Teenage Hormones and Sexuality

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Dealing With Hormones
Discovering Dating
Exploring Sexuality
Experimenting With Drugs and Alcohol
Identity, Moods and Emotions
When to Look for Support

If you’re a teenager, you’re no stranger to the power of hormones. Starting as early as age 7 or 8, your body begins to produce the hormones that are responsible for the changes of puberty.

Teenage hormones are the chemicals that cause the physical growth and sexual development that will carry you through your teens and into adulthood. As these substances take hold of your body, you’ll notice that your emotions, moods and sexual feelings are much stronger.

You may also feel more impulsive and more inclined to take risks, like experimenting with drugs or alcohol, driving without a license or having unsafe sex.

Adolescence can be a risky time. Although all of the changes you experience in puberty are natural and healthy, teens don’t always react to these changes in a safe or healthy way.

Peer pressure, low self-esteem and hormonal surges can lead you to take chances that could have a negative effect on your future. As you enter your teenage years, it’s important to have a support system you can rely on. Parents, siblings, counselors, teachers and true friends can provide strength and advice as you go through this challenging, exciting period.

Dealing With Hormones

Without hormones, normal physical and sexual development wouldn’t be possible. At the beginning of puberty, your brain releases a hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH triggers the pituitary gland — a small but significant gland that controls the production of several major hormones — to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) andluteinizing hormone (LH) into your bloodstream. FSH and LH have different effects on males and females. In girls, FSH and LH instruct the ovaries to begin producing estrogen, one of the primary female sex hormones, and eggs. In boys, the same hormones tell the testes to begin producing testosterone, the male sex hormone, and sperm. At the same time, you’ll notice other significant changes:

• Your body will grow taller and you’ll put on weight and muscle mass.
• Girls will begin to have menstrual periods and will develop fuller breasts and wider hips.
• Boys will develop larger sex organs and will be able to ejaculate (release sperm).
• Both boys and girls will develop body hair on the legs, under the arms and over the sex organs.
• Both boys and girls will produce stronger body odors and may develop acne or other skin problems.

Hormones affect your moods, emotions and impulses as well as your body. According to theNemours Foundation, a lot of the mood swings that teens experience are caused by fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone — the sex hormones. These same hormones will also affect the way you think about dating and sex. Teens become much more interested in sex, sometimes to the point of obsession. You may find yourself attracted to other people in your peer group, even if you never dreamed that you’d think of them in a sexual way. 

It’s hard to feel that your body and mind are being controlled by the forces of nature instead of your own decisions. A lot of teens feel that the changes they’re experiencing are weird, freakish or unnatural, but in fact, almost everything that you go through during adolescence is a normal part of your development. Chances are that if you’ve experienced a new urge or experimented with different behaviors, at least one adult in your life has been through the same thing.

Discovering Dating

Some teens look forward to the time when they can start dating; others dread this adolescent ritual. But no matter how you feel about spending time with other teens, learning how to socialize with your peers is an important part of growing up. If you’re nervous about dating, start by simply making friends with girls or boys you find attractive. Group dates are a great way for shy teens to get to know others without the pressures of one-on-one dating. Use these tips to get started:

• Focus on the other person. One of the best ways to get over being self-conscious and nervous is to focus on someone else. Ask your date questions about herself. Find out about her likes and dislikes. Your interest will help you start your relationship from a basis of friendship.
• Find non-romantic things to do. Dating doesn’t necessarily have to be about hearts, flowers and candy. If you’re nervous about being in an intimate situation with someone, invite him to go on a hike with a few other friends or attend a football game at your school.
• Seek out people who share your interests. Physical attraction often guides dating decisions in the teenage years, but the prettiest girl or the hottest guy doesn’t necessarily make the best dating partner. Join clubs or participate in sports activities where you can meet people who share your hobbies and interests. You’re much more likely to have an interesting, satisfying date with someone you can relate to on a personal level.
• Don’t let rejection get you down. Learning how to accept rejection without taking it personally isn’t easy, but if you can develop this skill, it will help you throughout your life. When you ask someone out on a date, you’re taking a risk that he or she will say “no.” If your offer is refused, give yourself a few minutes to feel bad about it, and then move on. Brush yourself off, then invite someone else to go out with you. Sooner or later, you’ll find the right person.

Columbia University says that dating isn’t just about building social skills or finding a romantic partner; it’s an opportunity to learn about your personal values, needs and desires. Spending time with others is a way to identify what you like and don’t like in other people, and in yourself.

Exploring Sexuality

With all those hormones raging through your bloodstream, it’s inevitable that you’ll think about sex. It’s also likely that you’ll experiment with sex, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reports that in 2011, 47.4 percent of teenagers who were surveyed reported that they had had intercourse at some point during their lives. Within the past three months, 33.7 percent had had sex at least once. Out of that group, the majority did not use birth control to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Learning about sexuality is a vital part of growing up. But learning about sex shouldn’t involve unwanted pregnancy or getting an STD. The Guttmacher Institute reports that teenage pregnancy declined significantly between 1990 and 2008, partly because more teens were using birth control, and partly because a larger percentage of teens were waiting longer to have sex. Psychology Today notes that teens tend to assume that their friends are having sex, even if they’re not. You should never rush into intimacy because you’re afraid of being the only virgin in your class; there are probably a lot more abstinent teens in your peer group than you think.

Teens who feel comfortable talking openly to a parent or another adult about sex may be less likely to go through an unplanned pregnancy or contract an STD.

Parents of teens should encourage honest discussions of sexuality and answer questions as frankly as possible. Every family has its own values and beliefs about sexual activity in the teenage years. The important thing is that these beliefs are communicated clearly and that the opportunity to talk is always left open.

Experimenting With Drugs and Alcohol

Along with the pressures to date and have sex, teens often face pressure from their peers to try drugs or alcohol. Neurological studies of the adolescent brain indicate that teens may be more likely to experiment with drugs than adults because of differences in their brain development. In adolescence, the area of the brain that’s responsible for judgment and decision-making is still immature, according to a report from the Mentor Foundation. This area, the prefrontal cortex, doesn’t become fully mature until the 20s. Meanwhile, the part of the brain that controls impulses and emotions is maturing in adolescence, increasing the urge to take risks.

In your teens, your life as an adult may seem impossibly far away. With so much time ahead of you, the choices you make today might seem inconsequential. But in fact, getting involved with drugs or alcohol could have severe consequences, not only in the immediate future but for years to come. Teenagers who engage in substance abuse are more likely to develop full-blown addictions as adults.

They are also more likely to engage in behaviors that could cause serious injuries or legal problems, such as:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Drowning
• Falls

• Altercations
• Suicide attempts

Hormones, sex and drugs can be a dangerous mix. When your emotions and sexual urges are already in a volatile state, adding intoxicating substances could put you at risk of making life-altering decisions. Taking chances with your future just isn’t worth the risk. If you feel pressured by your peers or by your own emotions to do things that you know are dangerous, talk with a parent, mental health professional or addiction specialist about how you can get through this tough period safely.

Identity, Moods and Emotions

Discovering who you are is one of the biggest challenges of adolescence. In the teenage years, your identity may change from one month to the next. You have the opportunity to experiment with your personal values, your style, your beliefs and your sexuality. If you have a healthy self-esteem and a strong support system, you can build your new identity with confidence. But many teenagers struggle with their sense of self-worth, feeling that they don’t measure up to the standards of their parents, teachers or friends.

Teenagers who suffer from low self-esteem are more vulnerable to the negative influences of peer pressure and more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, according to Health Education Quarterly. They are also more likely to become depressed. Parents and educators can help teenagers build a strong sense of identity by nurturing their self-esteem and validating their self-confidence.

Adults should be aware of the signs of low self-esteem in teenagers, such as:

• Withdrawal from friends and social activities
• Poor hygiene or a lack of concern for appearance
• Abandoning good friends in favor of a new social crowd
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Changes in weight or eating habits
• Unusual mood swings
• Tearfulness and a sense of hopelessness
• Expressing thoughts of suicide

It’s not unusual for teens to go through periods of feeling sad, lonely or irritable. But if these feelings persist for more than a week or two, your teen may be depressed. The emotional turmoil of adolescence can sometimes hide a serious mental health condition that must be treated promptly.

When to Look for Support

If the natural hormonal changes of adolescence turn into something more dangerous, don’t hesitate to turn to professionals for help. In today’s challenging world, many families need support to handle the effects of emotional disturbances, impulse control disorders or substance abuse. In some cases, a personalized rehab program is what it takes to get a teenager’s life back on track.

For answers to your questions about teenage drug abuse, sexuality or emotional identity, contact the professionals at Newport Academy. We specialize in helping young people and their families build the futures that they deserve.

reference:

http://www.newportacademy.com/teenage-hormones-and-sexuality/

Peer pressure and influence: teenagers

By Raising Children Network

did you know

• Peer influence is strongest in early to middle adolescence.
• Boys are more likely to give in to peer influence than girls.

Wanting to be more like your friends is a normal part of being a teenager. Peer influence or peer pressure isn’t always a bad thing, but sometimes it might be a concern for you or your child. If this happens, there are things you can do to help manage it.

Peer influence and peer pressure

Peer influence is when you choose to do something you wouldn’t otherwise do, because you want to feel accepted and valued by your friends. It isn’t just or always about doing something against your will.

You might hear the term ‘peer pressure’ used a lot. But peer influence is a better way to describe how teenagers’ behaviour is shaped by wanting to feel they belong to a group of friends or peers.

Peer pressure or influence can be positive. For example, your child might be influenced to become more assertive, try new activities, or to get more involved with school.

But it can be negative too. Some teenagers might choose to try things they normally wouldn’t be interested in, such as smoking or taking part in antisocial behaviour.

Peer influence might result in children:

• choosing the same clothes, hairstyle or jewellery as their friends
• listening to the same music or watching the same TV shows as their friends
• changing the way they talk, or the words they use
• doing risky things or breaking rules
• working harder at school, or not working as hard
• dating or taking part in sexual activities
• smoking or using alcohol or other drugs.

Coping well with peer influence is about getting the balance right between being yourself and fitting in with your group. 

Some children are more likely to be negatively influenced by peers – for example, children who have poor self-esteem, who feel they have few friends, and who have special needs. These children might feel that the only way they’ll be included and accepted in social groups is by taking on the behaviour, attitudes and look of a group.

Children who have strong self-esteem are better at resisting negative peer influence. If your child is happy with who he is and the choices he makes, he’s less likely to be influenced by other people. Self-esteem helps in establishing good relationships, and positive friendships also help self-esteem.

Helping your child manage peer pressure and peer influence

You might be worried that your child is being influenced too much by her peers, or that she’s selling out on her values (or yours) to fit in with her friends. You might also be concerned that your child won’t be able to say no if she gets pressure to try risky things, such as smoking.

But listening to the same music and dressing in the same way as friends doesn’t necessary add up to doing the same antisocial or risky things.

Your child might do some things that his friends do, but not other things. You have an influence over your child too, especially over the longer term. If your child has a strong sense of himself and his values, it’s more likely he’ll know where to draw the line when it comes to assessing risks.

Here are some ideas to help your child manage peer pressure and peer influence:

• Keep the lines of communication open. You can do this by staying connected to your child. This can help make her feel more comfortable talking to you if she’s feeling swayed to do something she’s uncomfortable with.
• Suggest ways to say no. Your child might need to have some face-saving ways to say no if he’s feeling influenced to do something he doesn’t want to do. For example, friends might be encouraging him to try smoking. Rather than simply saying ‘No, thanks’, he could say something like, ‘No, it makes my asthma worse’, or ‘No, I don’t like the way it makes me smell’.
• Give teenagers a way out. If your child feels she’s in a risky or tricky situation, it might help if she can text or phone you for back-up without worrying you’ll be cranky. If your child is embarrassed about having to call you, you could agree on a coded message. For example, she could say that she’s checking on a sick grandparent, but you’ll know that it really means she needs a hand.
• Encourage a wide social network. If your child has the chance to develop friendships from many sources, including sport, family activities or clubs, it will mean he’s got lots of other options and sources of support if a friendship goes wrong.
• Build up your child’s sense of self-esteem. This can help her feel more confident to make her own decisions and push back on peer influence.

When you’re worried about peer pressure and peer influence

Encouraging your child to have friends over and giving them space in your home can help you get to know your child’s friends. This also gives you the chance to check on whether negative peer influence is an issue for your child.

Good communication and a positive relationship with your child might also encourage your child to talk to you if he’s feeling negative influence from peers.

If you’re worried your child’s friends are a negative influence, being critical of them might push your child into seeing them behind your back. If your child thinks you don’t approve of her friends, she might even want to see more of them.

So instead of focusing on any people you don’t like, you can try talking to your child about the behaviour you don’t like. Discuss the possible consequences of the behaviour, rather than making judgments about your child’s friends.

It can be helpful to compromise with your child. For example, letting him wear certain clothes or have his hair cut in a particular way can help him feel connected to his peers, even if you’re not keen on blue hair or ripped jeans.

Having friends and feeling connected to a group gives teenagers a sense of belonging and being valued, which helps develop confidence. Friendships also help teenagers learn important social and emotional skills, such as being sensitive to other people’s thoughts, feelings and wellbeing. 

When to be concerned about peer influence and peer pressure

If you notice changes in your child’s mood, behaviour, eating or sleeping patterns, which you think are because of her friends, it might be time to have a talk with her.

Some mood and behaviour changes are normal in teenagers. But if your child seems to be in a low mood for more than two weeks, or it gets in the way of things he normally enjoys, you might start to worry about your child’s mental health.

Warning signs include:

• low moods, tearfulness or feelings of hopelessness
• aggression or antisocial behaviour that’s not usual for your child
• sudden changes in behaviour, often for no obvious reason
• trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking early
• loss of appetite or over-eating
• reluctance to go to school
• withdrawal from activities your child used to like
• statements about wanting to give up, or life not being worth living.

If you’re concerned, start by talking with your child. The next step is to talk to your GP, who can put you in contact with your local child and adolescent health team or another appropriate professional.

VideoPeer pressure and influence

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In this short video, we hear parents’ and teenagers’ perspectives on peer influence.

Parents and kids discuss the need to feel part of a group and to be seen as ‘cool’. Having the latest technology can be a particularly big pressure. Although you might worry about the effect of peer pressure on your child, it doesn’t necessarily lead to risky behaviour. Many of the teenagers in this video say they’re often happy just to do their own thing.

• More to explore
• Social and emotional changes in adolescence
• Confidence in teenagers
• Teenagers and youth subcultures
• ‘Frenemies’ and toxic friendships
• Problem-solving with teenagers
• Negotiating with teenagers

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Reference:www.raisingchildren.net.au

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