MY Teenage Brain By Barbara Shapanus

Acting before thinking Why am I acting this way? Impulsive Emotionally reactive Acting before thinking Reckless Frustrated

Or feeling this way? Or this way? Or this way? Angry for no reason Moody Irritated Or this way? Annoyed Confused frustrated bored

What do I have to face in adolescence? Pair off with a classmate Choose a secretary Make a list of all the demands you are facing Share your list with the class if comfortable

Look at all I have to accomplish Handle my sexually maturing body and urges Manage powerful emotions Fit into a complex social network Deal with immense peer pressure Deal with wildly changing moods

And this… Figure out what my values are going to be Renegotiate my relationship with my parents Get through school Figure out how to get enough sleep Begin to plan for my future

What is going on in my brain? Brain still developing Experiencing emotions intensely Prefrontal Cortex – last to develop High capacity to learn Reward centers highly active Increased peer pressure

Why am I so impulsive? Because my Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) is not fully connected (literally)!!!

Let’s take a closer look at the PFC The “CEO” of the brain Makes decisions Problem solves Weighs consequences Regulates emotions Inhibits “puts the brakes” on inappropriate behaviors Not fully CONNECTED until age 25

Teenage brain “Window of Opportunity and Sensitivity” Genetics versus experience PFC major construction zone Experience “wires” the brain Media as major source of experience Importance of wise media choices

What is the amygdala? The fight or flight center of your brain Seat of fear and aggression Meant to protect your from danger Highly emotional Guess what? It is over activated in teenagers!!!! It reacts to “harmless” situations Responsible for some “stomping feet” “slamming doors”

female physical changes Hormones – raging in teens Testosterone Estrogen & Progesterone female physical changes male physical changes growth spurts growth spurts female puberty male puberty memory anger, aggression

Dopamine reward center makes us feel good Neurotransmitters Exercise increases our feel good neurotransmitters!!!!!!! Dopamine reward center makes us feel good Serotonin Makes us feel relaxed Confident Norepinephrine increased energy fight or flight memory

“Neurons that fire together wire together” The more often we do something the easier it is for our brain to repeat it. If we repetitively do something it becomes sort of hard-wired in our brains. We then do it without thinking. This is why routines and habits are much easier to complete than novel activities.

“Neurons that fire together wire together” Pick a partner: brainstorm some examples of activities you have done repetitively that have become easier think of possible positive activities that could become easier the more you engage in them think of possible negative activities that could become easier the more you engage in them

Teen brain under construction “window of opportunity” Dopamine, serotonin surge with exercise Anxiety decreases, focus increases, brain begins to crave exercise Exercise more Do homework routinely every night Grades get better – feels good – dopamine increases Gets easier Habit forms - “neurons that fire together wire together”

Alcohol, tobacco, drugs & the teen brain “window of sensitivity” Dopamine surges with drugs, alcohol, tobacco Dopamine levels plunge when substance removed Need more substance just to “feel good” Cycle continues Teen brain “sensitive” or vulnerable to addiction

Hint: make sleep a priority and read or study before bed Sleep & the teen brain Teen Brain shifts sleep patterns toward later times for sleeping and waking Teens need 9 ½ hours of sleep Teens are chronically sleep deprived Sleep is crucial to well-being Your brain continues to processes material while your sleep Hint: make sleep a priority and read or study before bed

You are sleep deprived!!!!

What can you do? Understand your brain – read, watch videos, ask questions Increase your communication skills Develop strategies, “stop, breath, chill” “count to 10” Exercise – varied, daily, even small amounts help Set routines – start small, be consistent Plan more sleep – take naps, sleep little later on weekends Wind down in the evening – quiet activities, turn off devices Read over academic information before bed – brain keeps working on material – keeps learning while you sleep! Limit screen time – plan offline times Avoid substances Fill out adapted communication skills pg 77 Name your feeling State the reason for your feeling State what you would like pg 86

Develop a teen survival guide Get in small groups of 4 Choose a secretary Brainstorm specific detailed ideas for navigating adolescence (come up with at least 10) For example: To help me exercise more I will… On the weekend I will sleep until… I will start to wind down at… I will start more sentences with I… Be prepared to share with the group Fill out adapted communication skills pg 77 Name your feeling State the reason for your feeling State what you would like pg 86

Citations Walsh, D., & Bennett, N. (2004). Why do they act that way?: A survival guide to the adolescent brain for you and your teen. New York: Free Press. The Teenage Brain. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2015, from https://neurowiki2012.wikispaces.com/The Teenage Brain Information was taken from Learner’s Edge, Inc., online continuing education vehicle Google Images Fill out adapted communication skills pg 77 Name your feeling State the reason for your feeling State what you would like pg 86