It can be hard to figure out whether you or someone you care about is going through the natural range of emotions or whether there is something more serious going on that may require professional help.

Sometimes someone cries due to grief; sometimes crying can be a part of a mental illness like depression. Sometimes stress and anxiety are motivating; sometimes overwhelming anxiety is indicative of a mental illness like generalized anxiety disorder.

The signs are not always universal, which means it's important to note the specifics of someone's situation – whether you're seeing physical symptoms like not sleeping, or maybe behavioral changes like being quieter than usual.

The good news is that there are many resources to help you learn about the warning signs and symptoms of mental illness. You will find some of those on this page.

• You can check out written lists of signs and symptoms from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and/or Active Minds. Symptoms of mental illness include things like: withdrawal from friends and family, trouble concentrating, feeling exhausted all the time, irritability, neglect of personal care, and reckless or impulsive behaviors. Some people may also experiences headaches, digestive problems, or chronic pain.
• You can also watch this short (~3 minutes) video on 10 Common Warning Signs of a Mental Health Condition.
• Be on the lookout for sentences like: "I just can't deal with life right now," "Everything is too much," or "I just want to sleep and never wake up." If you or a friend are using sentences like these, it might mean that you are in need of more serious professional help.

NAMI has this written list of mental health conditions and this series of videos on Mental Health Conditions, including but not limited to: anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and schizoaffective disorder. (You may also want to check out the videos on different conditions at the bottom of this page.)

Here are some additional resources for anxiety and depression, and how to tell the difference between normal feelings of sadness or stress, and mental illness: