DS2 has always been a happy sociable child. e.g. on a family holiday he would have found a couple of friends for the week within the first few hours and loved to pull a practical joke on his dad/brother etc.
He's never really had firm interests or hobbies, doesn't enjoy sport or music but did a bit of model making, enjoyed scouts and general playing outdoors, was a volunteer with the local wildlife trust. Did enough at school to stay out of trouble but never excelled.
Over the last 12 months he's become more and more insular, really very shy, doesn't want to do anything or go anywhere, has lost interest in all his previous interests, one word answers when people talk to him (family or strangers, including me). I took him out for lunch yesterday and it was painful trying to get any conversation going.
All he wants to do is on-line gaming and when he's doing that I do see the old spark, he's animated and chatty with his friends online (mostly people he does know from school etc) although he rarely meets up with them IRL.
In an adult I'd say he's demonstrating all the symptoms of depression, although he says he's fine, no worries etc.
I find myself allowing more screen time than I'd like, as it seems to be the only time he genuinely interested and interesting, happy and having fun. We don't see the poor behaviour as a result of prolonged screen time which was a feature when he was younger, although it does undoubtedly distract him from his school work.
Would you be worried or is this all just another phase?