Social Security Disability & Anxiety – Related Disorders
While feeling some anxiety is normal for someone under much stress, some individuals face ongoing anxiety that impairs day to day living. Individuals with anxiety-related disorders have excessive dread for a situation that hurts their ability to deal with everyday situations. People living with these disorders may stay up all night in fear of going to work, may be scared to be in a crowd of people or may even have panic attacks in certain situations.
Anxiety-related disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder and social phobia. All symptoms involve irrational fear that is excessive and dread. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 40 milllion people are living with an anxiety-related disorder. These disorders last more than six months and can get worse if not properly treated. Treatment is available for anxiety-related disorders including counseling and medication.
People with a disorder can receive Social Security Income if they meet certain requirements. One way is to meet requirements in two groups. In the first group, a person must have medical records showing that they have anxiety with three of the following symptoms: motor tension, autonomic hyperactivity, apprehension or screaming. The Social Security Administration says an individual must have a fear of something that results in a want to escape that particular activity, object or situation. The individual must also have severe panic attacks that occur at least once a week, obsessions or compulsions or must have frequent memories of a traumatic event.
An additional group asks for the person to have two of the following restrictions or difficulties: day to day living activities are restricted; social functioning is more difficult; have a hard time concentrating or being persistent; or have several decompensation episodes. The third group requires an individual to be inable to function by his or herself when in an area outside of a home.