1. Male/Female : Adolescence age Or Teen age (13 to 19) Or Period from puberty to
legal adulthood
The Adolescence is not only to the endurer but also to the parents and the
immediate family.
Challenges in understanding the transitions and accepting them in the right
perspective.
Non scientific terms Gen-X, Gen-Y and Gen-Z are used to express the current
impatient, tech savvy, smart generation. Being the generation of such evolution,
many challenges exist and the generation gaps are widening between the parents
and the offsprings.
The transitional phase involves the most primary change of adulthood. Gender
differentiation, gender awareness and expression is a natural part of it.
They have hormonal changes at the base of it. Special tropic hormones stimulate the
hypothalamus in the brain and the awakening of adolescence happens. This leads to
a cascade of hormonal changes in boys as well as girls leading to the typical bodily
changes such as increase in height, change in the body contours and development of
certain bodily parts.
2. Stabilisation and the right time
These hormones, however have erratic levels which stabilise around the completion
of the teen age. Such erratic surges can be stabilised with proper nutrition, physical
activity and mind modulation. But if these are not stabilised, several mood changes,
anger and sadness in spurts may occur.
Right time is when your body and soul stabilises completely. Time when you and
your partner, both are in a position to shoulder the responsibilities towards each
other, financially, mentally and physically.
3. Exposure to internet, Videos, Chat rooms have reached bedrooms
Internet has exposed this generation to many eventualities at a very tender age when
other things like good career start, friendship, sport, hobbies, good health and
confident personality are more important.
Chat rooms, videos have directly taken the younger generation to the bedrooms and
the indwelling sexuality where they would have entered when they are able to take it.
What does this ‘able to take it’ mean ? You are not supposed to have sex ?
Of course you are but at the right time(Ref above).
With nuclear families and a self focused existence everyone says ‘Ma life, Ma ways’.
Absolutely why not, but always at the right time(Ref above).
Sexual act is a beautiful expression of love and not an experiment. And definitely not
a casual or forced act.
My generation was told about this by either a knowledgeable aunt or a biology
teacher or the biology book of standard 8th.
We felt definitely empowered by the knowledge and knew exactly when and where
“not” to indulge and how to protect ourselves. It also could be that, we had many
other interests such as studies, sports, dance, music and a huge lot of skills to be
mastered and induced into.
4. Career : This is the time you are pursuing your academics and preparing yourself to
pick your first career opportunity and make your mark in the professional world.
This is a time when you need to keep a balance.
5. Parents trying to cope up with the young generation
Today with an all working family model and a faster moving pace, younger ones are
growing and maturing swiftly.
Parents are not coping up with the same rate as their wards are growing with. The
digital media is making matters worse. The parents as well as the teenagers are in
conflict as to whether they are handling a mature situation.
Also as a parent, doctor, I am much exposed to this growing generation and their
behavioural patterns. The generation has become unisex generation and that is
welcome in some contexts.
Too much “unrestricted” freedom due to education and travel is observed, not being
handled properly. Easy access to everything is making us impatient, with lack of
determination and focus, resulting into emotional fragility. We get distracted,
depressed and dejected faster.
As a doctor I am much at the receiving end of young boys and girls getting into the
aftermath of this situation both physically and psycologycally. Their young bodies
bear the brunt of this menace and souls wear the scars. They are scared to displease
the opposite partner, fear being rejected by the family and are doubtful about the
doctor being judgemental.
Its nice to have friends from the opposite sex as it helps in better communication
skills , understanding of emotional sharing and builds up a good herd culture and a
great foundation for future adulthood based on strong life values.
6. Body, mind is delicate and vulnerable. You are maturing. And growing.
Technically speaking in medical terms :
You have a delicate physique especially during teenage. The hormonal maturation
has just started and is not yet complete and therefore the protective immune system
is incapable of acting as a shield.
For girls, the genital tract virtually is open into the peritoneal cavity and therefore can
cause serious consequences. Unwanted pregnancies have to be lead into abortions
and if the pregnancy unfortunately happens in the Fallopian tube ? (instead of the
womb), you may need laparotomy or a laparoscopy which is major surgery compared
to a medical termination of pregnancy. Parent’s consent is required before
undertaking such high risk surgeries.
This can scar the reproductive tract challenging the future possibilities of
childbearing and the scars on the mind are irreparable .
Sex also leads to transmission of serious infections which majority of the youngsters
are not protected against. The common microbial infections such as the HIV-AIDS,
Hepatitis gonorrhoea, chlamydia etc can be acquired through such acts. These
organisms are much smaller than the mans’s sperms and easily gain access causing
infections which are many a time unnoticed but can compromise one’s reproductive
capacity. They can also cause a constant pain, disability which can affect ones daily
living.
7. Counselling and Consultation :
All these can be definitely addressed through a “non-judgemental” counselling and
consultation.
One can consider individual or if necessary couple counselling with a gynaecologist
and get proper guidance about intimacy and physical relationships. It’s OK to share
your feelings and get pro-active counselling instead of seeing a doctor only when
you enter into a situation.
Its important that the youth gets proper hand-holding and directions to handle their
freedom, indulgences and their consequences.
8. Stay Smart, Stay informed.
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