Puberty

What is puberty?

Puberty is the word used to describe all the changes that happen to your body between the ages of about ten to eighteen. Your body will change and the way you look at the world will often change too. Puberty is a gradual thing and everyone goes through it.

Not only do you change on the outside, there are lots of changes going on inside too. It’s normal to feel moody and emotional. You may also be thinking about sex. It’s no wonder it can sometimes be a strange, unsettling or challenging time.

It helps if you can find someone to share your thoughts and feelings with. Try a relative, or a trusted friend. Or your parent/s (they went through puberty too!). Saying things out loud can be a good way of getting things clear in your mind. And it can be a good way to stop feeling as if you’re alone.

Look after yourself

The best thing you can do for your body as it goes through these changes is to look after it well. Make sure you eat a healthy, balanced diet and take time to exercise.

It’s important to take care of your mental health as well as your physical health. There are plenty of things you can do to help yourself like getting enough sleep, being socially active and taking time to relax if you feel stressed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. The sooner you get some help; the sooner things can begin to improve. Talking about things can help. If you surround yourself with positive and trustworthy people then your problems may not seem too hard to handle.