Learn more about symptoms

Advice and information
About mental illness
Learn more about symptoms

Symptoms

If something seems wrong but you are not sure what it might mean then take a look here. We have different sections on specific symptoms and links to mental health information that should help you understand what is going on. Remember, if you are unsure, please seek the advice of your doctor or contact our advice and information line.

Hearing voices

This section may help you if you hear voices, or if you know someone who does. Hearing voices is a very common experience. Hearing voices can be a symptom of some mental health problems, but not everyone that hears voices are unwell. This section looks at what it can be like to hear voices, why you might hear voices and how to cope with them.

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Worried about your mental health? How to get treatment and support

This section explains how you can get help if you are worried about your mental health. It explains about options for treatment and support. Such as seeing your GP, talking therapy and self-help and support from charities. This section is for anyone worried about their mental health.

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Feeling sad

Everyone will experience sadness from time to time in the ups and downs of everyday life. However, a persisting period of sadness could point to a mental illness, including (but not limited to) depression and anxiety.

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Hallucinating

The term hallucinating refers to hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there. When not related to substance abuse, hallucinating can be a symptom of a mental illness.

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Self-harm

This section looks at what self-harm is and why you may self-harm. It could help if you are using self-harm to cope with how you’re feeling. Or if you are thinking about self-harming. It explains what support you can get and how to help yourself if you self-harm. This information is for people who self-harm and their friends, carers and relatives.

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Low self-esteem

A person with low self-esteem has a low regard for themselves, which can manifest itself in traits such as indecision, hypersensitivity to criticism, and guilt.

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Mood Swings

Mood swings refer to changes in mood from high to low or vice versa. Whilst everyone experiences mood swings to a certain degree, extreme mood swings can be characteristic of mental illnesses.

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Negative thinking

Negative thinking refers to a pattern of thinking negatively about yourself and your surroundings. Whilst everyone experiences negative thoughts now and again, negative thinking that seriously affects the way you think about yourself and the world and even interferes with work/study and everyday functioning could be a symptom of a mental illness.

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Suicidal thoughts - How to cope

This section may help you if you are dealing with suicidal thoughts, feelings, or intentions. It has ideas you can try to help you. It explains how you can stay safe, and how you can get support. This information is for adults in England who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. It’s also for their loved ones, carers and anyone interested in the subject.

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Racing thoughts

Racing thoughts refers to the rapid thought patterns that frequently occur in manic, hypomanic or mixed episodes. Racing thoughts are commonly associated with the mania in bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder, but are also often found in anxiety disorders such as OCD.

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