Recognizing the symptoms of mental health challenges is the first step toward treatment and recovery.
There are a number of signs that could allude to a mental illness, but it’s important to note that only a medical professional can provide a concrete diagnosis. It is also essential to understand that mental and physical health are very much intertwined, composing our overall wellbeing. If you or someone you know is experiencing one or more of the symptoms below for more than two weeks, consider getting help.
Symptoms vary for different types of mental disorders and may be different for each person. Some general symptoms that may suggest a mental illness include:
In adults
- Confused thinking
- Long-lasting sadness or irritability
- Extreme highs and lows in mood
- Excessive fear, worry, or anxiety
- Social withdrawal
- Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Strong feelings of anger
- Delusions or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there)
- Increasing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
- Thoughts of suicide
- Denial of obvious problems
- Many unexplained physical problems
- Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
In older children and pre-teens
- Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
- Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
- Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
- Excessive complaints of physical problems
- Defying authority, skipping school, stealing, or damaging property
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Long-lasting negative mood, often along with poor appetite and thoughts of death
- Frequent outbursts of anger
In younger children
- Changes in school performance
- Poor grades despite strong efforts
- Excessive worry or anxiety
- Hyperactivity
- Persistent nightmares
- Persistent disobedience and/or aggressive behavior
- Frequent temper tantrums
Courtesy of WebMD
