Murfreesboro Depression & Mental Illness | Social Security Disability Benefits for Depression in Rutherford County | SSD | SSDI | SSI
Depression is a common complaint mentioned by applicants for Social Security disability in Murfreesboro. In fact, more than 16 percent of Americans will suffer from major depression in their lifetimes. Clinical depression is a mood disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, discouragement, anger, or frustration that interfere with a person’s ability to function in everyday life. Depression is not something a person can just “snap out of.” Depression is caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals and often requires medical treatment to recover.
A local Murfreesboro Social Security attorney or social security law firm can help you file your application for disability benefits and help present the evidence about your depression in the most compelling way possible. Many people wonder if the Social Security Administration considers depression to be a disability that would qualify them for monthly SSI or SSDI payments. The answer is yes, although the outcome of your claim will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your depression and its duration.
A licensed mental health professional or physician must evaluate your condition and determine if your depression is so severe that it prevents you from working and will persist for more than a year. The Social Security administration will want to review all of your medical records, including any pertaining to treatment for depression. These may include records from any psychiatrists, counselors, mental health clinics, hospitals or in-patient treatment facilities where you have received medication, counseling, therapy or other treatment for your mental illness.
If you have a mental illness other than depression, you may wish to read our page on Disability Benefits for Mental Illnesses & Disorders.
Treatment for Depression in Murfreesboro
There are several facilities where you can receive treatment for depression and mental disorders in or around Murfreesboro, TN. Some of these mental health facilities include:
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Mental Health Co-Op Inc 1203 Memorial Boulevard Murfreesboro, TN 37129 (615) 904-6103 Rutherford County Guidance Center 118 North Spring Street Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 256-2099 Genesis Psychiatric 237 castle wood drive A Murfreesboro, TN 37129 (615) 494-4804 |
Guidance Center 118 North Church Street Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 893-0770 Volunteer Behavioral Health 2126 North Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37129 (615) 904-7051 Rhonda Johnson LCSW 511 Highland Terrace Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 848-0065 |
Tips for Coping with Depression
- Build supportive relationships. Having a strong network of friends and family can do a great deal to help you lift the fog of your depression and keep it away long term. Take the time to share with your network what you are feeling, be sure to schedule social activities outside of the house even when you are feeling blue, and consider joining a depression support group where you can meet individuals who understand exactly what you are coping with at this difficult time.
- Join a support group. Joining a support group can help you make connections that will make you feel less alone. Support groups also allow you to improve your coping skills by building upon the collective experiences of the group's participants. A support group can also help motivate you to seek professional treatment and find hope.
- Nurture yourself, both mentally and physically. To help overcome depression, set aside time to engage in the activities you have always enjoyed. You could consider picking up an old hobby, such as biking or reading books you check out from the library. You can also reach out to others to engage in this activity with you. You should push yourself outside of your comfort zone and back out into the world.
- Adopt healthy habits. Simple things such as spending time outdoors, getting 8 hours of sleep a night, adopting a healthy diet, or engaging in yoga or other physical activities, are proven mood boosters.
- Manage your stress. Stress can prolong depression, so it is important to identify the things that stress you out and find ways to cope with them. Once you’ve identified the problem areas, you can map out ways to avoid the stressors or otherwise minimize their impact.
- Seek help. Some depression can only be combated with professional mental health treatment. It is important to be open with your doctor about your depression and to follow their guidelines for treatment. The SSA will want to see that you have taken steps to treat your depression and is unlikely to approve your claim if you have not followed your doctor’s treatment plan. An experienced Murfreesboro Social Security lawyer can help evaluate your mental health records to see if more treatment might help your case.
The Hallmark Signs of Depression
According to the Social Security Administration, you may be suffering from depression if you exhibit four of the following symptoms:
- Pervasive loss of interest in almost all activities;
- Appetite disturbance with change in weight;
- Sleep disturbance;
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation;
- Decreased energy;
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness;
- Difficulty concentrating or thinking;
- Thoughts of suicide;
- Hallucinations, delusions, or paranoid thinking;
If the above symptoms are present and result in at least two of the following, the Social Security Administration is likely to classify your depression as being severe enough to qualify you for monthly Social Security disability payments in the form of SSDI or SSI benefits:
- Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or
- Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or
- Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or
- Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration;
If you have a medically documented history of chronic depression for the past two years and this condition has limited your ability to work, you are likely to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. One of the local Murfreesboro Social Security disability attorneys on this site can review your case and weigh your chances of having your disability claim for depression approved.
Social Security Disability Attorneys Serve Murfreesboro and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Central Tennessee, including Brentwood, Centerville, Columbia, Dibrell, Franklin, Hendersonville, La Vergne, Lebanon, Lewisburg, Manchester, McMinnville, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Shelbyville, areas in the vicinity of Murfreesboro Municipal Airport,and other communities in Rutherford County.
If you are suffering from disabling clinical depression or another mental illness, call one of the Rutherford County SSD or SSDI lawyers on this site for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION! Help is just a phone call away.