Coping with Moods (Young Adult's Guide to the Science of Health)

Provides Teens With Information On Sexuality, Contraception, And The Life-changing Decisions Surrounding Pregnancy. "Do you need to lose a few pounds? Are you overweight--or are you just built differently from the "Barbie-doll" (or "Ken-doll") shape? Sometimes it's hard to tell. In a culture that insists we all have to be model-thin, it's hard to judge. Dieting is a big business that sells books, magazines, and food products. In the midst of so many conflicting messages, it can be hard to sort out fact from fiction. We all want to look our best--and at the same time, we all hate to deny ourselves our favorite foods! Healthy weight management is all about achieving the weight that's right for you--and this book will give you the facts you need to determine what is right for you. Your ideal weight will depend on many factors--your height, your body type, your gender, your age--but there are at least two common factors for successful weight management: regular exercise and a balanced diet. Forget "diets" and focus instead on a lifetime of healthy habits. In the long run, weight management is not about denying yourself. It's about providing your body with what it truly needs--and this book will tell you how."--Publisher's website "Have you ever been laughing one moment--and crying the next? How about so angry you could throw something--and then suddenly burst out laughing? All of us have experienced mood swings like this, and they're even more common during adolescence. Rapidly changing emotions--from contentment to irritability, anger to despair, euphoria to despondency--are common occurrences during your teen years. What causes these shifts in mood? The sources vary, but for most teens, two main agents are involved: brain chemistry and life changes. The same hormonal activity that brings about the body changes teens experience also triggers changes in your brain. At the same time, your relationships with your family and friends are changing, you have more responsibilities and freedoms than ever before, and you face a whole new set of pressures. All these things can turn your life into a series of emotional peaks and valleys. But there is hope. This book will help you understand what's happening to you--and it will offer practical coping mechanisms. Don't worry. You too can survive the roller coaster!"--Publisher's website Do you ever feel exhausted and drowsy, like you need more sleep? If you do, you're not alone. A recent study by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) found that 60 percent of people under the age of eighteen complained of daytime tiredness. Fifteen percent (one out of every seven) said they were so tired they fell asleep in school. You may think that not getting sufficient sleep is no big deal, but think again. According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep deprivation can put you at high risk for unintentional injury and death, low grades and poor school performance, negative moods, and increased likelihood of stimulant use. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration views driving drowsy as actually more dangerous, and more deadly, than driving drunk! What is sleep? Why do we need it? What causes sleep deprivation and how can it be avoided? What are its tragic results? This book answers these and other questions by using a readable blend of real-life accounts, easy-to-understand statistics, scientific data, and practical suggestions."--Publisher's website "Do you ever wish you were stronger ... thinner ... more athletic ... healthier? Most of us would change at least one thing about ourselves if we could. But real health and happiness aren't dependent on matching yourself against the unrealistic ideals of a model-thin body or a pumped-up body builder's bulging muscles. Instead, fitness and good nutrition are the two factors that can lead to physical and emotional health. When you were younger, your parents told you what to eat. They probably encouraged you to eat the foods that would provide you with the various nutrients you needed to grow. They may have also encouraged you to get regular exercise. But you're older now. You've begun to make your own decisions about what you eat and how active you are. Learning what your body needs to be healthy is an important part of becoming a responsible adult. Taking care of yourself makes sense if you want to be happy and enjoy life. This book will tell you how to be the best you can be!"--Publisher's website Title Page Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Roller Coaster Emotions: The Biology of Moods Chapter 2: The Front Car: Fear and Anxiety Chapter 3: Car Two: Anger and Frustration Chapter 4: Car Three: Envy and Jealousy Chapter 5: Car Four: Stress and Sadness Chapter 6: Beyond the Coaster: When Moods Become Mental Illness Further Reading For More Information Glossary Index Picture Credits Biographies Blank Page