By Amoto Ndiewo
Adolescence is a time in one’s life occasioned by both joy and sorrow. The young adults experience a number of changes that at times, they aren’t prepared for.
Beatrice Mutinga, a street wit, describes her experience as walking a tight without a net.
“This tumultuous period of life can be fraught with feeling of awkwardness, anxiety and confusion as teens are caught between childhood and adulthood,’’ she says adding that teens are left holding the worst attributes of each world.
Muting adds that teens shouldn’t dread adolescents, noting that it provides a wonderful chance for one to make a fulfilling transition to adulthood.
The adolescence changes in a teenager’s body prepare the body for sexual production in puberty. Girls start puberty between ages 10 and 12 while boys start between ages 12 and 14.
“Puberty starts at a different stage for everyone. Whenever it begins, it affects how one looks, feels and how one views the sounding world,’’ says Mutinga.
Biologically, puberty begins with an increase in oestrogen hormone in girls and testosterone in boys.
The hormonal changes are partially responsible for the ‘miraculous’ physical transformation that follows. With the commencement of puberty, the body grows at the fastest rate ever.
“A times, one might feel physically awkward, or bits of clumsiness which is normal, ’’ says Mutinga, who advices for patience.
“Since adolescents fear that they might be viewed as strange, they might keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves and be reluctant to reach out to others even when in need,” Mutinga said.
In puberty, girls begin the menstrual period –a monthly discharge of blood, secretions and tissue debris from the uterus.
“This period is accompanied by cramps as well as a drop in hormonal levels a time quite startling as it has both physical and emotional effects. All of a sudden I had this new experience to deal with, it messed up my emotions, and it hurt ’’ recalls Mutinga.
Menstruation is an indication that your body is functioning normally and with time, you learn to cope with it, though some drastically reduce physical aspect during their periods.
Mutinga says at times, one’s body might betray them. She gives an example of how during adolescence, at times, the sweat glands become more active, this makes one perspire more.
“Regular bathing and freshly laundered clothes can do the trick if possible,’’ says Mutinga.
During puberty, oil glands in the skin become more active resulting in pimples and acne in both boys and girls; here cleansers and topical ointments come handy.
Boys’ voice becomes loud as their vocal cords thicken and lengthen. Many boys don’t realize their voices have changed unless told. The voice cracks and suddenly shifts from low pitch to high pitch.
Muting feels that puberty is a flux and passing stage and that adolescents shouldn’t dwell or worry so much about it.
Pharhear Hajjir, a teacher, says that due to the changes in puberty, some are led to experience a wide range of painful emotions. For example, one may find themselves drifting apart from their childhood friends because they have little in common.
“Even your parents, whom you once ran to for comfort and security, might suddenly seem old fashioned and unapproachable,” said Pharhear.
Pharhear says that as a kid, her parents were perfect but at teenage, she considered them less smart.
‘I realized they weren’t perfect and this was disturbing. I questioned their thinking and judgements. Through hard lessons, I regained my respect for them as I realized that they were not always perfect but were often right,” said Pharhear.
She adds that loneliness is more frequently experienced in adolescence than in childhood or adulthood.
