depression.

Being you

Puberty doesn’t just mean that your body is changing; you are growing as a person, too. You are likely to start wanting to become more independent. You also may want to rebel against parents, teachers and others in authority to show them that you have your own ideas and opinions and can also make your own choices. Some days you may be brimming with confidence and other days feel unsure of who you are or what you want to do with your life.

Self-esteem

We all need to develop our self-esteem. This means that we value ourselves all the time and not just when we get good marks in a test, are looking slim, or are showing off our “coolest” clothes or possessions. It means having realistic expectations of yourself, praising yourself when you put in effort and do something well, and making allowances when you make mistakes or experience failure or rejection.

Dance is a great way of expressing yourself and making the most of being young.

Should I join in?

Dear Agony Aunt,
The crowd I got in with at my new school all drink alcohol when they are hanging out after school, even though we are only 15. They keep offering it to me, and when I say “No,” they just laugh at me and call me a lightweight. I am worried that they won’t want me to be in the gang any more if I don’t join in. What do I tell them?
Danyl, 15

Dear Danyl
,
As you go through puberty, if friends no longer want your company just because you won’t act the same as they do, they are not really friends in the first place. Making you do something you don’t feel comfortable with is a form of bullying, however subtle. Shrug off the name-calling and tell them that you can make your own decisions. Remember that you will be happier if you don’t let yourself be pushed around
.

Peer pressure

Peer pressure can be a strong influence during puberty. Your peers can put pressure on you to behave in a certain way, such as taking up smoking or drinking alcohol. They can also make fun of you or make you feel bad if you are not keeping up with the latest clothes, gadgets, or other possessions. You may feel worried that if you don’t join in, they will see you as “uncool” or childish. But it is important to realize that making a stand for yourself, and not just going along with the crowd and seeking their approval, is far more mature and shows that you have self-esteem.

Puberty involves lots of changes. Ups and downs are a normal part of it and will pass. All of this is part of the process of reaching young adulthood, which brings greater freedoms and responsibilities, and new choices.

Taking part in group activities can be a good way of building self-esteem.

Glossary

adrenal glands
a pair of glands just above the kidneys that produce hormones
anemia
a condition in which not enough oxygen is carried in the blood due to a lack of red blood cells. It can make you tired, faint, and breathless.

bacteria
tiny living organisms

calories
(kilo calories/kilojoules) the measure of energy in food or drink
clitoris
small highly sensitive part of the female vulva between the labia minora
cyst
a closed sac having a distinct membrane that keeps it separate from nearby tissue
depression
condition of long-term emotional dejection and withdrawal
dermabrasion
a surgical procedure that uses abrasives to remove scarring and other skin imperfections
diabetes
a condition in which the body is unable to regulate the level of sugar in the blood
eating disorder
a damaged or inappropriate relationship with food, resulting in a failure to eat healthily
ejaculate
to release semen

estrogen
female sex hormone

genes
the units of heredity by which characteristics pass from parent to child
genitals
sexual organs

groin
the area where the upper thighs meet the trunk of the body, including the external genitals
heredity
the passing on of genetic characteristics from one generation to the next
immune system
the body’s natural defenses against illnesses and disease
kilojoule
a unit of energy equal to 1,000 joules—4,184 joules is equivalent to one food calorie
labia
the liplike external female genitalia (the labia majora and labia minora)
laxatives
medicines that stimulate the bowels

masturbation
touching your own sexual parts for pleasure
menopause
time in a woman’s life when her monthly periods cease completely
menstruation
the bleeding that follows the breakdown of the lining of the uterus every four weeks if the egg produced by the ovaries remains unfertilized
obese
severely overweight, for adults a BMI of 30 or above
obesity
state of being severely overweight

orgasm
sexual climax that brings intense pleasure

ovaries
female reproductive organs that produce eggs
penis
male reproductive organ

pore
any tiny hole in the skin admitting passage of a liquid
progesterone
female sex hormone

purging
getting rid of; cleansing

reproduction
creating babies

schizophrenia
a serious mental disorder in which people can lose touch with reality. People can have hallucinations and delusions; they may feel paranoid and muddled and have difficulty concentrating.

scrotum
pouch or sack of skin that contains the testes
sebaceous
secreting sebum or oil

self-harming
deliberately harming oneself (such as cutting or burning the skin)
semen
the whitish fluid that carries sperm

sperm
male reproductive cell carried in semen

testes/testicles
male reproductive glands

testosterone
male sex hormone

vagina
passage leading from the vulva to the uterus (womb)
vulva
the female external genital organs including the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and the entrance to the vagina

Further Information

WEB SITES

www.anad.org

Web site of the National Association of Anorexia and Associated Eating Disorders.

www.teenhelp.org

This web site is run by an international not-for-profit organisation, and offers various different ways for teens to get advice and support.

www.cyh.com

Comprehensive web site with kids and teens sections providing information on puberty by the Australian Child and Youth Health Service.

www.kidshealth.org
, and
www.teenshealth.com

These web sites are part of the series of web sites—for kids, teens, and parents—run by the nonprofit Nemours Center for Children’s Health Media. One of the sites’ goals is to give visitors up-to-date information on growth and health issues.

BOOKS

Kelli Dunham,
The Boys’ Body Book: Everything You Need to Know for Growing Up You
, Applesauce Press, 2007

Kelli Dunham,
The Girls’ Body Book: Everything You Need to Know for Growing Up You
, Applesauce Press, 2007

Elinor Greenwood,
100% Me
, Dorling Kindersley, 2008

Elisabeth Henderson and Dr. Nancy Armstrong,
100 Questions You’d Never Ask Your Parents
, Uppman Publishing, 2007

Index

alcohol 16, 43

antiperspirant 8, 24–25

arousal 18, 28

bacteria 22–23, 24–25

baby fat 32

body hair 7, 8, 14–15, 16

body image 33–34

body mass index (BMI) 32, 35

body odor (BO) 8, 24

body parts (female) breasts 8, 10–11, 13

clitoris 28

fallopian tubes 12

labia 8, 11

nipples 8, 10, 28

ovaries 8, 12, 28

uterus 12–13

vagina 8, 12, 13, 28

vulva 8

body parts (male) Adam’s apple 15

breasts 16–17

nipples 17

penis 15, 16, 18, 28

scrotum 16

testes 14–15, 16

bra 10, 11

brain 6, 27, 38, 39

chemicals 6

cravings 13

dermabrasion 23

diet 8, 27, 32–33, 35, 36–37, 38–39

drugs 16

eating disorders 34–35, 36–37, 38

anorexia nervosa 36–37

binge eating 36

bulimia nervosa 36–37