Health Problems of Adolescence – Common Problems of Adolescence

A healthy adolescence is essential for healthy adulthood because Adolescence is a preparatory phase for adult life when physiological and physical developments of sebaceous glands occur in the body. It is accompanied by mental development and behavioral adjustments. The Adolescent comes out of the familial environment and begins to find out self identity and position in the outer world.

Ø  Acne: It is a skin disorder of adolescents  of both sexes where eruptions/pustules develop over face, chest and back caused by over activity of sebaceous glands and clogging of skin pores in response to influx of androgen. Acne appearing on face makes oneself self conscious because of their unsightliness. A proper understanding of their being natural and requiring proper medical treatment helps the Adolescent to come out of the stress.

Ø  Hypochondria: It is a mental disorder in which the patient is preoccupied with body functions and normal sensations finding faults and seeking medical attention. Negative diagnostic evaluations and guarantee of good health by physicians increase the patient’s concern. Hypochondria usually occur in late developer adolescents due to anxiety syndrome.

Ø  Physiological Aberrations: Some adolescents may suffer from perceptual disturbances or physiological aberrations like absence of monthly periods in females. They must be got attended to by experts.

Ø  Neurasthenia: It is a chronic mental and physical weakness and fatigue which results in inability to concentrate and enjoy. There is development of insomnia, headache, depression and irritability.

Ø  Craze: There is a tendency to attract and appear different from others. Some adolescents becomes conscious of their weight and tend to eat little resulting in development of various types of deficiencies. Some adolescents develops excessive craving for food, resulting in overeating and obesity.

Ø  Phobia: They are persistent, irrational, intense fears of specific objects, activity or situation. Phobias are a variety types like acrophobia (fear of height), cynophobia (fear of dogs), social phobia (fear of embarrassment in social situations), claustrophobia (fear of confined space).

Ø  Moods: Socially and emotionally, adolescents feel alternate moods for loneliness and gregarious. Most of it depends upon their friends and social circle. There are periods of social awkwardness, exhibitionism and aggressive self assertion.

Ø  Post-traumatic stress Disorder: It is a mental disorder which is a result of traumatic events like rape, torture, assault, etc. which the patient re-experiences the traumatic events in recurrent intrusive recollections, nightmares or flash backs. A treatment by psychiatrists is required.