In a world, where violence has become the norm and chaos reigns, instances of mental illness in teens is on the rise. Drugs and alcohol are just two of the things that parents worry about as their children hit adolescence. Luckily, there are a few signs and symptoms of mental illness that parents can watch for in teens. Read on below for a few of them.

Changes in Sleep Habits

One common symptom of mental illness in teenagers is a change in sleep habits. While most teenagers love to sleep, sleeping constantly or not sleeping at all can be a sign of depression or other mental illnesses. Wanting to stay in bed all day and then stay up all night can be a sign of a deeper problem. By itself, this might not be that bad, but it is a sign that you might want to seek mental health treatment for teenagers at a reputable facility.

Loss of Interest

If your teen is normally active and out doing things with their friends, then suddenly loses interest in those friends and doing things they used to enjoy, it could be the sign of a problem. If she suddenly quits doing an activity she has a passion for, then it’s time to talk to her and maybe make an appointment with your doctor.

A Major Drop in Grades

If you are used to straight A’s and B’s with an occasional C thrown in from your teenager, then a sudden major drop in their grades is going to send up a red flag. Mental health issues often lead to school not mattering to teenagers anymore. If you see a sudden drop in your child’s grades, it might be time to seek help from the professionals.

Extreme Moodiness

If your teen has suddenly become irritable, moody, and is shutting themselves off from you and the rest of the world, it’s a pretty sure bet something is going on that needs to be taken care of. Examples of extreme moodiness include angry outbursts, sudden crying for no reason and being irritable at unexpected things that used to wouldn’t aggravate them at all. While being moody is part of being a teenager, when it becomes extremely bad, mental illness might be a factor and it needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.

A Strong Desire to be Left Alone

Increasingly wanting to just be left alone is one of the major symptoms of mental illness in teens. If your once outgoing teen suddenly becomes isolated and wants to stay cooped up in their room all of the time, it may be time to seek treatment.

These are just a few of the signs and symptoms that your teenage daughter or son may be developing a mental illness. Taken separately, the symptoms may not be that big of a deal, but when combined they could spell trouble for your teen. It’s best to get help early on with any type of mental illness.