Conceptualising Adolescence “I would that there were no age between ten and twenty three…for there is nothing in between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting…” Shakespeare (The Winter’s Tale; Act III)

What do you remember of your own adolescence ? Best and Worst Times

5 tasks of adolescence Integrate physical and sexual maturity Manage changing relationships with parents Develop mature peer relationships Become an independent person within the family Accept responsibility for own behaviour

What are normal adolescent social behaviours ?

Growth hormones are released during sleep. To grow this quickly teenagers need to make more growth hormone in their body Growth hormones are released during sleep. In teenagers the sleep hormone (melatonin) is released about 1am compared to 10pm in adults

Who am I ? What do I want you to see? Phallic swagge Sexual Identity Gender Identity Body Image Split – self…….. child and adult Mood swings Change in sleep patterns Growth spurt

Neuroplasticity From third trimester of pregnancy till two years the brain produces 250,000 synapses per minute again in adolescence and early twenties never again at this rate. Use it or loose it Cells that fire together wire together

ADOLESCENT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT Amygdala and limbic system tend to dominate the prefrontal cortex functions– this results in a decrease in reasoned thinking and an increase in impulsiveness Because of immature brains, adolescents do not handle social pressure, instinctual urges, and other stresses the way adults do A major part of adolescence is learning how to assess risk and consequences — adolescents are not yet skilled at these tasks

In teenagers the reptilian brain takes over some of those functions control of speech expressing emotions Fight flight or freeze dominates ©Solihull Approach Solihull Approach: solihullapproach@solihull-ct.nhs.uk Solihull Approach Antenatal 2 day Foundation Training 10

http://www. barnardos. org http://www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/advertising_campaigns/previous_advertising_campaigns/break_the_cycle/what_we_hear.htm

Brain Maturation

Opportunity for repair, increased resilience the and second chances the brain is reforming and reorganising Massive growth in Corpus Callosum (Frontal Cortex) Down side Up side Drugs such as cannabis can do permanent harm High levels of anxiety and cortisol combined with hormonal changes can be a lethal cocktail Adrenalin pumped by high risk taking can effect cortisol &hippocampus development Opportunity for repair, increased resilience the and second chances Time when good experiences can be healing and transformative Good time for therapy

Features of adolescence Anxiety – about loss and separation Anxiety about exams – being a separate person with own ideas who can think for themselves Anxiety about identity Pushing boundaries Letting off steam Taking risks Hostility towards parents – need to push them away and to find own values Acting out internal pain (the replacement of thought by action) Be in a group or gang rather than risk being an individual Using drugs alcohol or abusive substances Experiencing loneliness /depression Feeling other /outside

Risk Taking and Rewards Reward centre in overdrive coupled with planning regions that are not fully functional could make an adolescent an entirely different creature to an adult when it comes to seeking pleasure

Many Adolescents Do Struggle Overall morbidity (unhealthy/gloomy state of mind) and mortality rates increase 200-300% between middle childhood and late adolescence/early adulthood Onset of problems such as nicotine dependence, alcohol and drug use, poor health habits, etc. that will show up as mortality in adulthood Many adult onset problems such as depression can be traced to early episodes in adolescence

mental Health Normal Adolescents Adolescent Turmoil Disturbance Struggle for autonomy Acting out Major disturbance Establish peer relationships Fighting Excessive antisocial bullying Exploration of sexuality Promiscuity Unplanned early pregnancy/ prostitution/ sexual abuse Emotional stress Self consciousness, loss of confidence Depressive illness/ anxiety/neurosis Challenging authority Minor acts of delinquency Persistent law breaking Concern about body shape Dietary chaos Eating disorder Exploration, experimentation Risk taking Self harm

Recovery from trauma http://www.barnardos.org.uk/lifestory.htm