Signs a teenager is struggling with anxiety — when should parents act?

Short answer: Persistent change in sleep, appetite, withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities, falling grades, irritability over two to three weeks — act early, not later.

What to watch.

• Sleep: less than six hours nightly or oversleeping.
• Appetite: noticeable change in either direction.
• Social: withdrawal from friends, not just from family.
• School: drop in attendance, missed assignments.
• Physical: stomach aches, headaches with no clear cause.

What helps.

• One conversation a week with no agenda — long walk, drive, kitchen-table chai.
• One school-counsellor appointment before grades become the topic.
• One professional appointment if symptoms last beyond a month.

Did you call earlier or later than you wish you had?