It's finally happening … you've waited a long time for this, here it is. Your body feels like it's vibrating; you can almost see your heart beating from within your chest; your hands are shaking, and you feel like you may throw up each one of those little butterflies that are swimming around in your stomach.

Thank goodness you don't have to speak because your voice is being blocked by the gigantic lump lodged in your throat… You wish your body would behave so that you could enjoy this moment, but you just want to EXPLODE!

What makes YOU feel like you want to explode?
Feelings of anger, happiness, fear, or excitement can be so intense that you feel like you could pop like a balloon. Have you ever been so angry at someone or something that you are almost blind with rage? Or you almost see red? Have you ever been so excited about something, like a trip that you could hardly contain yourself? At times your emotions can be so strong that you feel like they take over your sense of logic, common sense, and rational thinking.

The Top Ten Times That You (Or Any Girl) Feel Like You're Going To EXPLODE:

#10 Five minutes before you take a test

#9 Five minutes before you get back a grade on a test

#8 Your first kiss

#7 Running into your parents at the mall when you told them you'd be at the library

#6 Finding out your sister read your journal

#5 Overhearing your best friend talking badly about you to another friend

#4 Losing your friend's favorite earrings

#3 Getting an award for a project you worked hard on

#2 Making the team/play/band

#1 Going on your first date

What do you DO when you want to explode?

When you feel like your body is going to explode, all you want is RELIEF. Even if you're totally excited about something, eventually you want to stop your racing heart, shaking hands, and the feeling that you could jump out of your skin. Within this rhyme are many ways to calm the storm inside your body, and prevent an explosion:

When you're heart goes a thumpin'
And your throat there's a lump in
Girl Zone's got the cure
For the feelin' you endure

Take for example
a bath with bubbles ample
Or a nap will do you fine
When your anger's out of line

Music is a treat
Dancing to the beat
Will put your mind to rest
Singing sisters are the best

Keep your body in motion
To stop the commotion
Take a walk, run or ride
Relax and go outside

Write your feelings down
Don't mess around
Getting the words on paper
Makes the feeling taper

But sometimes you need to let
Time pass and you can bet
Later on you'll feel
That it's not such a big deal

Some people choose unhealthy ways to deal with their feelings, like smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, or having sex when they don't want to. These things can sometimes give a girl temporary relief from her feelings, but they are not the answer. Using these unhealthy behaviors to relieve the feeling that you're going to explode will only create more problems.

Unfortunately, these kinds of feelings are going to keep coming, they don't stop as you get older. So NOW is the time to learn how to deal with your feelings in a healthy way. Make the decision to start taking care of yourself, both inside and out.