There is never a fool proof way of knowing if your child is going through severe mental anguish, trauma or has troubles that need to be attended immediately. But thankfully for most cases, kids do show signs and quite prominent ones that scream out for help. Try and observe them closely without intruding in to their privacy and see whether the signs are severe or not. The more informed you are of your child's state of mind and symptoms, the easier it will be for you to pick up the right program for your troubled teen.

Some most common troubled teen conditions include 'Attention Deficit Disorder' (ADD), 'Bipolar Disorder', Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder' (ADHD), etc. Let us glance through some of the obvious symptoms of these conditions. Remember that covering everything is beyond the scope of this article.

* Failure in giving close attention to details, mistakes in schoolwork and other activities.

* Failure in organizing tasks, getting involved in long tasks, sustaining attention for a long period or performing daily activities.

* Failure in following instructions and performing tasks step by step.

* Hyperactivity can be evident through constant fidgeting of hand and fingers.

* Stands up suddenly in the class or runs about aimlessly.

* Starts of projects and leaves those midway.

* Cannot take part in long games and tasks and cannot play or stay quietly.

* Excessive talking.

* Symptoms of bipolar disorder would include the child oscillating between states of acute depression and a sense of great power.

* During the depression stage the person will experience fatigue, sleeplessness or oversleeping, guilt feeling, lack of self-esteem, self pity and suicidal tendencies.

* During the manic state the person will be overjoyed, show inflated self-esteem, overspending, increase in activities, becomes overly and excessively sociable and experience unpredictable emotional changes.

If you see your child suffering from more than four of these symptoms, it is time you consult a physician. Your child would need professional help. These symptoms are root to a number of behavioral modifications that may lead your child to drug addiction, alcoholism, crime and other activities to feed his or her mental anguish. All of these conditions are medically treatable and needs regular medication. There are many people who have suffered from these conditions but on timely detection and professional attention have come out as a triumphant.

Do not panic. Consult experts. There is help available everywhere in this era of modern communication. There are also numbers of programs that can help these children get back on their feet. Learn about programs for troubled teen. Military schools, boarding schools, four-stage programs, alternative schools and therapies, home counseling - there are a number of programs to choose from that will suit your budget and your requirement. Remember sending your boy off to a military school when what he needed was medical help and personal care is a wrong step forward. Discuss with counselors and professionals and collect all the information before choosing the right program for your child.