This day and age we know it is a dangerous proposition to attempt to label someone as disabled just by looking at them, although in some circumstances a disability is more visible than in other situations.
Suppose a claimant for Social Security disability appears at an administrative hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge, but the only way they can get around is in a wheel chair. It would be much easier for the ALJ to picture this person disabled rather than someone who has a mental health disability, but appears to be as fit as a fiddle.
This is a common concern for claimants who have to go before an ALJ because their disability is not easily seen.
Fortunately Social Security does not decide disability cases on appearance, but proving these types of disabilities can still be a challenge.
One condition, Fibromyalgia, is a difficult one to diagnose for doctors because there is no clear diagnosis. This doesn’t mean the person who has Fibromyalgia isn’t in extreme pain on a daily basis, but because it is generally a muscle, joint, tendon and soft tissue condition, no one can really see it. This is where your doctor’s opinion about your limitations comes into play. A relationship with your doctor where the physician listens to you and understands the condition is a valuable one.
The same case goes for mental health disabilities. No one can see what depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) looks like, but these conditions do exist and can be as debilitating as physical conditions.
No matter what types of disabilities you suffer from, it is important to seek medical care. If you claim a condition and don’t seek medical help for it, there is no way to verify you suffer from that condition and you are unlikely to receive disability benefits.
