Stress affects everyone from time to time, but when it becomes an everyday occurrence and affects your work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation. If the stress has resulted in permanent impairment, like post-traumatic stress disorder, then you may be able to seek out the compensation you need to support yourself.
You’ll need to show that the stress you suffered from was primarily related to work. Most people face some stress in their lives. What you should be able to show is a single trauma or ongoing concern that has led to your injuries.
Another thing to consider is if the amount of stress you faced was unusual for the position. For example, it’s normal for a construction worker to face physical stress each day, but emotional stress from harassment or threats would be exceptional.
Stress-related injuries have a higher standard of proof. Each person handles stress differently, and although stress is a natural reaction, excessive stress can be damaging to the body. Mental stress can result in emotional breakdowns and the physical manifestation of symptoms.
Worse yet, it’s hard to show the severity of mental stress because of the variance among people. This is why you should seek out a medical doctor to provide you with treatment options and a record of your mental health issues. If they stem from a specific traumatic event at work, then this should also be documented. Your attorney can collect this information and help you apply for workers’ compensation or help you appeal your case if you’ve been denied benefits you believe you deserve. Our website has more on how work-related health injuries can be compensated for.
