Hi Tommo75 just came across your post in the wee small hours, as fI ind myself wide awake again, fretting about my 18 year old son who has similarly become quite withdrawn, which I guess began around age 16. Was looking (again) on Mumsnet for some reassurance that he is just going through a phase of becoming independent, but like your son, this is a change from how he used to be not so very long ago. What Ifeelfat said makes sense to me, And is good advice. I do think he picks up on me being bothered and asking if he’s ok, and it isn’t helping. I do wonder if the lockdown is one factor that a) is making me notice more how uncommunicative he has become - we are all here most of the time so in each other’s sights a lot more than normal and 2) is causing him to feel quite low. I think it is especially tough for teens because they need to be around their friends. I think the fact your son is clearly still engaging with friends and gaming is reassuring. I have 2 older daughters, one who lives with us. They never clammed up like this, there was certainly other stuff to deal with, alcohol, curfew breaking, rank bedrooms etc, but not this chilly, melancholy distance. It is making me sad, and my first instinct is, “what am I doing wrong,?” but I guess boys are maybe just different. It could be that the school work is one reason for your son being uncommunicative. Mine has had issues there, and his final year at school has not been worth it at all. Fortunately he sat his highers and did ok last year, so not so important this year. If yours is 16, I guess he will be under some pressure to keep it going despite their being no exams or actual school. That must be tough, to keep it all going online with no direct teacher input. I did manage to have a short “conversation” (ie I spoke and he didn’t immediately leave the room) about pressure of some important work not done. I tried to reassure him that it was not worth making himself miserable over, if that was reason for being so unhappy. Yes it is a shame to miss out on another qualification when so close to completing it, but in a couple of years time, it will seem insignificant.and at 16 or 18, there’s still plenty of time to retrieve things if school doesn’t furnish you with the qualifications you need once you work out who you are and which way you want to go. I basically said, his peace of mind and mental health were much more Important than passing modules. Tomorrow will def try to follow Ifeelfats advice and lighten up a bit and be fun to be around. Though given that it is now past 3am, I may lack sparkle in the morning!