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Army and Anxiety

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 1/18/2011 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
I am considering joining the army, but my girlfriend mentioned how would it affect my anxiety lol, what is ya's guys opinions on this? would it make my anxiety that much worse? am I a liable candidate for PTSD? sheez louweez:S
Posted 1/18/2011 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi 3-D I don't know if there are any restrictions as far as the Army goes. I know that they put you through brutal physical and mental challenges during basic!

There have been people with A/P who run major corporations, are in poitics, who create art, who teach. We are performers and laborers, you name it! The limitations are only the ones we put on ourselves:)

Why couldn't you go for it? I would be honest with the recruting agent though. It would be self-defeating to do anything else.

Of course, as with any big life decision, think about it...and then think about it again. I admire you for exploring your options, and wish you wisdom and luck!

Take care,
S.C.
Posted 1/18/2011 8:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you scaredy, I personally feel it's me facing my fears straight on...

I mean I have health anxiety for the most part and I'm scared of death, going to the Army and branching infantry then going to war and whatnot would be like literally fighting back against my 'anxiety' so to speak

Also I always did want to do something noble and great even if it's small and goes unrecognized, I just want to be satisfied with my achievements somehow heh
Posted 1/18/2011 8:57 AM (GMT 0)
Morning 3DD, I think you have a very positive outlook on joining the army, if you feel it would be facing and fighting your anxiety it may be a good thing :=D
I don't think there is a "certain candidate" for PSTD it happens or it doesn't really!! Most servicemen who suffer from PTSD have seen traumatic and horrific things and the full extent of this trauma only seems to hit them after they return to Civvi street, my best advice for you would be to talk to your therapist/pshychologist (if you have one) about your intentions, also, when applying for the army you are put through mental and physical tests to make sure you are capable of joining, so, applyingand going through the medicals etc would be a great way to find out if your suited for this job and lifestyle.

Also S.C is absolutly right being totally honest with the recruitment guys when you apply or even go and talk to them about wanting to sign up is a key!! Joining the army holds a lot of possibilities, you dont always have to be an infantryman you can specialize and go into communications, recon, a whole host of roles not necessarily toting a gun 24/7 and fighting.

Major Kudos for the choices your making or possibly making though, wanting to do something positive with your life is always key in recovering from anxiety, wether its taking the trash out every day or making big life changing decisions like this.

I Wish you all the luck in the world and I hope it works out for you in the most positive way possible

Good Luck

KItty xx
Posted 1/18/2011 11:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

anxiety is not related to location or work, its there in your thoughts you have to get rid of that with your confidence, you cant keep on running from things you like with fear of anxiety, otherwise the list will keep on increasing. You should do what you feel happy doing, this is not a disease its state of ming which will change and you will be yourself again and will laugh on the thoughts you use to get when u were anxious. Enjoy your life we all have to die one day lets not die everyday. i suffer from anxiety from past 2 years and feel dizzy everyday, there are good days and bad days, lets remember good days and take motivation. i know its easy to say but you have to keep on convincing yourself that all izz well with you

All the best, LOL.
Posted 1/18/2011 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
3 D,

I commend you on your desire to join the army and serve your country.  That is a great thing you want to do.

I am going to post a link for you that may help you but also please do contact a recruiter and talk to him telling him up-front re your anxiety issues. 

From the link I am posting  to you.  The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are disorders with psychotic features.

Neurotic, anxiety, mood, somatoform, dissociative, or factitious disorders

The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are a history of such disorders resulting in any or all of the below:

a. Admission to a hospital or residential facility.

b. Care by a physician or other mental health professional for more than 6 months.

c. Symptoms or behavior of a repeated nature that impaired social, school, or work efficiency.

Remember I am not the expert in this field but your recruiter would be.

Here is the link :

http://images.military.com/Recruiting/Content/0,13898,rec_step07_DQ_medical,,00.html

I wish you all that life has to offer and please know I support you.

Kindly,

Kitt 


Posted 1/18/2011 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
I had written a whole, whole lot but decided to delete it in favor of saying much less.

First, I disagree with those saying you should tell your recruiter about your anxiety issues. I don't think it will do you any good. Their job is to fill quotas and they will say it will be fine. I can hear it now. But you don't want them writing that down in some file, because there is the chance that recruit training will force you to deal with your anxiety issues and you may then want an Army Career. I was a Marine so I don't know how it works in the Army, but in the Marines there were several ways an enlisted man could become an officer. At that point you won't want any evidence of an anxiety disorder in your file. Chances are they wouldn't pay any attention to what a recruiter wrote, but you never know.

Instead I'd visit a civilian psychologist and have yourself independently evaluated.

This is a big decision. There's a hospital in central Texas that is affiliated with Texas A&M University, which has strong military ties. Many of the doctors are former Army, and though I never saw a psychologist there I'm sure there are one or two who have been Army and would be better able to advise you. I know it seems strange to travel for something like that but it is a big decision particularly when you consider that the country is at war.

Anyway, I think it's entirely possible that boot camp would make you so physically and emotionally exhausted that your anxiety would be the least of your concerns. I'm not sure anyone should count on the military to cure an emotional disorder forever, but I think that it's possible that the confidence and discipline you gain from training could help. I don't know, though. From what I've seen people with anxiety disorders can generally rise to the occasion so to speak, so it's not my place to suggest you not join. Could be very good for you.

Just take your time and make sure that's what you want to do, because it's not an easy life and once you're in it's hard to get out.
Posted 1/19/2011 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Everybody had extraordinary responses, and thanks debaser it's great to hear from someone who personally went through it and told me how to go about it the right way. I surely don't want anxiety to hold me back in life or stop me from living my dreams. I live in texas also and ironically I'm going to go to A&M university this fall semester, the one in kingsville,tx though but I'm sure college station is not a far off trip. Sounds like it'd be worth it
Posted 1/19/2011 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
The hospital is actually in Temple. Scott & White Memorial. If Kingsville is where I think it is, Temple is even closer than College Station. Anyway, two of my doctors there were A&M graduates and former US Army doctors. It's the teaching hospital for A&M's medical school.

If you're going to college, why don't you graduate first? Go in as an officer. Even getting five or six semesters under your belt first would give you a much better shot at advancement. If you go all the way and get a degree, then get those bars on your collar, you'd have a huge advantage in the labor market after you were done with the Army.
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