Adolescence and Wellness

Adolescence is a critical period of development with three main stages: early, middle, and late adolescence. Each stage presents unique physical, emotional, and social changes. Hormones play a significant role in coordinating these changes, impacting decision-making, emotional regulation, and social interactions.

Teenager in contrast is a subset of adolescence ranging from ages 13-19 with the suffix “teen’ and undergoes the same specific development changes associated with early adolescence.

Puberty is a period of several years which both males and females experience immense growth that leads to sexual and physical maturity. Girls commence their puberty a bit early from ages 10 to 13 years while their male counterparts from 12 to 14 years.

Adolescence has 3 main stages

Early adolescence which is between 12- 14 years characterized by a spurt of growth and the development of secondary sexual characteristics like distribution of sex hair patterns.

Middle adolescence between 14-17 years his stage is distinguishable by development distinct identities, development of social characteristics relations with opposite sex and peers.

Late adolescence 17-19 years at this phase is characterized by development of full physical characteristics similar to adults.

There’s evidenced of continuation of the shaping of brain wiring system into early adolescence that provides an opportunity to shape and set the adolescent on the positive path.

Hormones (adrenal hormones (plays a role in the body’s response to flight or fright in stressing scenarios), sex hormones and growth hormones) that controls change those aids in coordinating between systems are poured out from the brain to the system, this in turns improves the ability to make decisions, solve problems, understanding consequence and gain control of emotions, sensitivity to social evaluation, spirit of adventure and exploring identity.

The production of testosterone and estrogen (which studies have shown to increase 10 folds during adolescence) plays a vital role in the regulation of mood and arousal and development of both primary maturity of gonads- initiation of spermatogenesis and menstruation) and secondary sexual characteristics (growth of sex hair pattern, anabolic changes that mostly enhance physical development; breast and hips in women, larynx and voice box enlargement in males)

The burden

According to WHO globally one in seven 10- 19-year-old experience a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of the disease in this age group, with suicide being the 4th leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds. Failing to address or include tailored mental wellness and self-care extend to adulthood, imposing a negative outcome on their physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to fully explore their full potential and lead fulfilling lives as adults.

Hormonal fluctuations and imbalances are also common during adolescence and to some extent normal part of natural development, research shows that only 10% of young women experience ovulatory menses in their first 3 years of puberty some of these issues contributes to lack of body awareness.

Some others contributors of hormonal imbalance in this phase includes the dilemma of self-identity social life and academic pressure, poor lifestyle; dietary choices, irregular sleep patterns contributed to by the alteration of circadian rhythm and the first phase of sleep where the brain slows down.

IDENTIFYING THOSE AT RISK

This phase shapes social and emotional well-being and development of habits; like healthy sleeping patterns, developing social coping mechanism and learning how to manage emotions thus a need for warm and supportive environments that could possibly make is easier to identify adolescents at risk of mental health issues. Some of these adolescents are poised at a greater risk of mental health conditions due to their adverse living conditions, discrimination and exclusion by their peer groups and lack of supportive social network.

Recognizing warning signs of hormonal turmoil in adolescents helps in provision of psycho-social first aid

Social withdrawal both from peers and families coupled with lack of interest for earlier enjoyed activities, persistent streak of sadness with frequent mood shifts from elation to profound sadness and quick irritability, risk taking behaviors and the urge for self-harm often becomes an entertained thought too changes in biological and physiological activities like profound sleep disturbance both over-sleeping and having a hard time initiating sleep, significant changes in eating habits anorexia nervosa and bulimia and also deteriorating academic performance.

What needs to be done

Cognitive behavior therapy has proven to be of significant benefits on cognitive adolescents behaviors and effective in managing anxiety and depression it involves strategies to change thinking patterns which includes recognizing distortions in thinking that might be creating problems and re-evaluate them, gaining a better understanding of behavior and motivations of others learning to develop greater sense of confidence in ones ability and using your own problem solving skills to cope up with difficult situations.

Cultivating a warm and supportive social environment both in schools and in the communities and peer to peer support is important in providing a safe space for adolescents to where they can freely express themselves and seek help when in distress.

Equipping these adolescents with knowledge about the transformative phase that their bodies undergo and how well to carry out themselves through cognitive behavior therapy.

Promoting healthy life-styles , getting enough sleep, regular exercise eating a balanced diet wholly enhances the overall well- being.