Does My Teenager Need Therapy - Or Just More Sleep and Less TikTok?

Every parent hits that moment: your teen is moody, withdrawn, or snapping at everyone, and you start wondering if this is normal adolescence or a red flag. The truth is, it’s complicated. Teenagers are basically nervous systems on roller coasters - puberty, brain development, social pressures, and way too much screen time. It’s a cocktail for volatility.

Clinically, there are some markers to watch for: changes in sleep or appetite, withdrawal from friends, dropping grades, loss of interest in things they used to enjoy, and talk of hopelessness. Those can signal more than just typical teen angst. But here’s the nuance - lack of sleep, overstimulation from social media, and the normal push-pull of independence can mimic those same symptoms.

The key is duration and intensity. A bad week doesn’t mean your kid needs a therapist. Months of decline might. The point isn’t to diagnose your teenager at the dinner table. It’s to stay connected enough to notice the patterns, and humble enough to seek help when needed.

Sometimes therapy is the right call. Sometimes it’s a nap, a boundary around TikTok, and a parent who listens without trying to fix everything. Either way, the question isn’t “Is this normal?” It’s “Is my kid struggling more than they can manage on their own?” That’s where support starts.