10 Warning Signs of Teenage Mental Illness 1. Feeling Very Worried, Sad, or Angry 2. Extreme Mood Changes 3. Not Caring About Physical Appearance 4. Changes in Eating or Sleeping Habits 5. Change in School Performance 6. Isolation or Loss of Interest in Activities 7. Complaints of Physical Maladies 8. Drug or Alcohol Abuse 9. Trouble Understanding Reality 10. Talk About Dying Mental illness is preventable.  However in most cases parents don’t bring the child in until after issues have been going on for months and months because they are in denial.  Most parents feel that “it can’t possibly be happening to my child.  You should talk to your teenif you’re concerned. Parenting a teen is challenging, and it can be hard to know whether a symptom is worrisome or just part of growing up. Keeping the lines of communication open can help you know what your teen is going through. Don’t be afraid to seek care from his or her doctor or to ask your teen to see a counselor to rule out physical conditions of a teenage mental illness. Also, don’t forget to take care of yourself; it’s difficult to care for someone who has concerning symptoms, so take the time to treat yourself well and to seek counseling if you need it. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jjs-hello-foundation/support