CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — For some, the holidays, a time most see as a time of joy, can be a difficult season, and mental health experts are pointing to resources available to provide help.
Nearly 22 million adults in the United States suffer from major depressive disorder, with the holiday season presenting particular challenges for those affected by the condition.
Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability affecting a person’s thoughts, feelings and actions. Research from Johnson and Johnson states two in three people living with the disorder continue to experience residual symptoms despite treatment.
Amy Belnap, a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, said the disorder makes it so people don’t enjoy the things they used to enjoy and they don’t participate in the things they used to participate in. She said there is not a single overall fix for the disorder either.
“Standard of care is to start with an oral antidepressant. And for some people, this works quite well, but for two out of three people, they still experience breakthrough symptoms, these return of depression symptoms,” Belnap said. “And that is why it is so important that we continue to research, study, learn and come up with new and differentiated treatments that can help manage these breakthrough symptoms.”
Belnap said if you or a loved one think you may be suffering from major depressive disorder to get in touch with your health care provider and have an open and honest conversation about it.
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