Why Teens Shut Down — and What Parents Can Do

You ask how their day was. You get "fine." You ask what's wrong. You get "nothing." You try to connect and hit a wall so consistent it starts to feel personal — like your teenager has decided, somewhere along the way, that you're the last person they want to talk to.

It's one of the most painful parts of parenting an adolescent. And it's also one of the most misunderstood. Teen withdrawal isn't usually about you. It's about them — about the complicated, disorienting experience of growing up — and understanding what's actually driving it can make all the difference in how you respond.