What Are The First Signs Of Going Crazy? Mental Illness - MedicineNet

• Health A-Z
  • Diseases & Conditions
  • Procedures & Tests
• Drugs & Medications
  • RX Drugs & Medications
• Health & Living
  • Diet & Weight Management
  • Exercise & Fitness
  • Nutrition and Healthy Living
  • Prevention & Wellness
• Media
  • Slideshows
  • Quizzes
  • Images
• Privacy & Other Trust Info
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertising Policy

• Introduction
  • How do I know if I'm going crazy?
• Warning Signs in Adults
  • Warning signs of mental illness in adults
• Warning Signs in Children
  • Warning signs of mental illness in children
• Complications
  • What are the complications of mental health problems?
• Seeking Help
  • When to seek help for mental illness

How do I know if I'm going crazy?

How do you know if you're going crazy? It's important to identify the warning signs and seek help early on.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to determine whether certain behaviors are a sign of mental illness. However, people who feel they are going crazy often have one thing in common: something feels amiss.

Mental health problems are common, with about 1 in 5 people in the U.S. experiencing at least one problem throughout their lives. With the ongoing pandemic in many parts of the world, many have also dealt with increasing stress.

If you feel that you are unraveling, it's important to seek help early on. Here are some warning signs to look out for, and when to talk to a mental health professional.

Warning signs of mental illness in adults

Each mental illness has its own set of symptoms, and these symptoms may vary depending on the person.

The common signs of mental illness in adults include the following:

• Excessive fear or extreme feelings of guilt
• Chronic sadness or irritability
• Obsession with certain thoughts, people, or things
• Confused thinking or problems with concentrating
• Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia
• Inability to cope with daily problems in a healthy manner
• Frequent episodes of rage, panic, crying, or deep disappointment
• Problems with alcohol or drug use
• Major changes in eating habits
• Sex drive changes (loss of sex drive, hypersexuality, high-risk behavior)
• Excessive hostility or violent impulses
• Suicidal ideation
• Extreme mood swings
• Inability to perceive changes in one's feelings, behavior, or personality
• Withdrawal from friends and activities that once brought them joy
• Low energy or problems sleeping
• Unusual, intense feelings or no feelings at all
• Loss of initiative or desire to participate
• Intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance
• Frequent lapses in memory
• Seeing or hearing things that other people can't
• Frequent, vague physical ailments with no obvious cause (headaches, stomach aches)

Warning signs of mental illness in children

Because children are still learning how to identify and express their thoughts and emotions, signs of mental illness often revolve around behavior.

Symptoms may include:

• Changes in school performance
• Frequent nightmares
• Frequent disobedience or aggression
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Excessive worry or anxiety
• Hyperactive behavior
• Regression of milestones, such as sudden bed-wetting

QUESTION

Laughter feels good because… See Answer

What are the complications of mental health problems?

Untreated mental illness can cause severe emotional, behavioral, and physical health problems.

Some of the complications include:

• Unhappiness and decreased quality of life
• Familial conflicts
• Relationship difficulties
• Social isolation
• Abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances
• Missed work or school
• Legal and financial problems
• Poverty and homelessness
• Self-harm and harm to others
• Weakened immune system
• Heart disease and other medical conditions

When to seek help for mental illness

If you think you have signs of a mental illness, contact your physician or mental health professional. Mental illness, if left untreated, can get worse over time and cause serious problems.

If you think you may hurt yourself or are having suicidal thoughts, get help right away by calling:

• 911 or your local emergency number
• Mental health specialist
• Suicide hotline number
• Your close friend or loved one
• Minister, spiritual leader, or someone else in your community whom you can trust

The effects of stress: 15 signs and symptoms

Almost every person in life experiences certain situations that cause them stress. There is something known as eustress, which is positive stress, that makes you finish things faster. And it is completely fine to feel stressed out once in a while. But, when you experience stress more often, to the point that it has become chronic or persistent, the negative stress (known as distress) can affect your health badly.

Take a moment to think whether you are suffering from any of the following psychological and emotional signs and symptoms of stress:

1. Depression
2. Anxiety
3. Anger or feeling short-tempered
4. Irritability or agitation
5. Restlessness
6. Feeling overwhelmed
7. Lacking in motivation
8. Feeling down
9. Feeling tired
10. Inability to focus or stay focused
11. Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
12. Racing thoughts or constant worry
13. Problems with your memory
14. Problems in making the right decisions
15. Feelings of loneliness and isolation (common during COVID-19)

Health News

• Norovirus Sickens 13 Finnish Hockey Players, Postpones Canada Match
• Newborns Show Innate Understanding of Musical Rhythm
• 'Natural' Option for IVF Is as Effective in Producing Healthy Babies
• Redesigned Sunscreen Aims to End the 'Chalky' Look for Good
• Surgical 'Add-On' Lowers Risk of Ovarian Cancer
• More Health News »

How to cope with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak has certainly brought many changes to your daily routines and your professional life. Many of you are worried about the financial pressures, and some must be feeling lonely due to social isolation.

A self-report survey was conducted on 3304 participants in the US and Canada over the internet between March 21 and April 1, 2020. The survey found that the COVID-19 pandemic is making people:

1. Fear of the danger of COVID-19
2. Fear of coming into contact with the objects (fomites) that are contaminated with the virus
3. Constant worry about personal finances and disruption in the supply chain
4. Get frequent nightmares, intrusive thoughts, or images related to COVID-19

Thinking repeatedly about these things during the COVID-19 pandemic can make you anxious, fearful, and sad.

Here are a few tips to keep yourself calm during any kind of stress, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak:

1. Stay physically active. Whether you hit the gym or do your workout at home, it is always helpful to keep moving to improve your mood.
2. Take a walk. Get outside in an area and walk while wearing a mask and maintaining a safe distance from people, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) or your government. This can be a nature trail or in your backyard.
3. Get adequate sleep. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep daily.
4. Eat healthy, well-balanced meals. Choose unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains instead of over-processed foods. The food you eat may affect the way you think about a stressful situation.
5. Limit exposure to media. Constant news about COVID-19 from channels such as the press and social media can make you fearful and anxious. Look for credible sources such as the CDC and WHO.
6. Avoid smoking, drinking, and taking recreational drugs. Smoking is already known for being a risk factor for lung disease. Alcohol and drugs can make coping with stress more difficult.
7. Limit your screen time. Make sure not to overdo entertaining activities such as watching TV or being on your smartphone for prolonged hours. This can indirectly contribute to stress.
8. Relax and re-energize yourself. Take out some time for yourself and try staying quiet for some time, imagine peaceful or serene places, meditate, or do yoga. Any activity that unwinds you will do.
9. Stay connected. Reach out to people close to you, such as your family and friends, when the stress is driving you nuts. You can connect with them over the phone, email, social media, or chat apps.

If you are unable to deal with the stress by yourself, do not hesitate to seek help from a professional mental health therapist.

Medically Reviewed on 1/8/2026 References Mayo Clinic. Mental Illness. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374974 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Mental Health Myths and Facts. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/mental-health-myths-facts NAMI. Warning Signs and Symptoms. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms COVID-19 and your mental health. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/mental-health-covid-19/art-20482731 Taylor S, et al. COVID stress syndrome: Concept, structure, and correlates. Depression and anxiety. 2020 Aug;37(8):706-14.

Top What Are the First Signs of Going Crazy? Related Articles

• Learn to Spot Depression: Symptoms, Warning Signs, Medication Know when you or someone else is depressed. Get information on depression symptoms, signs, tests, and treatments for many types of depression chronic depression and postpartum depression.
• Depression QuizMany people do not recognize the symptoms and warning signs of depression and depressive disorders in children and adults. With proper diagnosis, treatments and medications are available. Take this...
• How Grief Can Affect Your HealthGrief is a natural part of life, but it can cause some health issues, at least for a while. Find out how grief can affect your body and what you can do about it.
• Mental HealthMental health is an optimal way of thinking, relating to others, and feeling. All of the diagnosable mental disorders fall under the umbrella of mental illness. Depression, anxiety, and...
• Mental Health: Signs You're Mentally ExhaustedAre you irritable, tired, and finding it hard to focus? You may be mentally exhausted. Learn the signs and how to feel better.
• Mental IllnessMental illness is any disease or condition affecting the brain that influence the way a person thinks, feels, behaves, and/or relates to others. Mental illness is caused by heredity, biology,...
• Mental Illness in ChildrenAbout 5 million children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from a serious mental illness such as eating disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive behavior disorders, pervasive development disorders,...
• Panic Attacks QuizCould you suffer a panic attack? Take this Panic Attacks Quiz to learn causes, symptoms, and treatments for panic disorder. Use this quiz to learn to recognize the main elements of this serious, yet...
• Stress QuizStress creeps into everyone's life at one time or another, while some people will suffer from poorly managed chronic stress. If you're suffering, there are things you can do. Take the Stress Quiz to...
• Mental Health: Where to Get Mental Health HelpWhen you think of mental health, lying on a couch in a therapist’s office may come to mind. But there are other options, and some are low-cost or even free. Here’s what you need to know.