Mental Health Warning Signs

Symptoms of mental disorders vary depending on the type and severity of the condition. Some general symptoms that may suggest a mental illness include:

In adults

·         Confused thinking

·         Long-lasting sadness or irritability

·         Extremely high and low moods

·         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

·         Changes in school performance, falling grades

·         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