Social Security disability benefits for anxiety and panic attacks

April 11, 2014

Social Security disability benefits for anxiety and panic attacks

Article provided by Disability Benefits Law Center, P.C.
Visit us at http://www.disability-benefits-law-center.com/

Anxiety disorder

Most persons are familiar with the fact that one can receive Social Security disability benefits if they can prove an inability to work in "substantially gainful employment." Being "disabled" usually provokes images of physical impairments, such as back injuries or heart conditions, but the fact is that one can also be disabled because of a mental condition, such as an anxiety disorder.

"Anxiety disorder" can be defined as a disorder in your nervous system affecting your emotional state and which causes fearful and irrational emotions, that is, worries which do not have their basis in factual information. A number of different disorders are covered under this definition, including: Obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder.

The cause is not completely understood; it may be related to the brain's neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine and serotonin, but it may also be related to a number of other factors, such as biological processes, the environment, genetics, and life experiences. The symptoms are varied and include: Breathing difficulties, irritability, stomach aches, muscle tension, diarrhea, sweaty palms, feeling distracted or on edge, headaches and panic attacks.

Panic attacks

To proceed from the general to the specific, what exactly are panic attacks? They can be described as short episodes of psychological distress or extreme fear. Symptoms include the following: Shortness of breath, palpitations of the heart, sweating, choking, hyperventilation and paresthesia (that is, tingling sensations). An individual may think that he or she is going insane, having a heart attack or dying.

Panic attacks are not dangerous necessarily, but can easily lead to additional complications, such as substance abuse, depression, medical abnormalities, and phobias. Treatment may involve medication and counseling. Severe and/or recurrent attacks may lead to nervous exhaustion, agoraphobia (being unable to leave one's house) and difficulty or inability to obtain or hold a job.

Social Security benefits

So, when are panic attacks serious enough to qualify an individual to receive Social Security benefits? In general, one must prove that they have:
-Attacks that occur frequently (weekly or more often),
-Which involve fear, terror and apprehension, that
-Are unpredictable and sudden, and
-Cause serious problems related to necessary daily activities (for example, eating, cooking, cleaning), focusing on tasks, leaving one's home, or social functioning.

Also, medical documentation is very important, such as treatment notes from a health care professional (such as a counselor or therapist) or psychiatrist. The notes should describe the nature of the panic attacks, their frequency and length, and cause. They should also describe limitations on your activities, and medications and other treatments.

If you do not meet these requirements (such as if your attacks are not frequent), you might still get benefits, in the form of a "medical-vocational allowance," if you are limited in the types of work you are able to perform.

Seeing a lawyer

Securing Social Security disability benefits for anxiety disorders involving panic attacks is a complicated process. There must be proof of symptoms, causation, and effects. If you suspect that you suffer from panic attacks, or have been diagnosed with this condition, and you find yourself unable to work, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Social Security attorney.

Your attorney will study your medical records and ask your treating doctor or therapist to complete a "functional capacity" form that assesses your symptoms and functional limitations. This form will include the functional limitations that are set out in the Social Security judge's handbook. Armed with this and other documentation, the attorney will lead you through the process for applying for and receiving the benefits to which you may be entitled.