Parents sometimes suspect something may be wrong in their child’s life but aren’t sure if it can be written off as typical teen angst or if more is going on. It’s important to talk to your kids and ask them how they are feeling, but sometimes they have difficulty communicating their emotions. They may also feel embarrassed by some of what they are experiencing.

If you are trying to determine if your child needs teen mental health treatment, look for some of the following signs:

• Feelings of anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Constantly feeling depressed or sad
• Crying jags
• Often feeling tired
• Hyperactivity
• Poor performance in school
• Isolating from family and friends
• Loss of interest in favorite pastimes
• Abusing drugs or alcohol to cope with feelings like anxiety or depression
• Mood swings and irritability
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
• Changes in weight or appetite
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Hallucinations
• Obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors
• Medical symptoms with no known cause, like headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal distress