It's easy to confuse signs of real trouble with the normal turmoil experienced during typical adolescence, but when real problems do occur they can potentially lead to a runaway situation.  Below are a number of warning signs that can be used by parents, or other important figures in a child's life, as as indicators of potential trouble.  These tend to occur in clusters and will range in intensity.  They should raise concern but may not be sufficient cause for immediate alarm.  As a parent you know your child best, but if these signs do occur it may be time to start serious dialogue with your child. 

• Personality changes that may include abrupt mood swings, over reactive blowups triggered by small incidents, apathy, boredom, irritability, or obsession with a single thought. 
• Sleep changes that may include chronic fatigue, early morning arising, insomnia or, perhaps to the other extreme, increased sleeping. 
• Withdrawal from the family and increasing isolation, flagrant violations of house rules, and avoidance of family gatherings at meals or other events. 
• School problems that could include declining grades, truancy, cutting classes and disciplinary problems. 
• Changes in friends as evidenced by withdrawal from, rejection, or even open hostility toward former friends, and the taking up with new friends who are older in age with a reluctance to introduce new friends to their family and parents. 
• Overreaction or prolonged reaction to family traumas such as a death of a loved one, divorce, illness, loss of a job, or a move to another town or city.

      How to Prevent a Runaway

      What to do When your Child Returns