Social anxiety an 'official' disability

I've been thinking about trying to get on disabiltiy because my social anxiety is too strong for me to get a job.. I even take 3-6 mgs of lorazepam a day, but still can't get a job...
Does anyone know if SA is a disorder that you can file for disability for???
If I dont get some cash flow soon, im going to be back out on the streets.
How do you all pay the rent???

Thank you

Hi there - you might have to see a Dr or Psychiatrist and get a 'diagnosed' but I think it is a classified as a mental illness.

The medical profession uses the "DSM" or diagnostic and statistical manual of mental illnesses to diagnose various conditions. The current manual is DSM volume four. SP is in there, with lots of information about symptoms, onset, diagnosis etc. I think you have to fulfil certain criteria to have current SP, such as it stops you 'functioning' and working etc and you have to have a certain amount of the symptoms.

You might want to do a web search on "DSM social phobia", even though the actual manual isn't on-line, some websites provide bits of it in regards to SP.

Hope this helps, Symbiosis 8O

http://www.psychologynet.org/socphob.html

Scroll down for the DSM IV criteria.

Hi, J and Symbiosis,

I may have found a website that might answer your questions.

This gives you the basic legal definition of ‘disability' for the federal government.
http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dapply.htm

Here’s a toll-free number where you can ask questions to Social Security representative. http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dapply.htm

You also may apply for 'disability' on-line at this website if you wish.

Good luck.

hi there
i live in the uk and i been on benfits for sometime now i dont like it but as u put it money tight and i cant go out to work that my biggist fear am class to have a disabitly depression/anxiety and i also get disabitly living allowance thats extra with the weekly income surport i receive, my doctor put me on the sick so advise u to see ur doctor to see if they can help u am in scotland but i dont no were u live it could b diffrent .

Hello, If you are unable to hold down a job because of your sa, live alone and am unable to support yourself then you have to go and see your doctor to get a diagnosis. Once you have got a diagnosis you can then go to social security and see them or there are some organisations out there that can help you. If you can't work then you will need to go on sickness benefits or if you aren't that bad (Drs opinion) then you will just have to go onto unemployment benefits. I myself work and it has helped me big time with my sa but I don't have any other option.

Further to what neddy has said, in Australia it is defined as a disability by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Centrelink accepts it as a disability for the purposes of the Disability Pension.

I dont consider is a disability.. i consider it a weakness..

although I have a lil more than social anxiety.....any anxiety disorders here are not considered "permanent"....and thats what is needed to got on disability here. It took me 3 yrs of trying to get on this disability, and finally after convincing them of the severity they finally accepted my request!!! Although its not much its nice to have some money now!!!

So keep trying till you get it no matter what they tell you!