Why are teenagers emotionally intense?
If there's one recurring way to describe adolescence in the collective imagination, it's as a hormonal cocktail that sends boys' and girls' emotions soaring. Perhaps you've even used the expression "they're going through puberty." But you should know that beyond the influence of hormones, this developmental stage involves biological, psychological, and social changes, which explains why teenagers think, feel, and act differently than adults and why they can often be overwhelmed by their emotions.
The most significant physical development of adolescence is known as puberty . It takes place between the ages of 10 and 14 and usually begins earlier in girls than in boys. During this period, both boys and girls experience physical changes that also have an emotional impact. Puberty is driven by hormones, and thus, during adolescence, physical growth and sexual maturation occur thanks to the activation of the hormonal glands—gonads, adrenal glands, and thyroid gland. Boys experience testicular growth, pubic and underarm hair growth, and voice changes due to the lengthening of the larynx. Girls experience breast development, pubic hair growth, the onset of menstruation, and widening of the hips.
To help teenagers accept and experience the physical changes of puberty in a positive way, adults can support them by providing information about the changes they will undergo. This will help them see it as a natural process and reduce confusion and bewilderment. To navigate this stage as smoothly as possible, it is crucial that teenagers receive support from both adults and other young people. It is also important that their environment refrains from teasing or making comments about the changes they are experiencing, and that it acknowledges and validates the emotional experiences they are going through as a result of these physical changes. Finally, it is also advisable for adults to encourage teenagers to develop their ability to cope with the changes and challenges of daily life.
To navigate this stage as smoothly as possible, it is crucial that teenagers receive support from both adults and other young people.
It's important to emphasize that teenagers don't just have raging hormones. Understanding the changes in brain function and structure is key to comprehending their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. During adolescence, our minds change in how we think, remember, relate to others, and focus our attention. This occurs because the adolescent brain is still developing , and the increased emotional intensity is primarily related to this process. The brain structure responsible for emotions (the limbic system) is at its peak maturation, but the structure responsible for regulating those emotions (the prefrontal cortex) is not yet fully developed. In fact, its peak maturation can occur between the ages of 22 and 25.
Furthermore, hormonal hyperactivation also affects brain maturation . Specifically, it has been scientifically demonstrated that female hormones stimulate early maturation of frontal brain regions responsible for emotional regulation, planning, and reduced impulsivity, while male hormones stimulate the development of parietal regions related to visual and spatial processing.
Experiencing greater emotional intensity in adolescence allows us to feel more enthusiasm for life and to put all our effort and creativity into what motivates us.
All these brain changes, along with hormonal ones, explain a number of characteristics typical of adolescence, including increased emotional intensity. Taken together, all of this leads to greater emotional fluctuation and a tendency to experience emotions more intensely . This heightened emotional intensity is neither good nor bad in itself. On the one hand, it allows teenagers to feel more enthusiasm for life, to put all their effort and creativity into what motivates them, and to share that passion that often defines them with us; although at the same time, it can lead to "uncontrolled" emotional reactions and a tendency to respond more impulsively. They are two sides of the same coin.
Dr. David Bueno Torrens
Strategies for adults to help them
When adults try to fight against some of the characteristics of adolescent thought, emotion, and behavior, it's counterproductive and ultimately ineffective. It's better to validate and acknowledge their needs and provide support , with the goal of guiding them and equipping them with skills that increase self-control, reflection, planning, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution strategies.
By doing this, we activate these networks in the prefrontal cortex, leading to earlier and better maturation of this developing brain structure, and therefore providing them with greater emotional regulation and impulse control . It is vitally important that role models take advantage of the window of opportunity that adolescence offers to guide teenagers through this transition and equip them with the tools to better manage adult life.
It is vitally important that the adults in their lives take advantage of the window of opportunity that adolescence provides to guide teenagers in this transition and equip them with tools to better manage adult life.
Some key points for supporting adolescents in order to stimulate maturation and help them in their personal growth are:
- Teaching how to identify risk situations.
- Show genuine interest in their hobbies, activities, motivations, and concerns.
- Help them to identify their own emotions and those of others.
- Recognize and validate their emotions. It's important to pay attention to their emotional states and validate their emotions, however exaggerated they may seem.
- To accompany them in decision-making, and at the same time respect the decisions they make, even though we may sometimes think they are wrong.
- Debate different points of view without imposing our own, respecting their opinions, even if we may not agree.
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