When a person experiences a traumatic event, it can have a lasting effect on that individual’s life. While physical injuries and scarring can last for a long time, the emotional and mental effects can as well. In fact, a person can heal physically while struggling with the underlying impact of the traumatic event for the rest of his or her life.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of mental disorder that some people experience after going through a significantly stressful, frightening or traumatic event. Every person is different, and some people who have PTSD find that it affects virtually every area of their lives, including their ability to work. If you have PTSD, you may appear to be healthy, but in reality, you may be unable to hold gainful employment.
What does PTSD mean for you?
Some people who go through a particularly scary or startling event can experience acute PTSD on a short-term basis. For you, however, that may not be the case. In fact, you may have ongoing symptoms and issues long after the initial event, including some of the following:
- Dealing with thoughts that scare you or cause you to revisit the event over and over
- Experiencing flashbacks of the event
- Having bad dreams which affect your sleep patterns and overall well-being
These symptoms are just a few of the ways that your mental condition can make it very difficult, if not impossible, to hold onto your job. Many individuals with PTSD are unable to maintain regular social interactions, which makes it very difficult to work in many types of employment.
Issues such as violent outbursts, the inability to deal with stress, having trouble with conversations and feeling continually on edge may rob you of your ability to work. This is overwhelming and financially devastating, but there are options available to you. If PTSD leaves you physically and mentally incapable of making a living and supporting your Florida family, you may qualify for disability benefits.
The help you need
If you think you may have grounds to seek disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, you may find it helpful to learn about this process before moving ahead. In addition to the application paperwork, you will have to include various types of documentation that validate your claim and prove that your PTSD renders you disabled.
Certain mental conditions, such as acute and severe cases of PTSD, are valid disabling conditions according to the SSA. You may find it helpful to seek support and guidance as you seek the benefits you need and deserve.
