INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You will be experiencing physical and emotional changes that might seem surprising to you. Don’t blame yourself if you begin to have emotions that you are uncomfortable with. These are normal; everyone goes through them, just at different times. Some boys can begin puberty before they turn 9, others around 12. It is normal to experience it at different times. This is the period in which you are likely to grow the most rapidly. Expect your body, however, to have difficulty timing your eating habits with your growth patterns. It is common to go back and forth from being a bit pudgy to being stick thin, or anywhere in between. Your body will take some time to adapt to its changing shape.  Expect to buy new clothes frequently. Buying clothes that are a bit baggier might save you some trips to the mall. Your appetite will also pick up in ways that will surprise you. To support your growth you want to consume a lot of protein, calcium, folate, and zinc. Try to eat lean meats, beans, seafood, milk, cheese, yogurt, spinach, oranges, and whole wheat breads. Protein will also help encourage the muscle growth that you have begun to experience. You will also experience some changes to your genitals. Your penis will grow longer and your testicles will both grow and begin to hang lower. Puberty unleashes hormones that make your emotions stronger, but also more erratic. You can go from being ecstatic to depressed for no real reason. The most important thing is to remember that this is normal. Reach out for help when you need to.  Expressing yourself can be a good way to get these emotions out and find some peace. Take up music, drawing, painting, or writing. Get a journal. Use your feelings as motivation to develop yourself. You can also try to talk to people about your feelings. Talk to friends. Adults can also be a good source of guidance. Talk to your parents, school counselor, or doctor. Seek professional assistance if you experience emotional distress for several months in a row.  Exercise can also help reduce stress. In a short period of time, you might transition from having no interest in sex, to thinking about it all the time. That is normal. It is also the case that some of the things we associate with sex are inevitable biological functions that really have little to do with our arousal.  Erections, for example, can occur because of changes in temperature; it isn’t necessarily the case that you are aroused when you get one. Similarly, nocturnal emissions also occur naturally when one is asleep.  If you are uncomfortable with your feelings, try talking to someone older. Be cautious when entering into romantic relationships because you don't yet have a good grasp on your needs and feelings. Most adolescents want companionship, but many confuse that with sex.  Wet dreams, also known as nocturnal emissions, can be particularly embarrassing. Don't worry: you have not peed the bed. You have ejaculated and this is your body's way of telling you that you are physically prepared to reproduce, much as periods do for women. Almost all men experience nocturnal emissions at some point. One effect of puberty is that you will begin to sweat more. You will start to smell worse, quicker. With oily skin, you are also likely to develop pimples. To prevent this, bathe or shower daily, paying close attention to cleaning all parts of your body.  To prevent pimples, refrain from squeezing or scratching zits, using greasy hair products, and exposing yourself to intense sunlight. Use non-oily sunblock to protect yourself from the sun. If you develop pimples, the drug store has many over the counter products to help eliminate them. If these don’t work, go to a dermatologist; she can prescribe something stronger.  Your hormones will cause you to sweat and smell more than you are accustomed to. That is natural. It is not your fault. However, you can try to manage it by showering regularly, cleaning under your armpits, and using deodorant. You might find that you begin growing a beard or at least new body hair under your armpits or in your pubic area. At some point you will need to begin trimming and/or shaving this; even a good beard needs to be maintained. Consider starting out with an electric razor, because these will not cut you. If you can, have an adult teach you out to use a manual razor. Don't be afraid of your new hair. It is a natural part of becoming a man. As you grow, your vocal chords will begin to grow as well. Sometimes your voice will begin to give out and will crack into a high pitch sound. Don’t worry, in a few months this will stop and you will have a new, deeper, more grown up voice. You will experience some discomfort, but it is just a step toward being an adult. Everyone you know, including the people you look up to, have been through this at one point in time. Recognize that your struggles are the first step toward becoming a new person.  Make a list of things that you like about yourself and think about them anytime you are having doubts about your body.  Surround yourself with positivity. Socialize with people who are positive. Consider avoiding people who talk about body issues all time. Avoid magazines and TV shows that focus on unrealistic standards of beauty.  Exercise and eat well to keep yourself in good physical condition.

SUMMARY: Remember that puberty is normal. Prepare for your body to grow. Expect emotional changes. Be prepared for a new interest in sex. Pay more attention to hygiene. Begin  shaving. Look forward to your voice breaking. Take pride.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Extroverts may tend to approach conflict through confrontation and problem-solving while introverts tend to shy away from conflicts. In turn, introverts may feel harassed or nagged while the extrovert may feel like he or she is being stonewalled. If you are an introvert, be willing to engage in conflict with your partner, and realize that your partner likely wants to find a resolution, not argue.  If your partner is quick to discuss issues and it irritates you, ask your partner to thoughtfully consider the issue before immediately bringing it up. Some things are better left unsaid or can be worked out on their own. Likewise, if you’re both extroverted, don’t bring every little thing to the surface. Count to ten or ask yourself some questions before going to your partner, such as, “Will this help improve our relationship?” In addition to understanding your conflict styles, be honest about what conflicts are like for you. If you’re an introvert, let your partner know what sets you off or shuts you down. You can encourage your extroverted partner to give you a nudge to open up or respond back.  If you’re introverted, say, “I tend to shut down when you are upset. I know that doesn’t help us solve our problems, so please gently invite me to engage the situation, even if I seem mad and upset.” If you are both extroverted, you may want to approach conflicts when you are each calm and settled. Don’t let anger flare up and don’t jump into discussions that could be better if you slowed down. If both partners are unwilling to compromise and continue to butt heads, this may be a relationship issue. For example, an introvert may retreat as a way to avoid problems in the relationship while the extrovert may spend more time with friends to avoid problems. If you’ve tried to find compromises but your partner won’t budge, consider the longevity of your relationship and how the changes you want will affect it. Talk to your partner about your efforts and how you feel about not finding compromises. Say, “It’s important that we find some degree of resolution about our differences, and I want us to treat each other with respect.” If the problems continue to come up despite your best efforts, it may be time to see a therapist. A therapist can help you work through problems and see things more clearly from your partner’s perspective. You may learn new ways to approach or interact with your partner or try new things to understand your partner’s needs better. Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean your relationship is doomed or that you should be ashamed that you are struggling. It’s brave to ask for help and take steps to improve your relationship.

SUMMARY:
Recognize conflict styles. Talk about how you handle conflict. Consider if you have a relationship issue. Talk to a therapist.