Some people with mental disorders often do not want to attend therapy sessions or take medications. Their reluctance may stem from negative past experiences or is sometimes a symptom of their disorders.
Unfortunately, receiving disability income involves meeting specific criteria, including evidence of treatment. This requirement means people often must seek counseling and take prescription medicines.
Therapy requirement
To get help for mental disorders, people usually need therapy. This process means talking with a mental health professional to figure out how the condition affects daily life. Going to counseling shows a commitment to managing the disorder.
Medicine compliance
Besides therapy, getting help also means taking medicines as prescribed. Mental disorders may need medication to stabilize symptoms and enhance well-being. Doing so is evidence that individuals seeking ways to improve their mental health.
Medical exemptions
Some individuals do not want to take certain medications because they have had adverse side effects in the past. Other people have life-threatening allergies to ingredients in some products. In these cases, it may be possible to obtain a medical exemption from taking a prescribed medicine.
Other treatments
Medication is not the primary treatment for many mental conditions. Sometimes, doctors suggest different ways to manage the following conditions:
- Mild to moderate depression
- Phobias
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Anorexia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Non-medical treatments may include hypnosis, meditation or exercise. These lifestyle modifications have fewer side effects and can sometimes replace medication.
Daily life
Besides receiving treatment, applicants also must prove that a mental health condition makes daily life harder. They must show the challenges they face in areas such as work, relationships and self-care.
After initial approval, individuals are often subject to regular monitoring. This policy means that receiving counseling and medication are not one-time requirements. Instead, there must be ongoing treatments to manage a condition.
