Anxiety Disorder and Disability Benefits
Unfortunately, many individuals today suffer from anxiety disorders and related mental health conditions. An anxiety disorder is typically accompanied by a variety of emotions and feelings, such as uneasiness, tension, and apprehension, that continue on for a long period of time. In addition to being nervous almost all the time, individuals who suffer from an anxiety disorder can experience a feeling of terror or overpowering alarm as a result of everyday situations that they experience in their daily lives.
Disability benefits are awarded by the United States Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration, also known as the SSA, recognizes anxiety disorders as disabling medical conditions. Therefore, depending upon the circumstances, suffering from such a disorder could be the basis for pursuing and recovering Social Security disability benefits. However, these benefits can be extremely difficult to obtain if you do not currently have the proper medical documentation.
An experienced California Social Security disability benefits attorney near you can examine your circumstances and determine if you are eligible to pursue and recover these benefits. If so, your lawyer could assist you with filing a claim for disability benefits, or if necessary, an appeal of a disability benefits denial.
Types of Anxiety Disorders from Which Individuals Can Suffer
There are several types of anxiety disorders that might allow you to pursue and recover disability benefits pursuant to a valid claim. Those disorders include various phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Phobias include involuntary and sometimes irrational fears that are associated with everyday events, things, situations, or places. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a feeling of severe stress that lasts for a long period of time following a particularly traumatic event. Panic disorder, on the other hand, typically refers to repeated anxiety or attacks that can last for a maximum of 10 minutes – and for which there does not appear to be any traceable cause.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, sometimes known as OCD, refers to ritualistic or repetitive behavior that a person exercises to try and control symptoms of anxiety. Finally, generalized anxiety disorder refers to a constant state of worry and tension that is not connected with a particular situation or event. In addition, these feelings must last for a minimum of six months.
Pursuing Disability Benefits Arising from an Anxiety Disorder
Individuals are typically eligible to pursue Social Security disability benefits if an injury or illness prevents them from engaging in a substantial gainful activity. In order to receive these benefits arising from an anxiety disorder, you must have a doctor on board with your case. Specifically, the doctor must be able to state – to a reasonable degree of medical certainty – that your symptoms prevent you from being able to engage in everyday work tasks and other activities. The anxiety disorder must also be persistent or recurrent in nature.
An experienced Social Security disability benefits lawyer near you could assist you with pursuing the disability benefits that you need and which you deserve.
