To take my DS to the GP for the recent way he is behaving or is this puberty??

[Somethingsosimple]

Ds is nearly 13 years old. He has always been an easy child who would always do as he was told and people always used to remark how well he would sit for stories when he was little and how calm he was. The last few months it feels as though we have lost that child. He is very agitated all the time. Constantly cracking his fingers, not able to sit still. Can’t sleep at night and generally rather moody and not his sunny self. We are trying to be patient and encourage lots of exercise to help relieve tension but it is not helping. He is getting into trouble at school all the time which again isn’t like him. Am I silly to take him to the GP? Is this just what teenagers are like? I miss my happy go lucky boy.

Yeah, it’s puberty. My Mum always says I transformed into a monster the morning I turned 13.

Have you asked him about how he's feeling? Is anything wrong at school, has he had any major changes in his life or has anything bad happened?

No major changes in family life. Which makes it all more puzzling. Maybe just raging hormones.

I would be concerned too.

He sounds anxious. Hormones can have a great impact on emotions and behaviour, but so can other things too- like bullying, worry about school work etc.

I would strive to be supportive, understanding and most of all keep lines of communication open.
Have you spoken to the shool?

Sounds more like anxiety than just puberty. Try asking him about his worries and yes, take him to your GP in case there is a physical cause.
Your GP can't help him if he won't open up and talk if it is anxiety, but can rule out physical causes with blood tests.

I agree it sounds like anxiety. Poor boy. Perhaps you could go to the doctor to ask for advice before you take him?

Have you spoken to the school about your concerns? They are likely the best people to tell you if it's normal teen stuff or not.

He sounds about the same as my son when he was 12. Puberty hit him HARD that year. This year now 13 and much much more settled.

Remember the lack of sleep will impact his ability to cope with things rationally and may make him figit and agitated.