Puberty & Mental health

Body Positivity:

• At a time when your body is rapidly changing, sometimes it can be difficult to keep up. Your body may start to look a different way and parts of you can change or grow like you've never known them to before. It is important to try and remember to love and be kind to yourself during this time. Beauty really does come in all shapes and sizes, it is not measured by things such as the perkiness of your breasts or the amount of hair on your legs!

Stress Management:

• There are lots of ways to try and manage your stress, sometimes even watching a sad movie and having a cry or screaming into a pillow can help you release some built up emotions.

• It's good to try and find a reliable outlet that you can turn to when your stress starts to build up - like journaling to angry music or meeting up with a friend to talk about what's been on your mind.

Education:

• Sometimes unfortunately sex-ed classes don't cover everything we need to know to try and understand puberty, sex and all the wonderful things that can come with getting older. This is why we have created Vaginal Health!

• If there is anything you can't find on this website but you feel needs to be covered, send us an email via the contact page so we can have a look at this for you.

• Here are some other useful websites:

  • Brook

  • Planet Puberty

  • Body Talk

Puberty & Mental Health

Puberty can be a challenging time filled with physical and emotional changes that mark the transition from childhood to adolescence. These changes can also have a significant impact on your mood and mental health.

BY: VAGINAL HEALTH

UPADTED: 20/10/2023

Puberty

Hormonal Changes

Estrogen and Progesterone hormone production are increased during puberty. These hormone changes can influence your mood and emotions, contributing to mood swings, irritability, and emotional sensitivity.

Emotional Changes

Mood Swings:

• It's common to experience mood swings when going through puberty. These fluctuations in mood can be challenging to manage and may result from hormonal changes, stress, or other factors.

Body Image and Self-Esteem:

• Physical changes during puberty, such as weight gain, growth spurts, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics (e.g., breasts and body hair), can impact body image and self-esteem. It's easy to start comparing yourself to images online or on TV and start to feel insecure.

Identity Exploration:

• Adolescence is a time of trying to figure out who you are and your identity. It's normal to start exploring your values, interests and beliefs, but this can lead to emotional ups and downs.

Peer and Social Influences

Peer Pressure:

• It is common to experience peer pressure related to appearance, behaviour, and social activities. This pressure can have an impact your mental health and decision-making.

Social Comparison:

• You may start to compare yourself to others, particularly through social media, which can make you feel insecure or anxious.

Coping Strategies

It is important to remember that puberty can be a really tricky time! It's filled with lots of changes that can be both really confusing and overwhelming. Try to remember that our differences make us unique and special, everyone is beautiful in their own way. Although it can be easy to compare yourself to others, try to spend time focusing on what you like about you and how you can be kind towards yourself.

Supportive Relationships:

• Having supportive relationships with parents, caregivers and/or friends can have a positive impact on your mental health. These relationships can give us emotional support and guidance during challenging times.

Open Communication:

• Trying to be open and honest with parents/carers/friends can help us to work through some of the difficult times and understand each other better.

Healthy Coping Mechanisms:

• There are lots of ways to explore healthy coping mechanisms. Try to find a hobby or interest that makes you feel good, like listening to music and creating playlists, making art or playing games online.

• Moving your body can really help you when you feel down, yoga, gym, team sports or even going out for a walk can help to turn bad days around.

Professional Support:

• When your mental health reaches a point where you feel down and overwhelmed the majority of the time, it might be a good idea to look for professional help. Your doctor can help to refer you to a counsellor or if you are able to, you can find private therapists online that you can pay for sessions.

• Have a look at the following websites:

  • BetterHelp

  • Counselling Directory

  • Mind

  • Young Minds

  • Mental Health UK

  • Samaritans

Mental Health Education

If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or others please contact your local NHS crisis team which can be found via this link https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline.