Читать книгу It’s A Girl Thing - Lisa Clark - Страница 9

So, Bella, what exactly is puberty anyway?

“…GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS…CHILL YOUR BOOTS–OR WHATEVER FOOTWEAR YOU’RE CURRENTLY WORKING–THIS PUBERTY LARK SEEMS MUCH BIGGER AND SCARIER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS.

HONEST.

IN FACT, ONCE YOU REALISE WHAT’S GOING ON, IT’S ACTUALLY A FUNNY KIND OF EXCITING. LET ME EXPLAIN…BASICALLY, PUBERTY IS WHEN YOUR BODY GETS A SERIOUS UPGRADE IN PREPARATION FOR BECOMING A WOMAN. COOL EH? YOU DEVELOP LADYBUMPS, YOUR HIPS BECOME WIDER AND YOU START YOUR PERIODS (MENSTRUAL CYCLE). WHILE ALL THIS IS GOING ON, YOUR HORMONES CAN ACT ALL KINDS OF CRAZY, WHICH CAN LEAVE YOU FEELING HAPPY, SAD, TEARFUL AND ANXIOUS ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

NOT SO COOL.

NOW, ALTHOUGH THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING TO YOUR BODY MAY SEEM SUPER SCARY, IT’S ALL COMPLETELY NORMAL, I PROMISE. I WAS FREAKED WHEN I SHOT UP TO GIRAFFE GIRL HEIGHT OVERNIGHT BUT THEN HAD TO WAIT FOR WHAT FELT LIKE FOREVER FOR SOMETHING, ANYTHING, THAT RESEMBLED BOOBS TO APPEAR.

Y’SEE, YOUR BIG P MAKEOVER IS TOTALLY UNIQUE TO YOU AND CAN KICK IN AT ANY TIME BETWEEN THE AGES OF EIGHT AND SEVENTEEN. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT EVERYONE GOES THROUGH IT, JUST NOT NECESSARILY AT THE SAME TIME. SO DON’T PANIC IF YOUR GAL PALS START DEVELOPING BEFORE YOU–IT’S NOT A RACE, Y’KNOW!…”

Why does my mood flip from happy to sad without warning?

Are you on top of the world in the morning, depressed over lunch and angry in the evening? It’s those pesky hormones again!

Science bit: Any changes in the level of oestrogen and progesterone hormones (these are the hormones you produce to keep your periods in check), can cause major irritability and mood swings and make you feel like you’re riding an out-of-control rollercoaster.

Bod squad tip: Pink-thinkin’ girls have a mood switch, something that will flick those dullsville clouds outta the sky and replace them with sunshine and sparkles! Lola keeps a journal to help her clear her messy, stressy head, I play guitar ‘til my fingers are sore, Sadie creates a DIY craft-girl sensation with needle and thread and Angel will devour a glossy magazine from cover to cover.

What’s your mood switch?

Make a list of all the things that will turn your frown upside down, and keep it nearby for the next time your mood takes a nosedive!

I spend ages looking at myself in the mirror and comparing myself to my mates. Is this normal?

Of course it is! The big ‘P’ causes so many changes, it’s hard not to feel self-conscious about your bod or compare yourself with others. The important thing is not to get hung up about it. Instead, have fun with your appearance and get to know and love the person you are becoming–you and your body are going to be together for the long haul, so it makes sense to become the best of friends, right?