Can You File For Disability Even If You Don't Really Know What's Wrong With You?

6 October 2015 by Jonathan Phillips

The term "somatoform disorder" is used to describe a variety of physical symptoms that can't be attributed to any medically diagnosable cause. While some may be the symptoms of illnesses that haven't yet been discovered by the medical community, they're generally considered to be psychiatric in nature. Is it possible, then, to receive disability for a disorder that has no definite cause? Absolutely. This is what you should know.

Somatoform disorders can wreck your life.

If you suffer from a somatoform disorder you might experience a wide variety of complex symptoms, including chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, digestive problems, headaches, hearing loss, vision problems, and even paralysis.

You've probably endured a variety of complicated and invasive medical tests, none of which are able to provide a diagnosis. The symptoms may come and go at random or be fairly constant, but they significantly disrupt your life. They interfere with your ability to socialize, to properly care for yourself, and to hold down a job.

Your physical struggles are recognized as real.

It can be incredibly frustrating and stressful to be told that your symptoms are the result of a psychiatric condition, and you may be convinced that the doctors are missing something -- which only adds to your stress.

Critics of the diagnosis point out that there are many physical illnesses that were once chalked up to psychiatric problems. Chronic migraines and fibromyalgia are two examples of complicated illnesses that were once attributed purely to psychological issues. However, some progress has been made in medical thinking: it is now understood that your symptoms and pain are real—even if doctors still can't find a way to determine a physical cause for them. It's also accepted that you aren't in control of the symptoms, aren't faking, and can't just tell yourself to stop being in pain or to stop experiencing your other problems.

Because of that mindset, at least where Social Security disability claims are concerned, it doesn't matter if you accept your doctor's diagnosis of a somatoform disorder or not. You can still successfully file for disability benefits while you continue to seek an effective treatment for your problems.

Somatoform disorders are recognized as a legitimate disability.

The Social Security Administration recognizes somatoform disorders as legitimately disabling, as long as you meet certain specific criteria. You need to be able to prove any one of the following things:

• You've been suffering from your symptoms for a number of years, starting before age 30, and have sought medical care, taken medications, and altered your life due to the problems.

• You have problems with your vision, speech, hearing, using your hands, legs, arms, or suffer from uncontrollable movements and sensations.

• You have a persistent belief that you have a serious medical problem or injury and have a great deal of anxiety over what your doctors think are minor symptoms. For example, your doctor says that your headaches are brought on by stress but you worry that they are symptoms of a hidden cancer.

In addition, you have to prove two out of four other conditions are true:

• Your symptoms have caused you significant restrictions in your daily life, such as an inability to drive, clean, socialize, dress yourself without help, or keep a regular schedule.

• You have significant problems socializing.

• You have difficulty concentrating or keeping a normal routine.

• Your symptoms trouble you over and over again, for long stretches at a time.

If you're suffering and you've been diagnosed with a somatoform disorder, don't assume that your disability application won't be taken seriously. Regardless of whether you believe the diagnosis or not, filing for disability can offer you the opportunity to gain a steady income and medical coverage as you continue trying to get your symptoms under control or seek a new diagnosis. For more information, contact a disability attorney (like Espy Metcalf & Espy PC At Law) in your area.

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