Insecure
Do you feel insecure about yourself? That’s probably because you’re visualizing what you think is ideal. But realistically: nobody is perfect, and everyone is different. You are fine just as you are.
Am I normal?
You can feel insecure about yourself during puberty. About your appearance, about your love life, about your friends. Or because you start to feel different. You wonder: am I normal? Do I fit in and do they like me?
Normal …
You will feel insecure about yourself if you have an image in your mind of what ‘normal’ is. Perhaps you look at lots of pictures of super slim people on social media. Then you look in the mirror and think that your body is too fat, that your body is not normal. But that’s not right at all! In reality, everyone’s body is different.
… doesn’t exist
There’s no such thing as normal. Everyone is different. Everyone is beautiful in his or her own way. Whether you are slim or well built, are attracted to someone of the same sex or the opposite sex or start having sex ‘early’ or ‘late’.
Stop comparing
The solution? Don’t compare yourself to people on social media, in films or TV programs. Tell yourself that normal doesn’t exist. You’re fine as you are, precisely because you are you. And that goes for the people around you as well. It would be so boring if everybody was the same.
Puberty
Breasts
You develop breasts during puberty. This could start in a girl of 8, but also in a girl of 14. Age varies for all girls.
Vulva
The vagina
Menstruation
During puberty, a girl has her first period. For about 5 days, some blood, mixed with mucus, flows from your vagina. You can use tampons, sanitary pads or cups to soak up the blood and mucus.