Subjective disorders are those conditions where symptoms are noticeable only to the patient, such as pain or fatigue.
When you are experiencing physical or mental distress, nothing about it seems very “subjective.” But when it comes to actually receiving a diagnosis and getting long term disability insurance benefits through your insurance company, there are several disorders that tend to fall on the borderline, and that can make it more difficult for you to get the help you need.
How Will Subjective Disorders Affect Your Long Term Disability Insurance Claim?
Despite the fact that these disorders are medically recognized problems, their very nature makes them difficult to assess. This is because any evaluation of these issues is largely based on the subjective opinion of the person suffering from them.
This has led many disability insurance companies to classify them as “subjective disorders” and demand that people who file claims for these conditions undergo extensive testing. Applicants must provide as much medical information and documentation as possible if they hope to win the benefits they need.
Essentially, before agreeing to send you a check, the insurance companies want to ensure that you truly are dealing with a medical issue that prevents you from working and making a living.
What Disorders Are Labeled as Subjective?
There are five disorders that have been labeled as “subjective” by most insurance disability companies:
Fibromyalgia. This condition causes someone to experience ongoing pain and tenderness throughout their body and has been connected to a number of related issues, including anxiety, depression, headaches, sleep problems, and fatigue.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This condition leaves you severely tired no matter how much you rest and doesn’t have a link to any other medical conditions.
Chronic Pain Syndrome. People with this disorder tend to have ongoing pain that is localized in two or more areas or generalized throughout the body for at least 3 to 6 months. Treatment can help to reduce the pain, but most people never completely get rid of it.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This issue is similar to Chronic Pain Syndrome except that it is always localized to a specific part of the body. Typically the affected area is a leg or an arm.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. Some people equate this condition to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and classify it as such, but there are specific symptoms connected to it. People with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy experience swelling, tenderness, and pain (typically burning) in one of their extremities, along with shiny skin, discoloration, sweating, warmth or coolness, and flushing.
Claiming Disability Benefits for Subjective Disorders
Because it can be difficult to prove that you actually suffer from one of these disorders, your best chance of getting the benefits you deserve is to hire a knowledgeable lawyer who truly understands disability laws. You can learn more yourself by reading our free eBook and frequently checking our blog.