Explanation

Depression is a mental condition that affects the way you think, feel and behave. Mental means related to the mind or brain, and disorder means something isn't working as well as it should. So, if you have depression, your brain isn't working as well as it should.

Normally, neurons in your frontal lobe sort out the messages about emotions, energy, sleeping, eating and worry that are sent to them from your limbic system. It sends the messages using two neurotransmitters called serotonin and noradrenaline.

If you have depression, the neurons in your frontal lobe can't cope with the amount of difficult feelings being made. They also forget to send out enough of the neurotransmitters back to your limbic system to tell it to make good feelings instead, and to tell it you have lots of energy.

Another neurotransmitter, called dopamine, helps you to pay attention and feel in a good mood. If you have depression, you may often find it hard to concentrate, and may not enjoy the things that usually make you happy. This may be because there aren't enough dopamine neurotransmitters being sent to your limbic system.