Growing up
Changes to your body
Being a young person can be an exciting time because lots of changes are happening.
You may go to a new school or college, meet new friends or learn and do new things.
You may also start to notice changes in your body and the way you feel. This is called ‘puberty’. Everybody goes through puberty, usually between the ages of 9 and 17.
Puberty happens because your brain releases ‘hormones’. When the hormones are released your body will begin to change.
Your moods can often go from being happy to sad to happy again. You might start to feel differently about your friends and the people you know.
Growing up
What you might feel
When you go through puberty you can expect to:
- see changes in your mood – it is normal to feel happy one day and sad the next
- feel like no one understands how you feel – it is normal to have arguments with your family and friends and you might even feel angry with them
- feel worried that your body is not changing in the same way as your friends
It is common to feel worried about the changes in your body and mood, but puberty is a normal part of growing up.
It is important to tell your family and friends how you feel. This way they can understand when your mood changes and when you need to be left alone or have someone to talk to.
If you do feel worried then talk to someone you trust.