Severe and disabling difficulties with social interaction

In summary, the individual has already had several appointments with a psychiatrist and is not seeking self-diagnosing advice. They are wondering what to expect after completing all necessary testing. They list several symptoms they have experienced, including severe difficulties with social interaction, trouble learning in a classroom environment, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and breaking down completely. They also mention hitting and crushing things when frustrated, feeling dizzy and numb due to stress, and recently experiencing episodes of hearing voices. They have undergone neuropsychological testing and have a low working memory but high scores in other areas. They are wondering if there are any disability benefits available for their symptoms in the EU and are advised to contact their country's agency for more information. It is recommended that they continue
  • #1
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First of all, I've already had and scheduled SEVERAL appointments with a psychiatrist, and I'm not asking for self-diagnosing advice - I'm simply wondering what I should look forward to after all the checking is done.So let me begin with a list of symptoms that I'm experiencing, or have experienced at one point. This list is randomly ordered.

1) Severe and disabling difficulties with social interaction.
I don't have any friends at all in real life, and I didn't have any for at least 1/2 of my lifetime, on and off. The way I socialize is very different from the way other people socialize, and I don't know how to respond when somebody says something to me roughly 40% of the time. My conversation types and priorities are significantly different from those of the general population, and I have a very hard time developing interpersonal relationships, even if the other person was the first one to approach me.

2) Difficulty learning in a classroom environment - when I'm in a classroom environment, my mind usually won't recognize the learning material presented as something be learned. It will simply ignore it and block it out, as if it was just another irrelevant stimuli. As a result, I often don't even know what topic was being studied during class. This doesn't happen when I self-teach - when I self-teach, I usually learn very fast and efficiently, as my brain recognize what is learning material and what isn't, and automatically sets its focus on it.3) Severe anxiety, depression and insomnia - I started manifesting these symptoms from roughly ~13-14 years of age. These symptoms (or rather this combination) is so disabling that I skipped roughly 1/2 of my school time, and often couldn't go to school several months in a row. This might be a result of me changing schools to one with far more loaded schedules and more pupils, which put a significant amount of stress on my sensory system.

4) Often breaking down completely and being unable to function - very often, my level of emptiness, anger, frustration, depression, anxiety and lack of sleep goes so high that I'm not able to function at all - I can't go to any public learning environment, can't set and complete tasks, and so on.

5) Hitting and crushing things around me when frustrated and desperate - when I break down, I either hit and crush things around me when I'm at home, or have a very strong urge to do so when I'm in public.

6) Sweating, feeling dizzy, detached and numb due to stress after being in a collective environment for long enough - every day, my levels of anxiety escalate to the point where I make every step thinking "I hope I won't faint", because I start feeling dizzy and lightheaded due to the high anxiety levels.

7) Recently started: hearing voices (?) - from the age of ~16, I occasionally would hear my mom yelling, and when I asked her what she wanted, she would say that she didn't say anything, and whether I was "OK". This also happened late at night when my mom was asleep, so I realized that something is wrong. This happened only a few times per year at first, but now it's happening roughly a few times per months, and now it isn't just my mom.
Here's an example of what happened this month: When I went to the fridge at night, and there was some car driving by, the car sound transformed into a sound of some woman talking just in front of me. I couldn't tell what she was saying, but the voice was clearly defined. This happened before as well, but when I was sitting at my computer. Also, when I was trying to fall asleep, I heard a very loud voice screaming my name, to the point that it made my ears go numb. It sounded as if the voice was coming from under the pillow.Additional information:
I went through some neuropsychological testing, and my working memory turned out to be very low, while my other scores (such as abstract reasoning (the block design subtest)) turned out to be high.-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is it possible to get any kind of disability benefits with such symptoms in the EU? Thinking about my future makes me even more desperate, as I wouldn't be able to hold most social-environment-based jobs for longer than half a year at most, without taking a break as long.

If it's a social environment, I normally can work 1/2 of the time, but would start breaking down if I would work for longer - the anxiety, anger and frustration would become unbearable and would drive me to taking a chair and crushing everything around me.

If the work isn't in a social environment, I could work up to 16 hours a day.
 
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  • #2


I'm sorry to hear about everything you are going through. Unfortunately because we cannot (and should not try) diagnose you nor give you medical advice we are unable to give you any indication of what your future will be like.

Please keep pushing for more appointments with your psychiatrist and doctor to get a diagnosis and proper treatment. Hang in there mate.
 
  • #3
To find out about disabilty benefits, you will need to contact the agency for your country that handles this. If you don't know, I am sure that googling "mental disibility benefits for *your country*", or "how to apply for mental disibility benefits for *your country*" will get you to the right place. Or ask your doctor what agency you need to contact.
 

FAQ: Severe and disabling difficulties with social interaction

What is the definition of "severe and disabling difficulties with social interaction"?

Severe and disabling difficulties with social interaction, also known as social communication disorder, refers to a condition where an individual has significant challenges in understanding and using verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as social cues and rules. These difficulties can significantly impact an individual's ability to form and maintain relationships and may also affect their academic or occupational performance.

What are the common signs and symptoms of social communication disorder?

The signs and symptoms of social communication disorder can vary from person to person, but some common indicators include a lack of interest in social interactions, difficulty understanding and using nonverbal cues, trouble initiating or maintaining conversations, and a tendency to take language too literally. Individuals with this disorder may also struggle with understanding and expressing emotions appropriately.

Is social communication disorder the same as autism?

No, social communication disorder is not the same as autism. While they both involve difficulties with social interaction, social communication disorder is a separate diagnosis and does not include the restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests that are characteristic of autism. However, some individuals with autism may also have social communication disorder.

How is social communication disorder diagnosed?

A diagnosis of social communication disorder is typically made by a licensed psychologist or speech-language pathologist. The diagnostic process may involve observing the individual's social interactions, communication skills, and behaviors, as well as conducting interviews with the individual and their caregivers. It is important to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms, such as autism, before making a diagnosis.

Can social communication disorder be treated?

Yes, social communication disorder can be treated. Treatment options may include speech and language therapy, social skills training, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. These interventions can help individuals develop better communication and social skills, improve their understanding of social cues and rules, and manage any associated anxiety or other difficulties. Early intervention is crucial for the best outcomes, but treatment can be beneficial at any age.

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