The signs and symptoms for mental health disorders can often mirror typical experiences in adolescent development and it can be difficult for teens to realize when they need help.
How to know the difference
Determine how much your life is being affected. A typical teen may not want to spend a lot of time with their family, but it’s abnormal for them to also pull away from their friends and withdrawal completely. It is healthy for a young person to be nervous before a big soccer game but it is abnormal for them to be too afraid to participate in extracurricular activities or drop all of the activities they once enjoyed. If things like school, extracurricular activities, or interactions with friends and family are being significantly affected, a teen may be experiencing symptoms of a mental health disorder.