Lk+Emotional+Changes

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**__EMOTIONAL CHANGES (Males/Females)__** A lthough puberty refers to the physical changes when the body becomes sexually mature and ready to reproduce (have babies), there are also a lot of emotional changes at this time.

These happen for several reasons:

 * ==== Young people have to deal with rapid physical change - all of a sudden you have a new body shape and size and you can begin to feel self-conscious about how you look. ====


 * ==== You can sometimes feel embarrassed if you look and feel different to your friends. ====


 * ==== Other people may start to respond to you differently. You look older and may be treated as an older person. ====


 * ==== It can be difficult to cope with early physical changes, or it can be frustrating waiting for physical changes to happen. ====

The rapid and abrupt release of hormones into your body can bring about extremes in emotions and mood.
= = = = =** thinking **= The way you think changes around this time.
 * The fast physical growth and other changes in your body can give you seesaw times of boundless energy then extreme tiredness, which can affect your mood as well.


 * You may be starting to think about some deep questions like "who am I?" "why am I here?" or "what is the meaning of life?".
 * You're developing your own identity as an individual rather than as a part of the family. Some young people choose to do this in wild ways while others take a more subtle approach.
 * You may want more independence, while on the other hand, not want to give up the support of your parents just yet. This can mean that one minute you feel quite adult and the next you feel like a child again. It may mean that you act impulsively at times and do some very risky things.
 * Parents sometimes worry a lot when you want to go out on your own and do things independently.

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=** Peer pressure **= Around the time of puberty many young people feel very strongly that they want to be like all their friends. =** Getting through puberty **= Puberty can be an unsettling time. It can also be an exciting time as you move from childhood to adulthood and take on the rights and responsibilities of adulthood.
 * Peer groups are friendship groups.
 * Peer group pressure can be a supportive and positive, or a negative influence on the behaviour of the people in the group.
 * Adults often use the words "peer group pressure" when thinking about the difficulties that young people can get into, and become very worried about young people being with the ‘wrong’ group of friends.
 * Unfortunately, the anxiety parents feel about peer groups is supported by some of what young people do – for example, most smokers start smoking around the time of puberty.


 * Puberty can be difficult both for parents and young people as you adjust to the changes. Everyone needs to have patience.
 * Parents are learning too. If there are disagreements, you need to listen to what they have to say as well as letting them know your point of view.
 * Show them that you can take care of yourself in a mature and wise fashion.