Most of us, have at some point in our lives suffered from some form of emotional or mental distress.

We might feel a bit down in the dumps or just felt overwhelmed by circumstances. On many of these occasions, it is natural to have certain feelings and emotions, but when does it become a problem?

When should you consider you might have a mental health disorder? There are several different mental health problems, each with their symptoms, but there are common symptoms that occur in all conditions.

In many cases, it is very difficult to judge whether certain behaviours are expected, such as in the case of a person already suffering from some type of physical illness. Can the emotional problems be identified as a possible symptom of a mental health disorder? This is not always easy to determine, but if you can identify the early signs of a mental condition, it can point the way to a healthier and happier future for the person by reducing the severity of the symptoms.

Mental health disorders can include things like depression and anxiety disorders, to more serious conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Many of the more common symptoms, if caught early on, can be managed by various recommended therapies and sometimes medications. When it comes to major mental illnesses, the effects can be devastating to both the patient as well as family members. Those that are close to somebody with a more serious condition may notice certain changes in behaviour before it becomes fully exposed. The person might be aware of certain thoughts and feelings that aren’t normal before developing into something more serious.

The diagnosis of mental health disorders can also be very difficult. There is no exact single test, which can point to a mental health disorder. If you suspect that you are suffering from symptoms of mental illness, your first step can be to take a simple quiz. The Zwavelstream quiz is there to help you decide if you need any professional intervention. The questions focus on whether or not your daily life is affected by your behaviour and emotions. Any information you share is private and confidential and is a step towards taking control of your health and well-being.

Early symptoms that occur with mental health illnesses

We have already mentioned that every condition can have unique symptoms, but there are also common symptoms of mental illness. These symptoms or signs can become a problem when our ability to function is adversely affected. This can affect personal relationships, work and school life.

Some of these more common symptoms can include the following:

• Feelings of sadness that continue for more than two weeks
• Difficulty in concentration and focus. Some may even find it difficult to remain quiet for long, with a constant need to keep moving.
• You might find you or somebody you know has lost a significant amount of weight or even picked up a lot of weight. This coincides with a lack of appetite and overeating.
• Turning to the overuse of alcohol and taking drugs
• Overwhelming feelings of fear and/or anxiety
• Withdrawing from social settings, family and friends.
• Having difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much and still feeling tired and lethargic.
• Extreme moodiness, going from feeling excessively happy to deeply sad, prolonged feelings of anger and irritability.
• Experiencing several physical ailments without having any real cause. For example, a nagging stomach ache or constant dull headache or simply general aches in the body.
• Cannot deal with everyday activities and stresses about small things
• May experience hallucinations or have difficulty in coping with reality