The adolescent brain is undergoing incredible growth. Neurons are wiring and new connections between the two hemispheres of the brain are forming. This kind of growth and connection is an explosive time during adolescence. In fact, certain factors can contribute to mental illness, such as addiction or a psychological disorder.
These factors can include:. Drug Use : Certain drugs can have severe impact on the functioning of the brain. For instance, the rush of dopamine that cocaine releases can lead to permanent alterations in the way the brain processes dopamine in the future.
According to research, this also means that because of these permanent changes in the way a teen responds to dopamine, they may be more vulnerable to cocaine addiction later in the life as well as addiction to other drugs that stimulate the release of dopamine. Another example is the way that the amygdala functions differently in those that have mental illness.
Certain genes can be passed down that affect the functioning and health of the brain and a teen brain. In fact, experience influences all brains, whether a teen or adult. Trauma often creates anxiety and fear which in turn can stifle the creativity and explosive growth that is happening in the teen brain. Certain conditions, such as those mentioned above, can be dangerous to the developing teenage brain. Research continues to investigate this relationship in order to better the understanding and treatment of mental illness.
Discuss pros and cons with your teen. When your teen comes to you with a problem, help your teen identify the consequences or results of their actions.
If there is a choice your teen must make, help them see the pros and cons of each choice. Because the prefrontal cortex is still developing, teens tend to be more impulsive. However, by helping them think through a situation, you help them make neural connections that build logical and rational thinking, which they will need as healthy and responsible adults. The major reason that adolescents have different sensitivities to alcohol compared to adults is that their brains are still maturing.
Although it was once thought that the brain is fully mature around birth this hypothesis has been disproven; now there is clear evidence that the brain does not mature fully until about age One of the areas of the brain that matures late is the prefrontal cortex the area important in impulse control risk-taking behavior and judgment.
During development in the womb as many as , new neurons the major cells in the brain are created each day. These neurons use spatial and chemical cues to find their synaptic targets. By the time we are born our brains contain billions of neurons with trillions of connections. However the infant brain contains far more neurons than are present in the adult brain. Thus one might imagine how the presence of alcohol can interfere with this time-critical process of neuron pruning that forms the adult brain.
Figure 3. Try to guide your teen toward good sleep habits. But this can make teens less likely to be open with their parents in the future. You want to make it emotionally safe and easy for them to come to you so you can be part of their lives.
But if you see a significant mood or behavioral change that lasts more than 2 weeks, it could mean something else is going on, such as depression. If you think your teen could be depressed, promptly seek professional treatment for your child. Depression is serious and, if left untreated, can be life-threatening. Understanding their development can help you support them in becoming independent, responsible adults.
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