EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Teen Years (13-18)
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Raging hormones – yours and your teen’s Help for moms To help reduce the effects of perimenopause or menopause, moms should: • Decrease consumption of caffeine and refined sugars. • Exercise daily. • Try alternative therapies such as soy, black cohosh. Help for daughters To lessen the effects of PMS and cramping, girls should: • Take a multi-vitamin pill daily. Research shows that vitamin supplements help lessen PMS symptoms. • Take a calcium supplement. Studies show that calcium can help reduce irritability and moodiness, as well as hot flashes for moms. • Refrain from consuming caffeinated beverages and chocolate before their periods. • Take an ibuprofrin, twice a day, for three days prior to menstruation. Help for sons To help boys with their hormonal imbalances, moms should: • Save conversations regarding sensitive issues for later in the day when boys’ testosterone levels are lower. • Show patience when sons are overly assertive, since this is a natural occurrence triggered by rising testosterone during puberty. It’s ironic that just as many mothers start experiencing mood shifts, anxiety, hot flashes, sleeplessness and memory loss brought on by perimenopause or menopause, they also find themselves living with teenagers, many of whom are experiencing their own hormonal upsets from puberty. In households where puberty and perimenopause collide, it’s only natural that emotional outbursts are a daily occurrence. Susan Carpenter, a mother of three teenager daughters, is all too familiar with this scenario. “There’s never a quiet moment around here, since on any given day there’s usually one of us who’s cranky, sad, or is experiencing a meltdown over things as simple as losing the car keys,” she says. Fortunately for most women today, relief from perimenopause or menopause symptoms is possible through lifestyle changes, diet or medications. “Women today have many more options than years ago,” stresses Dr. Gregory DiRocco, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital in Newport Beach. This is good news for moms because if they can control their own hormonal imbalances, it means they will have more patience in dealing with moody teenagers. A mother who is in charge of her hormones is also able to set an example for her teenager who might be experiencing her own hormonal upsets. To ease perimenopause or menopuase symptoms, many women find relief by eliminating certain foods (caffeine, refined sugars) from their diet, exercising more, and finding ways to eliminate stress either through behavior modification or taking up an activity such as yoga. Some women find that alternative therapies and herbal medicine are an effective and safe way to provide relief. Instead of opting for routine hormone replacement therapy, common just 10 years ago, they turn to acupuncture and homeopathic treatments such as black cohosh, soy, Vitamin E and flax seed. Anti-depressant drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including Prozac, Paxil, Celexa and Lexapro, are helpful in treating many symptoms that don’t improve with alternative treatments. “In low doses, SSRIs are perfectly safe, and in many cases women do not have to remain on these medications for a long time to achieve some relief,” says DiRocco. Some women experiencing severe symptoms during perimenopause may choose to receive hormone replacement therapy either in the form of transdermal patches, pills, injections or creams. Teenagers in the throes of puberty have their own hormonal challenges to contend with, and parents play an important role in assuring them that this is a normal part of growing up. “It’s very freeing for teenagers when they understand that it’s not their fault for becoming irritable and emotional but that it’s a simple chemical reaction taking place in their bodies,” says Gabrielle Lichterman, author of “28 Days” (Polka Dot Press, 2005), a self-help book for women and teenage girls that addresses how hormone levels at specific times of the monthly cycle affect moods and behavior. During the first 14 days of the menstrual cycle, when estrogen is rising, teenage girls typically are very optimistic, energetic, cheerful and chatty. In the third week, estrogen levels drop, causing girls to become more introverted, insecure and introspective. The fourth week is the most challenging time for girls who experience premenstrual syndrome. “When hormones descend during this time, they stimulate the stress hormone noreadrenalin – the racing feeling you get when a car cuts you off,” says Lichterman. “So at this point, even something very small can trigger an extreme emotional response in girls experiencing PMS.” Fortunately, there are ways to prevent or lessen the effects of PMS. A common misconception is that boys do not experience emotional changes associated with puberty. “Teenage boys also have a hormone cycle but it lasts for a mere 24 hours,” says Lichterman. Testosterone is the highest in the morning, reaches it lowest levels at night and then recharges as they sleep. “While a boy may feel overly confident in the morning, he also is more quick to anger,” she says. This explains why many boys, who used to be cheerful morning people before puberty, suddenly become grumpy and defensive at the breakfast table. It may be challenging in your house if surging hormones have everybody but the family pet running for cover. But keep in mind that nobody is immune from hormone fluctuations, including men who experience their own form of midlife hormonal changes. “The best thing to do as a family is to support one another during these times,” stresses Lichterman. “A little patience goes a long way in helping one another live happily in spite of hormones.”m Carol Daus is a freelance writer who lives in Huntington Beach with her husband and three teenagers. |
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