The signs of depression vary from one person to another, but there are some general symptoms that can help one identify depression. The first and most significant of the depression symptoms is despair. If a person is feeling like they are in a continuous state of hopelessness and despair, such that activities and things that used to bring joy now have no effect the negativeness. Another one of the signs of depression is insomnia; depressives have a problem sleeping because of their high emotional state.