Getting anxious before a big presentation or a major exam is normal. We all have those occasional restless nights, clammy palms and on-the-edge kind of days when all you do is worry about what is to come. But for a person who experiences this for weeks and months, anxiety can become a big obstacle in life. People with chronic anxiety cannot optimally perform at school, work or even participate in social events. Everyone with an anxiety disorder can have different kinds of anxiety related symptoms; some people can get sudden panic attacks due to extreme anxiety while others might be fearful of social gatherings and their engagement with people. Unmanageable anxiety becomes the impending mental state of a person with an anxiety disorder and therefore it can stop you from being independent financially and non-financially.

What is an anxiety disorder?

Although there is no singular definition of anxiety disorder, if anxiety is interfering or disturbing your daily activities it can be classified as a disorder. Anxiety disorders can vary from person to person; some of the most common types and their symptoms are

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder can make a person have excessive anxiety, sleeping problems, irritability, restlessness, chronic fatigue and concentration problems.
• Panic Disorder is usually diagnosed in people that have recurrent panic attacks accompanied by palpitations, shaking, sweating, choking and anxiety about when the next panic attack will take place.
• Social Anxiety Disorder makes the affected person to be fearful of any kind social engagement. People with such an anxiety condition experience feelings of extreme self consciousness around people, get worried about getting humiliated, embarrassed or about offending others. Other symptoms included difficulty in talking to other people, worrying about a future social event long before it takes place and trembling, sweating and feeling sick when people are around.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults in the US annually and are the most common mental illness in the country. However, there are many whose lives are immensely affected by anxiety but they do not think it is important to visit a doctor for it. There are many reasons why this can be detrimental for them. As said before, unmanageable anxiety can take over your life and stop you from working optimally. Such a health condition can result in you losing your job and eventually losing your independence. Getting medical help and being diagnosed is the first step towards building a support system for your self.

Steps towards managing your anxiety related problems

The first step towards understanding your condition is realizing that feeling panicky most of the time is not normal, especially if it is keeping you from engaging in life’s activities. Seek medical help if this is the case. Your doctor can evaluate certain physical conditions (such as blood sugar levels and hormone levels) and non-physical conditions to determine if you have a mental disorder related to anxiety. Your diagnosis will help you seek institutional support from medical and non-medical sources.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes anxiety conditions/disorders and provides help for anxiety patients through their Social Security Disability (SSD) Insurance program. To qualify for SSD benefits you must be diagnosed with chronic anxiety that makes you unable to work. Besides evaluating your medical records, SSA will review your case in depth using their own set of medical experts too. These medical experts essentially compare your symptoms and their outcomes to a list of qualifying conditions/symptoms/outcomes, which need to be present for you to be eligible. In some instances, SSDI applicants will be called to appear before a judge in a federal court. The judge may ask questions about your disorder and may also require you to undergo a medical evaluation in order to substantiate your claim.

It is very common for SSD benefits applications to be denied to deserving applicants due to lack of information and/or inability to file the application properly. Therefore it is highly advised that the applicant hires an experienced Social Security/mental disorder attorney in Oklahoma who can gather the required evidence to prove eligibility. Because the SSA can be so difficult to deal with, we believe in the importance of retaining a disability benefits attorney from AMA Law to establish correct paperwork and trustworthy legal representation. We are dedicated to fighting hard to make sure you come out with the support you deserve. We offer free consultation services that will allow us to get to know you and your case in detail. Call us today to understand the support options available for your anxiety disorder.

Note: The information here is not intended to and does not, in any way, constitute a medical diagnosis of your condition.