Schizophrenia is a severe and often lifelong condition that affects an individual’s ability to interact with others, regulating their emotions, understanding the world as well as making decisions. Schizophrenia is a condition which affects an individual’s perception of the world, and it can be frightening, lonely, disabling and chronic. This mental health condition is thought to be caused by a number of factors such as genetic mutations, environmental factors such as extreme levels of stress and trauma, poor nutrition and other unknown etiologies. Because of this, schizophrenia is difficult to treat and manage, and patients are often left to their own devices after trying numerous drugs which do nothing but suppress symptoms, albeit unsuccessfully. One of the hallmarks of schizophrenia is paranoia, or the belief that others are out to persecute or even harm you, as well as auditory and visual hallucinations. As such, people with schizophrenia often live very stressful lives as they cannot separate reality from illusion or tricks of the mind.

Given schizophrenia’s designation as a chronic illness, USPS workers who develop symptoms or experience a worsening of their condition may be able to apply and qualify for FERS disability benefits, a form of early retirement which enables these federal workers to stop working and seek long-term treatment and rehabilitation until a time when they will either be able to return to work, or become eligible for retirement, whichever comes first. That said, the process of applying for compensation for conditions like schizophrenia is mired with red tape and bureaucracy, and OPM requires that the individual show one’s inability to work with their chronic condition. Working with an experienced FERS disability law firm is your best bet at jumping these often administrative hurdles and barriers to claim acceptance, and we’re here to help with that.

Are you looking for a best FERS disability compensation attorney? If you were diagnosed with schizophrenia as a USPS worker, please give us a call NOW at 312-444-0214 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation. For close to three decades, we’ve helped thousands of injured or unwell federal and other workers receive compensation after getting injured or falling sick on the job. In addition to serving a countrywide clientele (call us wherever you are in the country and we’ll help you with your federal workers’ compensation claim) and we run a bilingual office (hablamos Espanol). You don’t have to endure the heartbreaking symptoms of schizophrenia as a USPS worker – call us NOW at 312-444-0214 and we’ll help secure your FERS disability compensation benefits so you can rest and recover at home, while managing your condition in a dignified manner. Remember, the call is 100% FREE, and our intake team is standing by.

What are Some of the Warning Symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is considered as a spectrum of symptoms and not one monolithic condition, and it can wax and wane, with individuals experiencing either late disease onset, or periods of remission. However, it typically manifests in one’s late teens or early adulthood.

Here are some of the classic symptoms associated with schizophrenia:

1. Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and paranoia where one sees or hears things that aren’t there, the belief that one is being targeted as well as believing that one has special powers such as the ability to affect random events or special connections with famous people.
2. Cognitive impairment such as difficulty concentrating, understanding simple concepts, being able to make decisions for oneself, inability to regulate emotions leading to aggressive and combative behavior, and trouble remembering things as well as following instructions.
3. Negative symptoms which occur on the down side of the condition, including catatonia or sitting or standing still for minutes or sometimes hours, social withdrawal, lack of motivation, and reduced emotional range.

How is Schizophrenia Treated?

Schizophrenia is treated using a combination of medication and therapy, with antipsychotics being the golden standard for managing delusions, aggression and paranoia. These medications target the production of dopamine, and serotonin receptors in order to reduce or eliminate these distressing symptoms. Psychotherapy in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy can also help show the patients that their delusions and beliefs are irrational, challenging their world view as well as equip them with coping mechanisms to manage their symptoms and the stress and anxiety around it. Psychotherapy can also enhance a patient’s social skills and help them reintegrate into society.

How Does Schizophrenia Affect USPS Worker Productivity?

USPS workers with schizophrenia may find it difficult to perform work duties due to a number of reasons. For starters, schizophrenia may severely impact your ability to understand instructions and follow them, remember which house needs which piece of mail or package delivered, and it may lead to irrational thoughts of co-workers plotting to harm them or persecute them. The auditory and visual hallucinations can also make it difficult to operate a vehicle, and lead to accidents that could have been prevented via proper diagnosis and disease management. The social withdrawal typical in schizophrenics experiencing negative symptoms may make it difficult for individuals to collaborate with their colleagues as well as connect with customers and participate in meetings.

Experienced FERS Disability Benefits Attorneys for USPS Workers – Call Us Today!

Working with schizophrenia can be incredibly stressful, even while medicated, as stress is one of the major triggers of a psychotic, delusional or negative episode. It is important therefore to realize that help in the form of FERS disability benefits is available if you find it hard to cope with your condition while working as a USPS worker. These benefits provide access to medical treatment in the form of prescription medication, doctor’s visits, psychotherapy and even home help care, as well as provide you with a monthly stipend you can use to take care of your financial obligations as you rest and recover from or manage your condition. If you were diagnosed with schizophrenia or had the condition worsen while working as a last mile USPS worker, please give us a call NOW at 312-444-0214 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation. Remember, you can call us from anywhere in the country, and your first consultation is on us. Thanks for choosing McCready Law, and we look forward to helping you.