Step 1: Recognizing Your Symptoms

Taking time to reflect on the symptoms you have experienced as a result of your mental health disorder can help you learn to recognize them earlier if they develop again. Recognizing symptoms early may allow you to take action and prevent them from worsening. Identify your most common symptoms by asking yourself the following questions about past mental health problems:

What were the first signs of the problem?

First signs of the problem:
Example: I had difficulty concentrating and felt slowed down.

How did my thoughts, feelings, or behaviors change?

Ways my thoughts changed:
Example: I started having negative thoughts about myself.

Ways my feelings changed:
Example: I started feeling very irritable and sad.

Ways my behaviors changed:
Example: I stopped hanging out with my friends.

Did others notice changes in me? If so, what changes?

People who noticed a change:
Example: My mom and best friend.

Changes people noticed in me:
Example: I was acting moody and didn't seem like myself.

Other notes about my symptoms to keep in mind:
Example: I usually begin having symptoms in the late fall or early winter.