How Do Hormones Affect My Teen’s Brain?

All of the sex hormones have an impact on the limbic system. Basically, they are associated with dramatic, intense feelings that can be a trigger for good as well as not so good.decade3d - anatomy online/shutterstock

You’ve heard of the terrible twos. Then there’s the tumultuous teens. That’s when the surge of hormones affect the teenage brain, impacting their behavior, mood, and decision-making skills. It is a time of great emotional growth, a time to practice patience, and most of all, a normal part of the life cycle that will eventually pass.

Since it is a normal, albeit challenging time for all concerned, it helps to understand what’s going on in the body and mind of teens. So how do hormones affect teens’ brains?

How Hormones Affect the Teenage Brain

The adolescent brain is its own animal: it’s not a bigger toddler’s brain, nor is it a smaller version of an adult’s brain. As many parents will attest, teenagers seem to be in a class all their own!