guest post from isme // blame it on the brain

a special guest post for you from c at isme! 

do you remember what it was like to be a teen?

it seems so long ago, but i suppose it wasn't...

the mood swings, drama, and pimples seem like yesterday.

the teen years often leave you feeling rejected, neglected and misunderstood. 

here is one reason as to why that could be the case.

*images found google

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Blame it on the brain

Does the word ‘teenager’ send a shiver down your spine? It’s interesting that even though we’ve all been one, it’s sometimes difficult to remember what that time was like. Perhaps it’s down to the human act of self-preservation, and the eradication of the memory of traumatic events?

Teenagers are akin to a separate entity – a peculiar beast to be held at arm’s length and viewed with a degree of suspicion. Websites abound offering extensive advice on the methods of dealing with adolescents. And although a cattle prod isn’t actually mentioned, the advice does largely recommend approaching with caution, and arming yourself against possible attacks.

And rightly so, some parents may suggest. Being on the receiving end of a teenage tantrum isn’t a particularly great place to be. Others may argue that at least this indicates an acknowledgement of parental existence, mind you. In a world where more interest is afforded to Nokia accessories, receiving a verbal lashing may be the closest you get to human interaction.

Teenage years are regularly depicted as an angst and acne-ridden time of inner turmoil. Dark, turbulent moods trouble the teen, and the prevailing feeling is one of being misunderstood. At best, a parent may be tolerated with truculence; at worst, loathed with a vindictive vehemence. And the helpful advice proffered by the parenting websites for dealing therewith, is not to take it personally.

So, having accepted your role as punch bag, take the knocks and cling on to the positives. In this day and age, apparently, if pregnancy, alcohol dependence or hard drugs haven’t darkened your door, you ought to count your blessings.

What’s interesting is that being a teenager is a uniquely human phenomenon. Scientists have discovered that the brain undergoes significant changes during adolescence, which suggests that the typical behaviours associated with teenagers may not merely be a case of raging hormones.

The areas in the brain responsible for planning and self-control, unlike other areas that fully mature during childhood, seem to develop later in life. This is also the case for those areas concerned with motivation and risk-assessment. Furthermore, surges in nerve connectivity in the adolescent brain mean that teenagers also find it difficult to read social situations and other people’s emotions.

It seems then that typical teenage behaviour can be blamed on the brain, and it’s as good an excuse as any. After all, in the time-honoured tradition, our ‘understanding’ is often the underdog, and proves a handy tool for negating responsibility.