21 Things People Wish They'd Known Before Going Through Puberty

    OK, puberty, still waiting for you to make me hot.

    Anna Borges
    by Anna Borges

    BuzzFeed Staff

    We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community what they wish they knew before they went through puberty.

    trauntwave.tumblr.com / Via memedroid.com

    Here are just some of the things it WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE A HEADS UP ON, WORLD.

    1. It's a gradual process.

    Twitter: @andnowtothemoon / Via buzzfeed.com

    "You won't really know when it's started and you won't really notice when it ends. It's often very subtle and gradual." —Kalen Stockton, Facebook

    2. But some things will happen seemingly overnight.

    Rampaige / Via bustygirlcomics.com

    "You'll go to sleep with A cups and wake up with DDs. It's horrific." —Jessica Vanderbrink, Facebook

    Art from Busty Girl Problems.

    3. Not to mention, it might last a lot longer than you think it's going to.

    Nickelodeon / Via accio-panjee.tumblr.com

    "Puberty can keep going for years after you expect it to end! I always had this idea that by the time you graduated high school, boom puberty was over. But it wasn't until I was 22 that I finally got hips (or boobs for that matter) and finally started looking like a grown lady. Puberty happens for everyone at different times and in different ways. Don't freak out if it 'hasn't happened' for you yet." —Molly Jane Sisson, Facebook

    4. Your emotions change just as much as your body.

    Warner Bros. Studios

    "I wish I’d known that the emotional changes would be WAY more jarring than anything that happened to my body. You hear a lot as a kid about the physical changes that happen during puberty, but I wish I’d been more educated on how to deal with everything going on socially, mentally, and emotionally." —loganm440b1d57b

    5. But just because those changes are a part of puberty doesn't mean your emotions aren't valid.

    Dami Lee / Via Facebook: BFF

    "You are allowed to be angry, sad, blissful, dejected, or any other emotion." —boom_yummy

    6. Those ~sexual feels~ are nothing to be ashamed of.

    7. You should let people take your damn picture, awkward phase or not.

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    "I wish I’d known not to avoid getting my picture taken at all costs because now I regret not having them." —Juniderp

    8. It's not necessarily going to be a pain marathon.

    NBC / Via gifrific.com

    "TV shows and movies had me believe that puberty was this physically painful time. Really, the only physical pain was pretty minor, especially compared to the death-like experience I was anticipating." —TinaRuthBelcher

    9. Hair is going to sprout up in some weird places.

    Twitter: @UseTheForceLeia

    "Your asshole gets hairy." —alexc4b29160b9

    10. You probably won't always be able to eat this way with the same results.

    NBC / Via whatthebuck20.tumblr.com

    "You can eat two pizzas, three gallons of soda, and eight donuts now with no consequences, but after puberty? Well, expect to gain 30 pounds." —Samantha C. Sullivan, Facebook

    11. Don't stress if you're a late bloomer. It'll happen.

    Warner Bros. Studios / Via thriftytheatrethinker.wordpress.com

    "You're going to look like you're 12 until you're about 15, but the puberty gods will come around eventually so don't stress so much about it." —Ry Lee, Facebook

    12. Everyone smells at some point (but yeah, deodorant is your friend).

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    —marerb323

    13. Glasses are nothing to be embarrassed about.

    Nickelodeon / Via mrwgifs.com

    "Glasses aren't there to make you look 'dorky' or 'nerdy.' You have them because you cannot see well and they're there to serve a purpose. So, just learn to rock your specs in your own special way, even if you only wear them all day every once and a while. You'll soon learn to love them because you'll realize they're both functional AND fashionable!" —Casey Bishop, Facebook

    14. You should ask a ton of questions because everyone goes through it and the more you know, the better.

    15. That includes speaking up if something seems off, because not everything that happens to you is because of puberty.

    awaresonder.tumblr.com

    "Puberty can bring genetic diseases out to play. Don't brush weird/concerning symptoms under the rug because 'eh, puberty.'" —Shaylon Blair Stolk, Facebook

    16. Don't think something is wrong with you based on who you are or aren't attracted to.

    Gold Circle Films / Via thegaymerist.tumblr.com

    "Maybe you're a late bloomer who won't get interested in boys until later or maybe like me, you're actually just gay. You'll figure it out in time. Until then, don't beat yourself up." —Amelia Barr, Facebook

    "Asexuality is a-okay." —Mariah McGarvey, Facebook

    17. Puberty might be especially complicated if your gender identity is different than your sex assigned at birth.

    trans-substantial.tumblr.com

    "As a trans guy, I wish someone would have told me that puberty would make me more dysphoric than I already was and how tiring hiding my curves and binding my chest would be. And that even though all that would happen I’d still be the manliest most handsome guy in the world no matter all the changes my body would go through." —demlaughs

    18. You'll get acne everywhere and that's totally normal.

    Twitter: @Lmao

    "Acne will pop up in weird places; not just on your face. It’ll pop up on your neck, chest, back, arms, just about anywhere." —dshadowghost

    19. Whatever you do, DON'T PICK AT IT BECAUSE IT WILL SCAR.

    Adam Ellis / Via Facebook: BuzzFeedComics

    —lgracier

    20. You're probably going to get some stretch marks because duh, you're growing.

    instagram.com

    "I wish I would have known that stretch marks happen to everyone and are caused by a variety of factors other than weight gain!" —Photominnow

    21. As cheesy as it sounds, stay true to yourself and stuff.

    facebook.com

    "ALWAYS put yourself first, never sacrifice who you are, how you act, or what you wear to get guys or girls to like you. Being yourself and being open about what and who you love takes a world of stress off your shoulders. If you have to compromise any part of yourself for someone they’re not your friends. You are perfect and changing any part of you is a crime against yourself." —katieh450c17973

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