Mentally, however, as a young adult, you’re still not fully grown. Young adults, aged 18 to 29, are still experiencing cognitive development, and this is one of the reasons why mental illness can present at this time of life.

First Signs of Mental Illness in Young Adults

Mental illness encompasses a wide variety of disorders that exist on a severity continuum. Some can be temporary responses to crises or other experiences, while others are chronic conditions. Mental illnesses have various causes and triggers. The stigma of mental illness in this country is fading as more and more people discover they have some sort of mental illness, and that their lives can be improved by treatment

Common Mental Health Disorders

Mental illnesses are generally grouped into these categories:

Eating Disorders (anorexia, bulemia, binge eating)Personality Disorders (antisocial, paranoia, borderline personality disorder)Mood Disorders (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorders, cyclothymia)Thought Disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional)Anxiety Disorders (social anxiety, phobias, generalized anxiety)Developmental Disorders (autism spectrum disorders, ADHD)

Here are some things to keep in mind when supporting a young adult with mental illness:

Build a support network for yourself. Remember that this is happening to you too. Identify people you can lean on when you feel overwhelmed. Find people who are going through a similar situation who can understand how you feel. Don’t try to be the sole support for your child. Build a team instead.Don’t ignore the warning signs. Mental illness does not usually go away on its own. It’s not a phase your child will outgrow. Pay attention to the warning signs and ask questions. Talk with your child about their recent changes in behavior. Use your parental intuition to recognize whether they are in trouble or not.Take a break. Mental illness can be all-consuming. Suddenly you notice that every conversation you have, even most of the thoughts you have, are all about the disease and treatment. It’s important to set aside time each day to do something that’s not related to mental illness. Go for a walk, participate in recreational activities, or just have lunch with a friend. Schedule a break for yourself.Get counseling.