Most people feel anxious from time to time. Maybe you had to give a presentation at work or at school, and you dealt with anxiety before it happened.
With clinical anxiety, things are much more significant. It does not just mean you are anxious about an upcoming event, but it generally means you live in a long-term state of anxiety. Some common symptoms you may experience include:
- Becoming easily fatigued
- Feeling restless
- Having trouble concentrating
- Dealing with stress and muscle tension
- Feeling irritable
- Having disturbances to your sleep schedule that cause excessive fatigue or insomnia
Anxiety can be triggered by certain events, but someone with this disorder likely feels a level of anxiety almost all the time. This is when it can qualify as a disability because it could have a severe impact on a person’s ability to work.
Related conditions
There are some conditions related to anxiety that may also qualify. One is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which can mean that someone has intrusive thoughts or engages in repetitive behaviors. The goal is often to reduce the anxiety that they are feeling.
Another example is agoraphobia. This is when people feel anxious about being outside of the house. It may make it impossible for them to use public transportation, go to crowded areas or even spend time with their coworkers in a work environment. Agoraphobia goes far beyond normal anxiety over everyday events.
If you are dealing with any of these conditions, you may be entitled to receive Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Having experienced legal guidance can help you seek the benefits you need.