nvm delete this

[Sauce1800]

EDIT: I remade this in general psychology because I thought that's where it belongs because this is alos a lot of neuroscience. Can a mod plz delete this or something?

[S. Earl Martin]

So I am going to try and help you, but without actually being able to sit down and talk to you my abilities are limited. Plus time is limited and I don't have time to hear your life story. So I am older than you. I have been around awhile and have learned somethings. I understand what it means to be an outcast. I was a Stoner/Nerd in Highschool. So I wasn't Mr. popularity. With a few exceptions. After Highschool I realized I didn't really miss much. When I went to college I realized I could be anyone I wanted to be to an extent. I joined another band and just started a new life. So how can you "start a new life". First decide what your goals are? Evaluate your possibilities. Are you going to college? Are you looking at a trade school? Are you going to have to get a job? These are not questions I am looking for answers to. They are meant for you to answer. As far as social interaction? You must decide what group or organization you want to belong to. Once you have decided what that is. Learn as much as you can about it. If you are going to be involved in a cause for instance. If you just show up and don't have a clue? You might be subject to redicule. The reverse can be true. If you appear as a "know it all". It can harbor resentment. Set goals and work toward them. All action is controlled by motivational factors, reinforcement both possitive and negative, goals and intent. Good Luck and don't give up. Peace!     

[Enigma]

Your view on synaptic pruning is a little off.  It doesn't "cut off" parts of the brain you don't use (you actually use all of your brain); instead pruning reorganizes connections to make synaptic transmission more efficient.  When neurons develop, they form all sorts of connections with other surrounding neurons.  Synaptic pruning cuts off these unused superfluous connections so the neural signal can take the fastest route to wherever it needs to go.  Neuroplasticity is a pretty broad concept that ranges from the molecular level all the way up to the systems level but you got the basics right: your brain has the ability to adapt (structurally and functionally) to the environment.  It is most evident during critical periods of development but still continues into adulthood. 

You haven't lost your personality; you entered puberty and your brain amped up production of a pantheon of different chemicals and hormones that led to a whole range of new feelings, emotions, and behavior.  There still is an awesome person inside of you but to access this person you need to understand yourself and become comfortable with who you are.  Don't sweat this too much; high school is basically shit and means almost nothing in the real world.

[Sauce1800]

Wow haha, thanks. Lol you idea how how relieved I am.

But just to make sure, I didn't literally mean parts of the brain. I really meant the certain combination of connections and synapses. I know that you actually literally don't lose parts of your brain. So this still means that I can't lose my personality and creativity right?

Because I read this article and it said

"the growth in gray matter followed by the pruning of connections is a particularly important stage of brain development in which what teens do or do not do can affect them for the rest of their lives. He calls this the "use it or lose it principle," and tells FRONTLINE, "If a teen is doing music or sports or academics, those are the cells and connections that will be hardwired. If they're lying on the couch or playing video games or MTV, those are the cells and connections that are going to survive."".

 Why can't say that because of "use it or lose it", since I haven't really used my personality, I'm going to lose it?

And also I remember reading an article about how the internet taking over the world and spending so much time on the computer is changing how our brains think. So doesn't having our environment effect how we think also mean it effects our personality?

And also I always hear adults talk about childhood creativity and how you become more boring as you grow older. Does this actually happen? Because if it does, doesn't that mean that it is possible to lose your personality and become dull and boring?

And by personality, I just don't mean qualities like extroverted, introverted, etc. I mean things like how funny I am too.

not to sound like I'm doubting you I just want to be 100% sure I have nothing to worry about.