| Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of | | | | -Hopelessness about the future |
| anxiety disorder that's triggered by a traumatic | | | | -Memory problems |
| event. Statistics regarding this illness indicate that | | | | -Trouble concentrating |
| approximately 7%-8% of people in the United States | | | | -Difficulty maintaining close relationships |
| will likely develop PTSD in their lifetime, with a | | | | Symptoms of anxiety and increased emotional |
| prevalence in combat veterans and rape victims | | | | arousal may include: |
| ranging from 10% to as high as 30%. An estimate of | | | | -Irritability or anger |
| 5 million people suffer from PTSD at any given time | | | | -Overwhelming guilt or shame |
| in the United States, and women are twice as likely | | | | -Self-destructive behavior |
| as men to develop PTSD. Here, the causes, | | | | -Sleep disturbance |
| symptoms and treatments of PTSD will be discussed | | | | -Being easily startled or frightened |
| as well as applying for Social Security Disability | | | | -Hearing or seeing things that are not there |
| benefits, when the symptoms of PTSD interfere | | | | Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment often |
| with one's ability to work. | | | | includes both medications, such as antidepressants |
| About PTSD | | | | and anti-anxiety medications and psychotherapy, |
| Many people who are involved in traumatic events | | | | including cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, eye |
| have a brief period of difficulty adjusting and coping. | | | | movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), |
| In some cases, though, the symptoms associated | | | | and cognitive behavior therapy. This combined |
| with this traumatic event can progressively worsen, | | | | approach can help improve your symptoms and |
| lasting for months or even years. Sometimes they | | | | teach you skills to cope better with the traumatic |
| may completely disrupt daily life. In these cases, the | | | | event and its aftermath. |
| sufferer may have post-traumatic stress disorder. | | | | Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits |
| Researchers are still trying to better understand what | | | | PTSD is not differentiated by diagnosis in the Social |
| causes someone to get post-traumatic stress | | | | Security Disability Impairment Listings. However, |
| disorder. As with most mental illnesses, | | | | because anxiety disorders are addressed in Section |
| post-traumatic stress disorder is probably caused by | | | | 12.00 of the Impairment Listings, those who suffer |
| a complex mix of the following: | | | | from PTSD may qualify for social security disability |
| -Inherited predisposition to mental illness, especially | | | | benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is |
| anxiety and depression; | | | | a federal program designed to pay monetary |
| -Life experiences, including the amount and severity | | | | benefits to qualified applicants who have worked long |
| of trauma one has been exposed to since early | | | | enough and paid their social security taxes. Based on |
| childhood; | | | | medical evidence, work history, and education |
| -The inherited aspects of one's personality | | | | history, the Social Security Administration determines |
| (temperament); | | | | whether or not applicants qualify for benefits and |
| -The regulation of hormones in relation to one's | | | | how much each applicant can receive. |
| handling of stressful situations. | | | | In cases where PTSD is interfering with one's ability |
| Signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress | | | | to work, medical evidence and work history are |
| disorder typically begin within three months of a | | | | important in assisting Social Security with determining |
| traumatic event, but may not occur until years after | | | | one's monetary claim. The degree to which the |
| the event. Commonly grouped into three types of | | | | symptoms of PTSD, or the side effects of the |
| symptoms, PTSD may present via the following: | | | | medications taken to treat the symptoms of PTSD, |
| intrusive memories, avoidance and numbing, and | | | | limit one's ability to work must be clear in the |
| increased anxiety or emotional arousal (hyperarousal): | | | | evidence presented in the case. Evidence needs to |
| Symptoms of intrusive memories: | | | | include medical records, employment records, |
| -Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event | | | | medication lists, and statements from supervisors and |
| -Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event | | | | or co-workers. Once this information is collected, it is |
| Symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing may | | | | presented to the Social Security Administration for |
| include: | | | | consideration in whole for determining a monetary |
| -Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the | | | | award for benefits. |
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| -Avoiding activities you once enjoyed | | | | <! |