It is completely normal for everyone to feel "down in the dumps" at some point. Feeling sad is a natural reaction to some of the disappointments and heartbreaks that life sends our way. However, if one's sadness has developed into an overwhelming feeling of despair and hopelessness that lasts for long periods of time, it might be depression.

While the exact cause of this illness is not known - it is believed to develop from chemical imbalances in the brain - one thing is for sure: there are definite signs of depression. Dramatic shifts in your everyday life are a major sign of depression, and the longer one goes without seeking help, the harder it can be to overcome these problems.

The most important thing you can do is understand the various signs and symptoms of depression and be aware of what you can do about them.

Here are some signs that indicate that you might be suffering from depression:

• Having extreme difficulty concentrating

• Lack of energy, inactivity, and withdrawal from activities that, at one time, were enjoyable

• Major changes in your sleeping patterns (having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much)

• Agitation, irritability, and restlessness

• Unexplained aches and pains in your body

• Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness

• Changes in appetite or weight

• Self-loathing and thoughts of death or suicide

If you feel that you have had a number of these symptoms for an extended period of time, and they are causing a dramatic shift in your mood, attitudes, and behavior, then you might be depressed.

The important thing to understand is that you are not alone in this and there are a variety of resources available that can help you. National health care organizations continue to work hard to bring to light the signs and symptoms of depression so that people can be properly diagnosed and treated.

If you feel like you may be suffering from depression, there is help out there. That is why it is so important to understand the signs of this illness. Those suffering from depression know the exhausting toll that it takes on a person, that it seems impossible to break out of these feelings of hopelessness. The best thing you can do for yourself is access the wide variety of mental health resources that are available to you and begin to work on the road to recovery.