"I am learning more about having a personal relationship with God-- at my own pace."      --Leil in Maryland
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Worried about mental illness? Maybe you've come to the right place.

Do you think you might have a mental illness? Want to know about the symptoms of mental illness? Maybe you just want to know about the state of your mental health without visiting a psychiatrist.

It is easy to overlook the symptoms of mental illness. So what are the moods that accompany the onset of depression or mental disorders? Below is a list of emotions and moods commonly associated with the early stages of mental illness and depressive disorders.

While this list of symptoms is in no way an official test for diagnosing mental illness or disorders, you can use it to confirm or deny your suspicions about your mental health. Read through each of these descriptions of these moods and emotions, and then make a decision about seeing a licensed psychiatrist.

Some symptoms of mental illness:

• Overwhelmed by fear or worry
• Depressed mood
• Confused thinking
• Trouble dealing with stress
• Suicidal thoughts
• Severe anxiety
• Problems sleeping
• Distance from friends and family
• Paranoia

Remember, these symptoms are not unique to one mental illness; rather, they are common symptoms amongst several different types of mental illness. Don’t let your stress, anxiety, or depression get the best of you! You can take steps now to combat the development of depressive disorders and mental disorders.

As you’re continuing to search for resources on your condition and symptoms of your mind, why don’t you take a few minutes to consider the condition of your heart?

Thinking Spiritually About Your Mental Health
As you continue your search for answers on mental health, do not forget to consider the spiritual side of the equation. Dr. Larry Culliford, a well-known psychiatrist and author has written that "religious and spiritual beliefs and practices help prevent many physical and mental illnesses, reducing both symptom severity and relapse rate, speeding up and enhancing recovery, as well as rendering distress and disability easier to endure." Culliford, who writes a column for Psychology Today, says that embracing the spiritual side of mental health provides "a vital source of meaning and purpose, of energy and motivation."

So what is the source of your energy and motivation? Feeling a little low on both? Just as Culliford says, investing in your spiritual health can turn around your lack of purpose. After all, God says that you were created for a purpose. Don't lose track of that purpose.