Confused.

I am so confused! One minute, I am in a bright, happy mood; the next, I am totally gloomy. Sometimes, I look in the mirror and think I look dreadful; then, I can't believe I am that pretty girl looking back at me. At times, I yearn for a boy to like me; other times, I couldn't care less. Some days, I obsess about what I look like; other days, I just brush my hair and go! What is wrong with me? Is this normal?

Dear Confused, It is normal to feel unsure of yourself at times, especially at your age. Let yourself feel pretty--you'll be giving yourself the precious gift of self-confidence. It's an ideal holiday present, even if you can't wrap it up in fancy red-and-green paper. If you're experiencing extreme mood swings--manic highs and devastating lows--you might have a disorder that can be treated. But ordinary moodiness just comes with the teen territory.

Carol Weston's books include Girltalk: All the Stuff Your Sister Never Told You and For Girls Only (HarperCollins) as well as The Diary of Melanie Martin and three other novels (Knopf). Her website is carolweston.com. You can also write Carol c/o Girls' Life, 4517 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214. For a reply, include a stamped self-addressed envelope. Carol is sorry that she can't answer every question personally, but you can find her online at girlslife.com.