We do not realise just how important our brain is in controlling every single thing we do, feel or experience. That is especially true for feelings of hunger, sadness or euphoria. So, what is going on? Well, we have billions of brain cells which are all communicating with each other and they live in what we could call a server. If the server crashes for whatever reason then this could be one of the depression signs. Brain cells or neurons will use neurotransmitters which are basically chemicals such as serotonin, endorphins and dopamine to send out the signals to other cells in our bodies. We get the message and we react. That could be a call to action, a feeling, an emotion, hunger, fatigue or sexual stimulation

Dopamine is very important for communicating feelings of pleasure which we get when we satisfy our hunger, thirst, sexual needs, or experience pleasure through music or movement. If there is any imbalance in these neurotransmitters then this causes the brain to malfunction and our moods and feelings will be compromised. That is what happens with depression as the main neurotransmitter (serotonin) which governs our moods is depleted and feelings of sadness and hopelessness become pervasive. It is this feeling down which is one of the first signs of depression. But this sadness is not just a temporary phase of the blues but persists to such an extent that we cannot function normally at all in our daily lives.

Have you ever wondered why when we are feeling down we start to seek comfort from carbohydrates which we call comfort foods with good reason. Snacking, binging could be an indication that depression signs are starting to show. Serotonin controls our appetite so when our serotonin levels are low we decide to self medicate in a certain sense and we start eating these cakes and sweets to console ourselves and our serotonin levels may start to come up again but the effects on our waistline later on may cause us to become even more depressed. It seems to be a vicious circle. Eating disorders are another one of the signs of depression.

Other signs of depression may be a lack of interest in once pleasurable activities, indecision, lethargy, low energy and reduced sex drive. Insomnia, feelings of guilt, headaches and indigestion all add to the mix and are indications that signs of depression are evident. To learn more about ways of treating various types of depression such as SAD bipolar or MDD (major depressive disorder), see the link below for some valuable information which may surprise you.

Want to learn how to recognise signs of depression? Robert Locke has written extensively on Mental Health for many years.