What's Happening to me???

When an individual begins to turn from a child to an adult they will go through puberty! Puberty is perfectly normal and is caused by hormones being released by the pituitary gland in the brain. Every single one of you will go through a different experience when you reach puberty, which will also occur at different stages. Some of you may have already entered puberty, some may be entering soon, and some of you may not enter puberty for another year or two. 

                       Physical Changes that may occur during Puberty

The following picture further illustrates some of the changes that can occur to your bodies during puberty.

                                              (https://www.lebteen.com/images/puberty.jpg)

 Are these feelings normal?

Physical changes are one aspect that comes with puberty. Social and emotional changes will also occur and just like physical changes they will impact everyone differently and at different times. During puberty it is normal for teenagers to have mood swings or become self conscious about the way they act or with things that they do. Many kids going through puberty may also partake in a risk taking behaviour, and this is especially so in males. These are all caused by the body being flooded with hormones.

Puberty may also lead individuals to begin to develop sexual desire and gain an interest in sex. You may be attracted to somebody of the opposite sex, or you may find you have an attraction to somebody of the same sex. Both these aspects are normal and are nothing to be worried about, it is a natural part of puberty and growing up. These attractions may make it more difficult or easier (depening on how puberty impacts you) to relate to certain people, so keep this in mind if somebody is acting different then they normally do around you, it may just be puberty!

How can i deal with puberty?

As has been discussed, throughout puberty you will experience many changes in you life. Here are some strategies that may be able to help you. Remember we will go through these in class and if you have any questions do not hesitate to visit the useful websites or to ask me after class!

Stay Positive! Stress and depression are negative responses to the changes that are happening to you. Taking care of your appearance and doing the things that you enjoy will help you through this.

Managing menstruation! The menstrual cycle is the way a woman's body prepares for haing children. When the ovum that is realeased each month isn't fertilised, it is shed in the form of blood that exits the body through the vagina. Menstruation is managed through tampons or pads, girls if you have any questions i encourage you to ask a female family member that you trust. Some girls may experience discomfort and cramps when they menstruate and during these periods a girl should rest or use a hotwater bottle to ease the pain.

Managing sexual desire! Masturbation is one way this can occur. Masturbation is the act of giving yourself pleasure by stimulating your own genitals. This is perfectly normal for both males and females and as you grow older you may become intimate with another person.

The following are 2 small articles highlighting issues of puberty

Why puberty now begins at seven

Whether it is sprouting hair, budding breasts or a breaking voice, the signs that herald puberty can be distressing and difficult to cope with.  In the western world there is much evidence children are reaching puberty at younger and younger ages - some girls at the age of seven. Boys, too, say some experts, are entering puberty at an earlier stage, albeit still slightly later than girls.

But it is unclear whether this is a simply a shift of the norm, or if more children are experiencing a phenomenon called precocious puberty - when they develop the first signs of puberty abnormally early. Controversial theories have been put forward, including watching too much television could distort the hormonal balance of adolescents and push many of them into early puberty.

Roberts, M. (2005). Why puberty now begins at seven. BBC News health.

Early puberty affecting girls at much younger ages
Most girls start to go through puberty between the ages 9 and 10. Latasha Payton's daughter started around 5. "My daughter was taller than most of the other girls her age, in fact she was taller than most first-graders," said Payton of Joliet. "I brought her to the doctors for a check up and my doctors diagnosed her with precocious puberty. By the time she hit 7, the breast development started and she started to get body hair." "Breast development, pubic hair, body odor or a very fast growth spurts can occur.

Dunning, J. (2006). Early puberty affecting girls at much younger ages. The Herald News.

Useful Websites

https://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/puberty.html

Kids health is takes a more casual approach to puberty, whilst still answering questions that young people may have about what's happening to them in their lives.

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcpdf.nsf/ByPDF/Puberty/$File/Puberty.pdf

Better health is organised by the Victorian Government and provides detailed information on the physical, social and emotional changes that young people may go through during puberty.