Puberty 
Puberty
What is Puberty?Our bodies are constantly changing from the day we are born until the day we die. Puberty is the period of time when you begin to mature biologically, psychologically, socially and cognitively. Girls start to grow into women and boys into men. This process can take a year or even six years. This time period is when your body takes on those characteristics that define it sexually. Both males & females bodies will each take on a different shape. Keep in mind that everyone matures at their own pace, but eventually we all catch up. Puberty leads to adolescence. Adolescence is a transitional period between childhood and adulthood. The changes of adolescence do not occur on a strict timeline; instead the changes occur at different times according to a unique internal calendar known only to the person. Adolescence can be a very difficult time. You are no longer a child, but you are not an adult yet either. Everyone develops according to his or her own biological clock. A girl may enter puberty as early as age 9 or as late as 15 and still be considered normal. The changes of puberty are triggered by the pituitary gland, a pea-sized structure at the base of the brain and under the influence of the hypothalamus gland. Before puberty begins, higher brain functions prevent the hypothalamus from allowing the pituitary gland to begin secreting hormones. Puberty begins once the hypothalamus gland allows the pituitary gland to release chemical messengers called hormones. Hormones in turn stimulate the growth and development of the reproductive organs, as well as related changes throughout the body. A hormone secreted by the pituitary, for example, causes a girl's ovaries to produce the hormone estrogen. In boys, a hormone released by the pituitary signals the testicles to produce the hormone testosterone. Estrogen and testosterone spur the development of a child's secondary sex characteristics, such as breast development in girls and the growth of facial hair in boys. Fluctuating levels of hormones may also bring on familiar adolescent mood swings. These ups and downs are tough for both child and parent to deal with, but they're an inevitable part of puberty. Puberty is a time of tremendous change in the body, and everyone goes through it. You may feel confused, have emotional outbursts, feel sad, or have strong emotions or moods that change quickly. You might be overly sensitive or easily lose your temper. You may be afflicted by physical manifestations such as acne and/or body odor! You may go through periods where you question your own personal or sexual identity. All of this is perfectly normal! If you are going through these changes and finding it difficult, just remember that soon you will be a young man or a young woman. Talk to your parents about how you are feeling, they went through this period of change too (believe it or not), or talk to a friend. Your friends are probably going through the same thing. Sometimes it helps to discuss the changes that are going on in your body, this way you won't feel strange or alone with the changes in your voice, mood, body and so on. I know it might be hard to believe this, but your parents went through puberty too once. |
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