Symptoms vary, and every person with mental illness responds somewhat differently.
But all people with mental illness have some of the thought, feeling or behavioral characteristics listed below . While a single symptom or isolated event is not necessarily a sign of mental illness, professional help should be sought if several conditions persist or worsen. Often the symptoms of mental illness are cyclic, varying in severity from time to time. There is no reliable way to predict what the course of the illness may be. Symptoms may change from year to year.