I was diagnosed with depression several years ago and have since been taking paxil for treatment. I'm doing much better now and can honestly say that I'm not depressed. However, I've still been taking the paxil because it's addictive and quitting has serious side effects for up to a month.
I'm considering joining either the Air Force or Navy. I've heard that if you've been diagnosed with depression or are taking meds, they won't consider you. My question is: if I wean myself off the meds, would I be eligible for consideration?
2006-07-30 13:04:08 · 10 answers · asked by erynnelle 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
you must be off the meds for at LEAST a year.. and no, taking yourself off of them is not allowed. your doctor must monitor you and give you the okay to do so. If you have any history of attempted suicide, you are Permanently disqualified from joining.
Lying about it will net you a fraudulent enlistment, and land you in a lot of trouble as well as making you ineligible for any benefits whatsoever from the military. you WILL be found out.
2006-07-30 14:11:16 · answer #1 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi I have been depressed and on meds for many years. I have the bi-polar in it's extreme. You sound as a clinically depressed. which without meds like me can have an episode quite soon after stopping or bad side effects.
You can ask your doctor to wean you off of paxil and get on a new med there are so many other meds that are not addictive. As far as the service is concerned do you know someone who might know if paxil would elimate you from joining? just retired after 36 years of teaching the board knew about my problem and meds. That is confidencial. Call the branch -no name-and ask them also. good luck ! betty boop
2006-07-30 13:36:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was in the Army for the last couple of years, and had depression before I joined. I didn't tell anybody about it and I wasn't on meds. I thought that I'd be able to join the army and get away from my hometown. Well, it worked for the first year and a half, after that it just got extremely worse. They put me on meds and everything, but nothing worked. I just want you to know that if you get in and find out that it's coming back, tell someone. Meds doing always work.
2006-07-30 13:44:16 · answer #3 · answered by Proud Army Wife 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just don't tell them about it at MEPS.
Better yet, DON'T tell the recruiter about it.
Just suck it up and ship out as soon as possible. That way you can make a quick, clean break from your drugs. If you still have issues, you'll get discharged from basic training as an entry level separation and it will be as if you never joined.
Otherwise two years from now you're going to be still running in circles.
2006-07-30 13:12:10 · answer #4 · answered by 34andlivingwithmomanddad 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well my friend has a depression back in 8th grade or something, he signed up for the Marines with me and everything was fine for a while... but then 2 weeks before he shipped out they disqualified him and made him wait 5 years before he can reenlist... and hes perfectly fine right now too X_x.
2006-07-30 13:52:49 · answer #5 · answered by testbotx3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to a recruiter. You could be put into situation where those drugs are not available and you're health and perhaps the safety of those around you could be at risk. Wean yourself with a doctors help.
2006-07-30 13:14:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suffering from depression is acceptable as long as you do not have suicide attempts on your record. However, you may want to consider getting off the paxil before you enlist. Do not wait for basic to go cold turkey.
2006-07-30 13:16:03 · answer #7 · answered by Sarah H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all i had to work out became into "suicide attempt". if that's the way it fairly is listed in a record someplace, you're completed. in case you assert no longer something, then you certainly run the possibility of them looking out later. incredibly this is been my journey helping human beings enlist, that the MEPS / recruiters are not going to tug your civilian scientific information except you supply them a reason to. in case you have had broken bones, surgical treatment - they're going to choose scientific comments, scans, assessments, diagnosis, and so on from those techniques. if a variety of point out "suicide" - you acquire situation.
2016-10-08 12:25:21 · answer #8 · answered by alisha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the depression will make you more apt to kill innocents and children so I think the recruiters will love it. The republicans and their president will!
2006-07-30 13:32:09 · answer #9 · answered by Charles Dobson Focus on the Fam 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
not legally, but you could get around it
2006-07-30 14:05:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋