Mental Health Signs and Symptoms in Adults

You do not need to know your diagnosis before asking for help. Mental health concerns can affect your mood, focus, sleep, relationships, work, and daily life.

• Mood & Anxiety

  • Anxiety

  • Persistent sadness or hopelessness

  • Excessive worry or fear

  • Panic attacks or sudden fears

  • Major mood swings

  • Prolonged unusually high or low moods

  • Feeling easily upset, angry, or irritable

  • Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed

  • Feeling anxious or down

  • Relationship stress

  • Social withdrawal or avoiding friends and family

  Focus, Attention & Daily Function

  • Trouble focusing or sitting still

  • Impulsive behavior

  • Time-management problems

  • Work tasks feeling scattered

  • Feeling forgetful or having trouble thinking clearly

  • Neglecting self-care

  • Rapid or disorganized speech

  Sleep, Energy & Physical Symptoms

  • Extreme fatigue or low energy

  • Sleeping too much or too little

  • Significant changes in eating habits

  • Stress-related headaches or stomachaches

  • Loud snoring

  • Waking up choking or gasping during sleep

  Loud snoring, choking, or gasping during sleep may be signs of obstructive sleep apnea and may require further sleep evaluation.

  Trauma & Other Concerning Changes

  • Traumatic or disturbing dreams or memories

  • Stress related to school or community trauma

  • Feeling disconnected, numb, or unlike yourself

  • Alcohol or drug use

  • Thoughts of self-harm

  If you are having thoughts of suicide, are in immediate danger, or are experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text 988 or call 911.

• Mental Health Signs and Symptoms in Children and Teens

  Children and teens may not always have the words to explain how they feel. Changes in mood, behavior, sleep, school performance, friendships, or daily routines can sometimes be signs that they need additional support.

  Anxiety, Mood & Behavior

  • Childhood anxiety

  • Frequent sadness or anger

  • Excessive worry or fear

  • Intense fears or phobias

  • Major mood swings

  • Temper tantrums

  • Emotional outbursts

  • Physical or verbal aggression

  • Intense anger or defiance

  • Big feelings or meltdowns

  • Low confidence

  • Feeling sad or “not good enough”

  • Avoiding school, friends, or activities

  ADHD, Focus & School Concerns

  • Hard time paying attention

  • Getting distracted easily

  • Forgetting things often

  • Trouble sitting still

  • Talking a lot or interrupting

  • Losing homework, toys, or other important items

  • Acting quickly without thinking

  • Trouble following directions

  • Trouble finishing homework or projects

  • Homework feeling overwhelming

  • Declining grades

  • Teachers mentioning focus problems at school

  • School feeling hard or frustrating

  Social, Developmental & Autism-Related Concerns

  • Trouble understanding social cues

  • Preferring routines and becoming upset by changes

  • Strong interest in certain topics or activities

  • Sensitivity to sound, light, or touch

  • Using eye contact differently

  • Repeating words or movements

  • Friendship struggles

  • Social withdrawal or isolation

  • Reluctance to interact with others at school

  These signs do not by themselves mean that a child has autism, ADHD, or another condition. When specialized developmental, psychological, or neuropsychological testing is appropriate, referrals may be recommended.

  Sleep & Technology

  • Staying up late scrolling on a phone

  • Feeling tired during the day even after a full night in bed

  • Trouble falling asleep without a device nearby

  • Waking during the night to check notifications

  • Sleeping too much or too little

  • Bad dreams or trouble sleeping

  Social Media & Emotional Well-Being

  • Increased anxiety or worry after using a phone or social media

  • Comparing themselves with others online

  • Sudden mood drops after checking social media

  • Negative comments about their appearance or abilities

  • Spending less time with friends in person

  • Avoiding family activities they once enjoyed

  • Feeling uncomfortable socially without their phone

  • Preferring texting instead of talking with close friends

  • Showing less empathy or understanding toward others

  • Suddenly avoiding their phone or computer

  • Appearing upset or anxious after being online

  • Mentioning problems or “drama” with friends on social media

  • Receiving hurtful comments or messages

  • Being excluded from group chats or online activities

  • Viewing online content that promotes harmful behaviors

  Trauma & Stress

  • Bad dreams or trouble sleeping

  • Being jumpy or easily startled

  • Avoiding people, places, or activities

  • Angry outbursts or big mood swings

  • Trouble concentrating

  • Feeling numb or “checked out”

  • Worrying that something bad will happen again

  Other Changes That May Need Attention

  • Unusual eating patterns

  • Stomachaches or headaches without a clear cause

  • Hypersexual behavior or other significant behavior changes

  • Alcohol or drug use

  • Talking about self-harm

  If a child or teen is talking about suicide, is in immediate danger, or is experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text 988 or call 911.

Virtual Psychiatric Care for Children, Teens & Adults Across Florida

At Sunset Behavioral Health, we provide virtual psychiatric care for eligible children, teens, and adults throughout Florida. Care is provided by Luisa Garcia, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, a dual-board-certified Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with 14 years of clinical experience, including 10 years in chronic pain management and 4 years in psychiatric care.

We evaluate and treat mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, trauma and PTSD, mood changes, sleep and insomnia concerns, and mental health concerns related to chronic pain. Care may include psychiatric evaluation, medication management, supportive therapy, education, and individualized treatment planning.

We also help patients and families understand when symptoms may need further evaluation. When appropriate, we can provide referrals for autism testing, neuropsychological testing, speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA services, sleep studies, neurology, and other specialized care.

Symptoms such as loud snoring, choking, or gasping during sleep may require evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea. Developmental, learning, autism-related, eating-related, memory, or substance-use concerns may also require specialized testing or treatment outside our practice.

Sunset Behavioral Health provides outpatient psychiatric care and does not provide detoxification or withdrawal management services.

Appointments are often available within 48 hours, depending on eligibility and current availability. We offer a free 15-minute consultation, accept many insurance plans, and offer self-pay options. Se habla español.