Mental and Neurological Disabilities

Mental impairment, or mental illness, is a broad term for a wide range of disorders that can affect cognitive processes, behavior, mood, and coping skills. Neurological disabilities are those that affect the central and peripheral nervous system of the body.

Mental illness and neurological disorders may arise from a variety of causal factors, including genetics, environment, lifestyle, physical or emotional trauma, and biochemical imbalance. There is still much debate on how these conditions come about, and whether the physical processes of the body or environmental factors play more of a role in their development.

Some of the mental and neurological disorders represented on the Social Security Administration’s list of disabling conditions that qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance include:

Disabling Effects of Mental/Neurological Disorders

Mental illnesses and neurological disorders can have a profound effect on victims’ lives and may interfere with the ability to manage stress, relationships, and responsibilities. With a wide spectrum of symptoms and effects, these disorders can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and often involves a long road to progress where recovery is often unlikely. Patients diagnosed with these disabilities can be affected in so many different ways, endangering their emotional and physical health.

For individuals with one of these conditions, carrying out daily activities can be difficult. Some of the more disabling effects include:

  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Depression
  • Delusions
  • Hallucinations
  • Fear/anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Social withdrawal
  • Sleeping disorders
  • Digestive problems
  • Low self-esteem
  • Delusions/hallucinations
  • Alcohol/substance abuse
  • Fatigue
  • Anger management issues

To learn more about applying for disability benefits due to a mental or neurological disorder, please contact an SSD attorney near you.