Teenage Development
At about age 15 we are given the chance to begin to develop civility. The prefrontal cortex takes center stage and begins its final burst of development. The initial phase of its development began towards the end of the first year of life, and continued developing all along in parallel with the three main parts of the brain, acting as the great orchestrator of a marvelous symphony. This is the culmination of the neurological blueprint. It houses our greatest human attributes: altruism, higher analytical abilities, and wisdom. It is the part of the brain that most makes us human.
The development of the prefrontal cortex is fragile and vulnerable. Because it connects to all the main centers of the brain, damage or dysfunction to any part of the brain affects its function. Late adolescence is a crossroads. When things go well and a caring adult is able to model the behavior, a young person becomes filled with a sense of mission and purpose, takes up causes, believes deeply in their dreams, sees that they matter and develops a profound sense of themselves as a powerful agent in the world.
When Things Go Wrong
If the brain centers below are not fully developed, if there have been emotional or physical traumas, injuries, or if adult modeling is insufficient, this time of radical prefrontal expansion will not complete the circuits necessary for whole brain, whole body functioning. Young people at this age especially need care and attention. Good modeling cannot be underestimated. A recent study showed that children who sit down to family meals and engage in family conversation are higher academic achievers. Biomechanical injury - often sustained earlier in childhood - will often start to make itself known. Painful knees, neck pain, back pain, fatigue are all indications of chronic biomechanical injury.
If a teenager is shut down, joyless, addicted to the computer, involved in self-destructive behaviors, they need extra care. It becomes detective work teasing out what might be wrong. Emotional issues may manifest as physical issues, and vice versa. They need to be listened to, engaged and helped over the hump into adulthood. Having a stable biomechanical structure facilitates this emotional development.
Hormones
Analogous to the massive development of the immune system in early childhood, the endocrine system bursts into action at puberty. The body undergoes a huge shift physically, psychologically, and emotionally. The changing emotional and physical landscape can be very unsettling for a child. Some alternative therapies can be immensely helpful with this all important transition to adulthood.
Back to Teenagers
The development of the prefrontal cortex is fragile and vulnerable. Because it connects to all the main centers of the brain, damage or dysfunction to any part of the brain affects its function. Late adolescence is a crossroads. When things go well and a caring adult is able to model the behavior, a young person becomes filled with a sense of mission and purpose, takes up causes, believes deeply in their dreams, sees that they matter and develops a profound sense of themselves as a powerful agent in the world.
When Things Go Wrong
If the brain centers below are not fully developed, if there have been emotional or physical traumas, injuries, or if adult modeling is insufficient, this time of radical prefrontal expansion will not complete the circuits necessary for whole brain, whole body functioning. Young people at this age especially need care and attention. Good modeling cannot be underestimated. A recent study showed that children who sit down to family meals and engage in family conversation are higher academic achievers. Biomechanical injury - often sustained earlier in childhood - will often start to make itself known. Painful knees, neck pain, back pain, fatigue are all indications of chronic biomechanical injury.
If a teenager is shut down, joyless, addicted to the computer, involved in self-destructive behaviors, they need extra care. It becomes detective work teasing out what might be wrong. Emotional issues may manifest as physical issues, and vice versa. They need to be listened to, engaged and helped over the hump into adulthood. Having a stable biomechanical structure facilitates this emotional development.
Hormones
Analogous to the massive development of the immune system in early childhood, the endocrine system bursts into action at puberty. The body undergoes a huge shift physically, psychologically, and emotionally. The changing emotional and physical landscape can be very unsettling for a child. Some alternative therapies can be immensely helpful with this all important transition to adulthood.
Back to Teenagers