Mental conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder often qualify as disabilities. They can easily keep someone from being able to work, but that person still needs financial support — perhaps even more than someone without such a disorder.
However, many people do not experience these disorders for life. They’re not apparent from the moment that they’re born. So, when do they become obvious or when do they manifest? It’s different for everyone, but there are some notable trends.
Young age
These disorders are generally apparent at a young age. The experts at the American Psychiatric Association note that about half of all cases will start by the time a person turns 14. Parents may even see warning signs at an earlier age, but those teenage years may be when things really begin to become clear.
By the time people are 24 years old, about 75% of mental disorders will already have manifested. This means that they could impact college students and other young adults who, up until that time, had been working toward a productive career. A mental disorder that begins at 24 or later can completely derail that career.
Can these conditions be cured?
Mental disorders often cannot be cured. Instead, medical professionals focus on helping people cope with them. For many, there are medications that they can take to ease the symptoms. But these are not like physical diseases where you can often rely on surgery or medication to cure the disease and heal your body forever. This could be something you live with for life.
That’s what takes them into the realm of a disability. If your condition prevents you from working and you know that it’s never going to be completely eradicated from your life, it is clear that you need other options. Disability benefits are one of the ways to address the financial challenges in your life. Be sure you understand all of the rights you have and the steps you need to take to seek proper benefits.