PANIC ATTACKS & WINNING BENEFITS

PANIC ATTACKS AND SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS

If you experience panic attacks, then you may feel afraid, confused, or out of control. Panic attacks affect your body, your thoughts, and your ability to work. Many people live with panic attacks for years without knowing they may qualify for disability benefits. Obviously, panic attacks usually occur as a symptom of other mental health disorders. For example, they usually occur because you are suffering from anxiety. However, they can also occur if you have severe depression or PTSD.

If panic attacks limit your ability to function, then you should file an application for Social Security disability benefits. You can file your application on Social Security’s website. You can also call the SSA, make an appointment, and file your application in person. But, we don’t recommend it. The wait to do this is a long one.

This article explains how panic attacks relate to disability claims. It also explains how you can win your case under SSA’s listing or by proving you cannot work at any job. If you have questions about how to win benefits, then contact us. We offer a free case review. Also, we do not charge an attorney fee until we win your SSD benefits.

WHAT ARE PANIC ATTACKS?

If you experience panic attacks, then you may feel sudden and intense fear without warning. A panic attack often causes physical and mental symptoms at the same time. Many people who experience a panic attack have the same symptoms as a heart attack. For example, they may feel chest pain, pain down the left arm, and a racing pulse. They may also start to sweat as if they were running a race and be unable to take a deep breath. Once you feel these symptoms you may end up in the Emergency Room believing you are having a heart attack. These symptoms may feel life threatening even when in reality no danger exists.

Panic attacks often appear suddenly and reach peak intensity within minutes. You may feel disconnected from reality or fear that something terrible is happening. Panic attacks are not a sign of weakness. They are real medical events recognized by mental health professionals.

If you live with panic attacks, then daily activities may be difficult to do. You may avoid places, people, or responsibilities out of fear. Over time, panic attacks may interfere with work, attendance, and concentration. The SSA considers these functional limits when they evaluate your disability claim.

HOW MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE PANIC ATTACKS?

If you experience panic attacks, then you are not alone. Millions of people experience panic attacks each year. Anxiety disorders remain among the most common mental health conditions in the United States. Anxiety and panic attacks affect people of all ages and backgrounds.

Many people experience at least one panic attack during their lifetime. Some people develop recurrent panic attacks that disrupt their daily life. Repeated panic attacks may lead to ongoing fear and avoidance behaviors. This pattern often worsens any mental issues that you may have. For example, if you are afraid you will experience a panic attack if you leave the house, then you may stop leaving the house.

Despite how common panic attacks are, many people never seek treatment. Some people feel embarrassed or they think that the symptoms will stop on their own. Others believe panic attacks are not serious enough for medical care. Untreated panic attacks often become disabling over time.

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE HAVING A PANIC ATTACK?

If you experience panic attacks, then your symptoms may feel overwhelming. You may feel intense fear that seems to come from nowhere. Physical sensations often dominate the experience. These sensations may include chest pain and shortness of breath.

You may believe you are having a heart attack. Additionally, your thoughts may race or you feel obsessed with possible danger. Your body reacts as if a real threat exists. This response happens even if you are in a safe environment.

If panic attacks occur repeatedly, then you may begin to fear the attacks themselves. You may monitor your body constantly for symptoms. This fear often increases anxiety and triggers more attacks. The SSA will consider this cycle when deciding your disability claim. However, you will also need to make sure that your doctor documents how often this occurs in your life.

WHAT MENTAL DIAGNOSIS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PANIC ATTACKS?

If you experience panic attacks, you may receive several possible mental health diagnoses. Panic disorder often involves chronic panic attacks with ongoing fear of future attacks. Generalized anxiety disorder may also include panic attacks. These diagnoses often overlap.

They also occur when a person has depression, PTSD, and social anxiety disorder. Some people experience panic attacks when they have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Ask your doctor to document your symptoms in your  treatment records. The SSA will review your medical records carefully to see how your mental health impacts your ability to work.

A specific diagnosis matters less than how symptoms limit your ability to work. Social Security focuses on the functional impact of your mental health rather than labels. If panic attacks prevent consistent work performance, then you may qualify for benefits. It is your medical evidence that connects your diagnosis to your limitations.

TREATMENT FOR PANIC ATTACKS

If you experience panic attacks, treatment often includes therapy, medication, or both. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps many people manage panic symptoms. Therapy focuses on understanding triggers and reducing fear responses. Regular treatment creates the evidence that will help you win your case. Without medical records and treatment, the SSA only has your word for what happens. They refuse to grant disability benefits unless you can produce objective medical evidence.

Medication may reduce the frequency of your panic attacks. However, side effects from medication may cause fatigue or concentration problems. You should seek counseling, in addition to medication, to help you with your anxiety symptoms.

However, even with treatment, panic attacks may persist. Some people do not respond well to medication or therapy. Ongoing symptoms despite treatment is one thing that supports your SSD claim. Consistent treatment shows that you are trying to take care of your problems, but they aren’t going away. This will help you win your SSD benefits.

SSA’S LISTING FOR ANXIETY: LISTING 12.06

If you experience panic attacks, then the SSA evaluates your condition under Listing 12.06. This listing covers anxiety disorders. Panic disorder also falls under this category. Meeting the listing will result approval. However, it is very difficult to meet listing 12.06. You will need to have consistent medical evidence that proves disability over a long period of time. In order to win benefits, you must be unable to work for over one year.

Listing 12.06 requires medical records of ongoing anxiety related symptoms. These symptoms include panic attacks, fear, or avoidance behaviors. Social Security also evaluates functional limitations. These limits involve understanding, interaction, concentration, and adaptation. Mental health records should describe your panic attacks in detail. For example, do you miss appointments because you fear leaving the house because of panic. Your medical records should also mention missed work, needing extra breaks, or coming in late to work. Vague records that just give a diagnosis do not help you prove your case for benefits.

If you do not meet or equal Listing 12.06, then you can still qualify for disability benefits. Many cases do not meet a listing and are instead granted using a vocational analysis. You can use your mental health symptoms to demonstrate that you cannot work a full time job.

PANIC ATTACKS AND YOUR RESIDUAL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY (RFC)

If you experience panic attacks, RFC becomes one of the most important parts of your disability claim. Your RFC is what you can still do despite your mental health conditions. The SSA uses this assessment when you do not meet a listing. Most cases are decided at step five of the disability review process.

The SSA defines your RFC and uses it to determine your ability to perform work on a full time basis. Social Security does not ask whether you can work sometimes. They ask whether you can work eight hours a day, five days a week, on a regular schedule. Panic attacks often make this level of attendance impossible.

If your attacks occur without warning, then your ability to function is not predictable. You may feel fine one moment and horrible the next. This creates serious problems in competitive employment. Employers expect reliability and stability. Panic attacks often prevent both.

Your RFC includes your mental capacity. This means your ability to concentrate, persist, and pace yourself. Panic attacks often disrupt all three areas. During an attack, focus becomes nearly impossible. After an attack, recovery time may take hours or days. You doctor can document these issues in your medical records and write a letter to the SSA about your symptoms.

HOW PANIC ATTACKS IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO WORK

If you experience panic attacks, you may struggle to stay on task. Your thoughts may race or shut down completely. You may reread instructions without understanding them. You may forget what you just completed. These problems affect even simple work tasks.

Social Security also evaluates your ability to maintain attendance. Panic attacks may cause you to miss work more than twice a month. You may call out due to symptoms or fear of symptoms. You may leave work early when panic begins. Excessive absences usually result in you being fired from your job.

Residual functional capacity also considers off task behavior. Panic attacks often force you to stop working suddenly. You may need to step away to calm down or recover. Time spent off task reduces productivity. Most employers allow very little off task time.

If you experience panic attacks, then your ability to interact with others also matters. Many jobs require interaction with the boss, other workers, or the public. Panic attacks often worsen in social situations. Even brief interactions may trigger your symptoms. For instance, you may avoid eye contact, conversations, or meetings. You may feel like feedback is criticism. Panic attacks may cause emotional reactions that appear inappropriate at work.

Adaptation is another key area. Adaptation means handling changes, stress, or new demands. Panic attacks often reduce your ability to deal with stress. Even minor changes may trigger severe anxiety. Work environments change frequently. You may struggle with schedule changes or new tasks. Also, you may require extra time to adjust to changes  at work. Competitive employment rarely allows this level of accommodation.

SUSTAINED WORK MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE IF YOU CANNOT CONTROL YOUR ANXIETY

Residual functional capacity (RFC) also considers your ability to make decisions. Your fear cause you to not be able to follow instructions. You may hesitate or freeze when decisions are required. This can create safety concerns on the job.

Additionally, if you experience panic attacks, then recovery time matters. After an attack, you may feel exhausted and drained for hours. This recovery period affects your ability to function at work. The SSA considers your ability to be productive throughout an eight hour work day. If you need time to recover from, then you can’t focus or finish tasks during that time.

The SSA also evaluates whether you need extra help on the job. For example, does your boss need to give you extra breaks or repeat instructions throughout the work day. You may ask frequent questions due to fear of making mistakes. Most employers expect independence after training. If may avoid certain environments, crowds, noise, or tight spaces, to keep you from feeling panic. Many jobs involve these conditions, which reduces the jobs you can perform.

Panic attacks do not need to occur every day to impact your ability to perform a job. Even occasional attacks may prevent full time work. The key issue that the SSA is looking at is whether or not you can be a reliable employee. For example, if panic attacks cause you to miss deadlines or quotas, then this affects your job. Your ability to complete tasks and your work pace can be too slow due to anxiety. Fear of symptoms may also reduce your effort on the job. Employers usually require steady output. If you can’t be productive at work, then you will lose your job.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL RECORDS TO PROVE DISABILITY

If you want to win disability benefits, then medical records are essential. The SSA relies heavily on medical evidence from your treating providers. Therefore, your treatment notes need to describe the frequency of your panic attacks. Consistent records strengthen your claim. If you do not have a doctor or counselor, then you need to get one. There are free and low cost options. The SSA also relies on medical evidence that they develop. For example, they may send you to a free doctor exam with a doctor that they hire.

You should seek regular treatment. Gaps in treatment or not getting treatment can cause the SSA to deny your claim. If you cannot get treatment, because you don’t have medical insurance, then try to find free treatment. We help clients win SSD benefits in many states. Find out how to apply for SSD benefits in your state:

• California SSDI and SSI benefits
• Colorado SSDI and SSI benefit information
• Idaho SSDI and SSI benefits
• Nevada SSDI and SSI benefits
• Utah SSDI and SSI benefits

Another important thing you need to do when you file for SSD benefits is create a My SSA account. The SSA is starting to require people to create an account online in order to process your SSD benefits. If you go to the SSA website, then you can easily create a secure online account. Creating the account allows you to check on the status of your claim for benefits.

CONTACT US FOR HELP WTH YOUR DISABILITY CASE

If you are suffering from panic attacks, then you may be wondering whether the SSA will approve your claim for benefits. If so, then call our law firm. We are the only law firm helping SSD and SSI clients in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and California with over 30 years of legal experience. For instance, we are the top SSD lawyer in the state of Utah.

You can hire us for free (no money down), because we offer a free review of your case. Also, we work for free until we win your case. You do not have to pay an attorney fee until we win your benefits. If we don’t win your case, then you never owe an attorney fee. Learn about attorney fees in SSD cases.

We are also among the top SSD lawyers in the state of Nevada. Find out about our Nevada legal experience. We also help clients in many other states. We also have clients in Idaho, Colorado, and California. Idaho SSDI benefits information is available. Likewise, we have information about Colorado SSD benefits . Finally, learn about California SSD benefits information. Wherever you live, we can help you get your SSDI benefits. We want to fight for the benefits the SSA owes you under the law.

WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE AN EXPERIENCED SSD ATTORNEY

If you experience panic attacks, filing your SSD application can feel overwhelming. The process involves strict rules and deadlines. Also, most initial claims receive denials. An experienced SSD attorney understands how to win your disability case.

An SSD law firm focuses on functional evidence, not just your diagnoses. Your attorney will gather your medical records and opinion evidence. Next, they will frame mental symptoms in terms of how it impacts your ability to work. This approach improves your chances of winning benefits. Additionally, an SSD attorney represents you at hearings and appeals. Judges often require detailed testimony about your symptoms. Your lawyer can explain your symptoms clearly and accurately. Also, your lawyer can prepare you to testify in court. Having an SSD law firm on your side reduces stress and improves outcomes.

If panic attacks prevent you from working, then you deserve financial security. The SSA does not require total incapacity from panic attacks, depression, or anxiety. Instead, proving that you are unable to sustain full time work is enough. Social Security disability benefits exist for conditions like yours. With proper evidence and legal guidance, approval is possible. If panic attacks and anxiety control your life, then help is available. We have won over 20,000 SSD cases for our clients. Put our legal experience to work for you. Contact our SSD law firm today.