CHRONIC ADOLESCENCE

DOES DEPRESSION, NAMELY, MANIC-DEPRESSION (BI-POLAR DISORDER) AFFECT ONE IN 10 TEENAGERS IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY? SO SAY SOME EXPERTS. HOW THEN MAY WE EXPLAIN A 16 YEAR OLD WITH ENOUGH INITIATIVE TO PURCHASE A PLANE TICKET ON A FLIGHT WHICH EVENTUALLY TOOK HIM TO IRAQ AFTER HE WAS INSPIRED BY A HIGH SCHOOL COURSE ON 'IMMERSION JOURNALISM'? WHY HAVE WE TALK SHOW HOSTS WITH INFLATED EGOS, OVER-ACTIVE BRAINS AND MOTOR MOUTHS WHO NEVER GROW UP TO THE QUIETUDE OF HOME-LIFE AND CHILDCARE? EARLY AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS ANSWERED THESE QUESTIONS IN MY CHILDHOOD WITH THE PHRASE, "ANTS IN THE PANTS. " NO PSYCHOLOGICAL, BIOLOGICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC BABBLE WAS NEEDED.

THE WISE AND SUPERANNUATED UNDERSTOOD ADOLESCENCE, BUT THEY WOULD BE PERPLEXED (AND SADDENED) BY THE MODERN PHENOMENA OF ADOLESCENCE PROLONGED, RE-VISITED OR PERPETUATED. BECAUSE OF PUBERTY, MAGICAL, MYSTERIOUS AND VIRTUALLY ULTRA-HUMAN ACTS ARE POSSIBLE, BUT WHY DO SOME ADULTS REMAIN ENSNARLED? GENIUSES WITH CREATIVE BRAINS ARE USUALLY, COLLOQUIALLY SPEAKING, 'NUTS.' SURELY THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ONSET OF ADOLESCENCE WITH ITS CHARACTERISTIC SURGE OF TESTOSTERONE OR ESTROGEN AND DERRING DO. I BELIEVE THIS HORMONAL DESCANT SAYS IT ALL. EITHER INTELLIGENT DESIGN OR RANDOM SELECTION CHOSES ITS HUMAN VICTIMS OF THIS PERMANENT ADD - ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER. TO PUBESCENCE, THESE VICTIMS CAN'T SAY, "NO."