Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness or/and unease. When the various symptoms of anxiety becomes debilitating for a person, causing significant stress and impairment from being about to carry out ones day to day life, they are often diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder. An Anxiety Disorder is a mental disorder that is most often characterized by an overwhelming amount of anxiety and fear, including worry about future events and the feeling of fear as a reaction to current events. It is important to understand that anxiety is not the same as fear, which is a response to a real or perceived immediate threat. Rather, anxiety is the expectation of future threat, resulting in feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness and even disassociation from the current reality.
Primary Disabling Factors
In addition to the main symptoms of excessive or irrational fear, Anxiety Disorders also include further emotional symptoms:
- Paranoia
- Constant feeling of drew and apprehension
- Expectation for the worst / Pessimistic view
- Trouble concentrating
- Irritability
- Feeling detached, tense and/or jumpy
- eeling like your mind’s gone blank.
Besides the emotional stress experienced by those suffering from Anxiety Disorders, physical symptoms include:
- Muscle tension or twitches
- Shaking or trembling
- Shortness of breath
- Pounding heart and sometimes even chest pain
- Sweating
- Gastrointestinal upset (including an upset stomach and/or diarrhea
- Frequent urination
- Dizziness and sudden problems with eyesight
- Headache
- Difficulties with sleep (insomnia and nightmares)
Anxiety Attacks
Anxiety attacks ( also known as panic attacks) are intense episodes of panic or fear. These attacks can be triggered by an environmental factor (perceived threat), or can occur suddenly without any clear warning. The physical symptoms of an anxiety attack can be extremely overwhelming and disabling. Some individuals, often unaware of their anxiety disorder, even believe they are suffering from a heart attack, stroke, or extreme medical emergency. There are cases where those suffering from anxiety attacks even pass out.
The most common symptoms of an anxiety attack include:
- A sudden overwhelming panic
- Feeling of losing control / disassociation from reality
- Feeling like you are going to pass out
- Trouble breathing, feeling like you cannot swallow (choking sensation)
- Heart palpitations and/or chest pain
- Hyperventilation
- Onset of profuse sweating, hot flashes or chills
- Intense trembling or shaking
- Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling of “going crazy”
Often those suffering from anxiety attacks, and the general symptoms of anxiety disorders, avoid certain situations, people, and even life necessities (such as bathing, cleaning, grocery shopping), due to an increase fear of having an anxiety attack. It is important to recognize that an Anxiety Disorder is a real debilitating mental disorder that is often treatable, and even though seen as an “invisible illness”, it is a disability recognized in the court of law.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada, there are six main Anxiety Disorders that affect adults:
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Panic Disorder (with or without Agoraphobia)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Specific Phobia
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Separation Anxiety is more often diagnosed in children and youth, but there have been cases where Separation Anxiety has been a part of PTSD or a Social Anxiety Disorder in adults.
When To Contact a Lawyer
If you are suffering from an anxiety disorder which is crippling your ability to perform your duties at work, attend work, seek work, immobilizes you from taking care of your personal day-to-day needs, we highly suggest seeking short-term disability or long-term disability leave for anxiety. It is important that you take care of yourself and any mental illness disability you may be suffering from. While many have a hard time coming to terms with a mental illness, it is important to know that you are suffering from a valid illness that requires proper attention and care; you have legitimate means to receive disability benefits. No one should suffer from the debilitating symptoms that accompany an Anxiety Disorder alone, and further should not feel pressured by their employer to act beyond the scope of their current capabilities during this time.
If you are facing a denied mental illness claim for an anxiety disorder, or any other mental illness disability, please contact a long-term disability lawyer as soon as possible. If you are feeling pressure from your employer to work, or find that your insurance company is denying the legitimacy of your mental illness claim, contact a long-term disability attorney as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Many people face denied mental-illness claims and give up; by speaking with a legal council who is knowledgeable in managing and fighting for denied mental illness claims, you are accessing an abundance of insight into what you are legally entitled to, your legal rights as an employee suffering from a legitimate disability, and are gaining strength through your legal team to fight against any denied short-term disability or long-term disability claim.
You are not just a number, you are not just a file that can be put aside and ignored.
At TSF Law we understand that hardship one deals with when suffering from an Anxiety Disorder and know that a denied disability claim can further aid to that suffering. Our legal team is prepared to partner with you fight for the approval of a denied mental illness claim. As a seasoned long term disability lawyer, with a top of the line staff, no mental illness claim will be managed without our full support. Call us for a free consolation; TSF Law is always there for you.
