KNOWING ADOLESCENT DILEMMAS AND WAYS TO HANDLE THEM

Adolescence is not an easy time for the kids or parents. Due to the hormonal changes the kids face a lot of physical and emotional changes. They become very vulnerable, impulsive and face difficulty is coping with the changes around the world. The only way to deal with needs and problems at this age is to know about them and learn to face them.

- Dr Arun Oommen

Acknowledge the change and help them accept it as a normal phenomenon. Enable them to stay healthy and fit through a nutritious diet and exercise.

Let's discuss few issues and understand ways to handle it:

1. Physical Changes

Physical changes happen due to change in the teenager's hormone levels.

• Development of full breasts in girls can be awkward in the beginning. Girls may start to feel conscious about their figure. Girls start their menstrual periods.

• Change of voice and appearance of facial hair in boys is perhaps the most prominent change that takes place during adolescence.

• Acne is a major concern.

• The growth of pubic hair in girls and boys.

• Body odour becomes evident.

Solution:

Make them aware of these normal changes and help them adapt to it. Acknowledge the change and help them accept it as a normal phenomenon. Enable them to stay healthy and fit through a nutritious diet and exercise.

2. Emotional Changes and Problems

Hormones affect your teenager not only physically but also emotionally.

• Adolescence is the age between adulthood and childhood. Teenagers are often confused about their role and are torn between their responsibilities as growing adults and their desires as children.

• Significant developmental change in the brain makes teens moody, tired and difficult to deal with. Anything and everything can make them happy, excited, mad or angry.

• Bodily changes result in self-consciousness. Feelings of inferiority or superiority may arise at this time. May try all silly gimmicks to impress the opposite sex.

• Adolescence is the age when sexual feelings arise in youngsters. Feelings and thoughts about sex can trigger a sense of guilt.

Solution: