“Is my teenager’s behavior normal?” If you often ask yourself this question, you are not alone. Parents could have difficulty understanding how their lovable little girl or boy has become so inscrutable.

It is normal for teenagers to be moody, because of the hormonal changes they go through.

The changes happening to the neural pathways in their brain and the ongoing growth of their body. Whilst many teens appear to be of the same size as adults, they still do not have the same lung capacity and this adds to the changes going on in their brains, making them feel tired easily. Your teenager may need several reminders to finish his homework, to keep his room clean, or to finish simple chores. They may seem defiant and distant, and even detached at times.

That is typical teen behavior, but it may seem abnormal to adults, making it difficult to differentiate between normal teenage behavior and behavior associated with a mental illness.