How do you gather evidence of your anxiety disability?

On Behalf of | Jan 13, 2023 | SSD Benefits

Anxiety, which includes feelings of worry, uneasiness and tension that last for a significant period of time, affects tens of millions of Americans, making it one of the most common mental and emotional disorders out there. And there are many symptoms of anxiety that can seep into your daily life and impact your ability to manage your daily affairs, including obtrusive thoughts of fear and panic, as well as excessive worry, loss of focus, irritability and sleep difficulties.

While many anxiety sufferers are able to seek effective medical treatment and curtail the effects of their anxiety through the use of medication, others see their anxiety become unmanageable, rendering them unable to function in their day-to-day life. If this condition makes an anxiety sufferer unable to work, they may be able to successfully seek Social Security disability benefits.

How to qualify for SSD benefits

In order to qualify for disability benefits, you’ll have to show that you meet federal requirements. This includes showing that you suffer from some of several identified symptoms, which include fatigue, restlessness, irritability and concentration issues, or demonstrating that you have obsessive compulsive disorder or a panic disorder.

One requirement that is often overlooked by applicants is that your anxiety must have a “marked limitation” on at least two key aspects of your life, which may include the following:

  • Your ability to understand and remember information
  • Your ability to interact with other people
  • Your ability to concentrate
  • Your ability to take care of and manage yourself

You also have to show that your condition is serious and persistent, which essentially means that the condition has lasted for at least two years and that you receive ongoing treatment for the condition.

How do you gather evidence to support your claim?

This is a good question, and the answer is essential to your claim’s outcome. The first place to start is your medical records. This documentation will help show the severity of your condition, the treatment that you’ve sought out, its effectiveness and your prognosis. You may also want to talk to your medical provider to see if they can give you a more detailed and pointed opinion as to the severity of your condition and their recommendations for treatment moving forward.

But your medical records are only part of the evidence that you need to be prepared to present. You’ll also need to show how your condition affects your ability to live a normal life and secure and hold employment. To prove this, you may want to turn to your own personal accounts and statements from witnesses who have observed your condition and how it impacts your life. Be as thorough and as detailed as possible here. There’s no such thing as having too much evidence to support you claim.

Do you need legal help with your case?

There can be a lot of nuances to your case. And ineffectively making your arguments the first time around can lead to a claim denial and the need for appeal. But even if you’re in that position now, you have the opportunity to build persuasive arguments to support your request for benefits.

If you think that you can benefit from that kind of assistance, you need to be proactive in reaching out to a legal advocate. One of these individuals can walk you through the process and help you formulate the strategy that you need to maximize your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome. Hopefully, you’ll have the financial resources that you need to secure financial stability while you focus on your treatment and coping with your medical condition.