Well you’re not alone if it is. Puberty can be a particularly confusing and vexing time for teenagers and can lead to minor to serious mental problems.
Puberty – a quick definition
When a person goes through puberty, their body is “updating” to physical and sexual maturity. The changes associated with puberty begin when the brain sends hormone signals to the gonads – ovaries (in case of females) and testes (in case of males). In response, the gonads produce more hormones that launch growth, functionality or transformation of brain, bones, muscle, skin, breasts (in case of females) and reproductive organs.
Aargh! Puberty’s messing with my brain!
With so many bodily changes occurring and hormones on the loose, it is not unheard of for adolescents to experience pessimism, aggression, depression, and other mental and emotional fluctuations during puberty. In fact, most parents, teachers and other well-wishers usually expect many of these problems as the “normal” experience of adolescence.
Population studies show that at any one time, between 10 and 15% of adolescents show symptoms of mental disorders. Some mental disorders may be even more likely to occur if an adolescent starts puberty earlier or later than “usual.”
The effect of pubertal timing on depressive symptoms implies a psychosocial relationship stimulated by the physical changes associated with puberty.
In other words, with the growth of body hair and breasts and acne and all that other stuff, puberty is a tough enough experience. Having it set in too early or too late only makes things more complicated!
Symptoms of pubertal disorders in girls
For girls, early pubertal disorders show themselves in various ways:
- Psychosomatic symptoms like abdominal pain, insomnia or over-sleeping, headache, stomach problems, breathlessness, tremors, and heart palpitations
- Eating disorders, severe depression
- Anxiety and disturbed self-image
- Substance/drug usage
- Suicide attempts
- Delinquent behaviour
It may be difficult for some girls who are showing signs of physical maturation to relate to their female peers who have not yet done so. Perhaps as a result, it has been reported that early-maturers may have more trouble at school, may be more absent from school, and may experiment with tobacco and alcohol earlier. Since puberty causes the body to mature sexually, those who go through puberty earlier may desire and initiate sexually intimate behaviours earlier than their peers. These activities may help them alleviate the mental trauma associated with their changing bodies. The onset of puberty as well as its effects are tightly linked with body size and shape, which might contribute to depression and issues with food.
Symptoms of pubertal disorders in boys
Among boys, both early and late maturation can pose problems for psychosocial adjustment
- Late maturation, in particular, is associated with negative self-perception.
- Substance/drug use, suicide attempts and delinquency are related with early maturation among boys
- Studies reveal that both bulimia and depression are correlated with early maturation among boys
- Schizophrenia is a serious, but treatable, mental disorder and has some co-relation with puberty in both men and women
Counselling really helps in case of pubertal disorders
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, do not panic. If you or your friend – or, in the case of parents, your child – is going through puberty and experiencing tough times, don’t blame yourself or try to fix it yourself. Seek out qualified mental health professional, like a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or counsellor. Talking to such a person in one or multiple therapy sessions can greatly help the situation. Sometimes, a psychiatrist will prescribe medication if he or she thinks it’s appropriate.
Remember, mental health issues are nothing to be embarrassed about. They are quite common and seeking help from a professional is becoming a preferred (and correct) option in India.
Photograph by Gabriella Fabbri, via sxc.hu
