By Barbara Shapanus

MY Teenage Brain

Impulsive Emotionally reactive

Acting before thinking Reckless

Frustrated

Why am I acting this way?

Angry for no

reason

Or feeling this way?

Moody

Or this way?

Confus

ed

Or this way?

frustrate

dbore

d

IrritatedAnnoyed

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

What do I have to face in adolescence?

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

Look at all I have to accomplish

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

And this…

What is going on in my brain?

Brain still developing Prefrontal Cortex –

last to develop Reward centers highly

active

Experiencing emotions intensely

High capacity to learn 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

Makes decisions Problem solves Weighs consequences Regulates emotions Inhibits “puts the brakes” on

inappropriate behaviors Not fully CONNECTED until age 25

The “CEO” of the brain

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”

Testosterone Estrogen & Progesteronefemale physical changes

Hormones – raging in teens

male physical

changes

growth spurts

anger, aggression

male puberty

female

puberty

growth spurts

memory

SerotoninMakes us feel relaxed

Confident

Neurotransmitters

Dopaminereward center

makes us feel good

Norepinephrineincreased energy

fight or flightmemory

Exercise increases our feel good neurotransmitters!!!!!!!

“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

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

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

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

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