Documenting Social Anxiety for Social Security

By Tomasz Stasiuk, June 20th, 2011 | Building a Case, Social Anxiety-Phobia, Social Phobia | 4 Comments

Preface: It should be noted that medical evidence (such as treatment records and opinions) are often the best evidence of how social anxiety disorder is disabling. However, by its very nature, social anxiety disorder can make treatment difficult if not impossible. This post discusses alternative methods of documenting a social anxiety disability case.

Every case is different so it is very difficult to make general statements about how to prove a case. At least, other than, “make sure SSA gets your medical records.” Personally, I recommend working with a lawyer to help figure out the best way to develop your case. However, here are some general tips for developing a Social Anxiety Disorder disability case.

When an individual seriously isolates themselves (avoiding doctors, friends, family, etc), it may help to get letters documenting the isolation. For example, have friends and family write about the individual avoiding family get-togethers, church, dinners, children’s sporting events, weddings, funerals, or other events.

You can also document avoiding other public situations such as:

• Shopping only during night / slow periods,
• Leaving stores if they are too crowded or too noisy.
• Leaving groceries without checking out.
• Sitting in the back at events.
• Leaving events early.
• Handling children’s school conferences by telephone instead of attending in person.

These are just some examples. There is no limit to the possible ways of documenting social anxiety disorder.

photo credit: ☮Katrina☮

Tomasz Stasiuk is the founding attorney of the Stasiuk Firm - a law firm devoted to exclusively handling Social Security disability cases in Colorado. Contingent fees available.