MS3 Going on Antidepressants

U

USA2025

Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2022
Messages
12
Hi everybody,
I’ve seriously been struggling with mental health for this past month. It’s getting exponentially worse after trying lots of other options. In the past ive always been very anxious and extra emotional — but my school and activities helped keep me distracted. Now, it’s not seeming to help at all and I’m going continuously down hill fast::: I’ve talked the details out with doctor and therapist and they both want me to try medication to combat these negative feelings.
I’ve been contemplating it for a while and I’m scared if I don’t give meds a try, I may end up hospitalized or worse… I want to prioritize my mental health but am concerned about the consequences in AROTC and the military in general. Should I keep holding off until I absolutely can’t handle my emotions? I
‘d feel so guilty. Will this DQ me? Will I have to enlist if DQed for the medication usage? What would the process look like? Im planning on setting up a meeting with PMS. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Focus on your health. That’s what matters.

Would continual depression dq you if you don’t get treatment regardless?
 
Meet with your PMS, as well as Dr. and therapist to put together a plan. It is impossible to make clear decisions when in a bad place emotionally. Your health comes 1st but I can understand wanting to protect your future. Every situation is different but for most SA‘s you need to be off meds 18 month prior to commissioning and be cleared by medical. Not sure about AROTC. Mental health is being prioritized in the military…even pilots in the Navy are now allowed to take antidepressants. Don’t wait!
 
USA2025 said:
Hi everybody,
I’ve seriously been struggling with mental health for this past month. It’s getting exponentially worse after trying lots of other options. In the past ive always been very anxious and extra emotional — but my school and activities helped keep me distracted. Now, it’s not seeming to help at all and I’m going continuously down hill fast::: I’ve talked the details out with doctor and therapist and they both want me to try medication to combat these negative feelings.
I’ve been contemplating it for a while and I’m scared if I don’t give meds a try, I may end up hospitalized or worse… I want to prioritize my mental health but am concerned about the consequences in AROTC and the military in general. Should I keep holding off until I absolutely can’t handle my emotions? I
‘d feel so guilty. Will this DQ me? Will I have to enlist if DQed for the medication usage? What would the process look like? Im planning on setting up a meeting with PMS. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
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I don’t want to appear unfeeling, but when I see someone write that they are struggling with mental health, I honestly don’t know what that means. Using the OP’s words, some days I, myself, am very anxious and extra emotional, depending on what is on my schedule and what I am required to do that day. That does not mean that I have mental health issues. Rather, that I am normal, and am just working at Life. Could it be the same for the OP?
 
USA2025 said:
Hi everybody,
I’ve seriously been struggling with mental health for this past month. It’s getting exponentially worse after trying lots of other options. In the past ive always been very anxious and extra emotional — but my school and activities helped keep me distracted. Now, it’s not seeming to help at all and I’m going continuously down hill fast::: I’ve talked the details out with doctor and therapist and they both want me to try medication to combat these negative feelings.
I’ve been contemplating it for a while and I’m scared if I don’t give meds a try, I may end up hospitalized or worse… I want to prioritize my mental health but am concerned about the consequences in AROTC and the military in general. Should I keep holding off until I absolutely can’t handle my emotions? I
‘d feel so guilty. Will this DQ me? Will I have to enlist if DQed for the medication usage? What would the process look like? Im planning on setting up a meeting with PMS. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
First glad you recognize a need for support and are pursuing it. take care of yourself, be patient and work toward feeling better with a professional team. There are others before you who have felt this frustration, anxiety, challenge and work through it over time to get to a better place. Have patience, have hope - Good luck.

If you're asking, no, I don't think you should wait until you "absolutely cannot handle (your) emotions". If you need help, get help. If your ailment was a broken leg, you would treat it without pause- you'd get it fixed. At present another part of you needs support and you self report "going downhill fast". If you were one of my children or someone I know, I would advise you head to the ER immediately given your description, but I'm just an anonymous person on the internet so talk to your own health care professional to make decisions.

make sure you understand your potential obligations for recoupment of moneys paid or service if you are on scholarship. You should also discuss options for a leave of absence if your goal is to continue toward your path to commission and serve. read the ROD regulations and what does it say about options to take medications and a path to commission and serve. It seems each year there is someone posting who is beyond day 1 of their sophomore year (an MS3 is starting their third year), discussing leaving their training, and unsure about whether recoupment will be required. Each year someone assuredly declares "they surely won't be required to pay" and others counter that they might and know examples where recoupment was required - like the Tastes Great / Less Filling TV commercial debate of my youth. Seek answers on options and good luck to you.
 
Iwutke said:
I don’t want to appear unfeeling, but when I see someone write that they are struggling with mental health, I honestly don’t know what that means. Using the OP’s words, some days I, myself, am very anxious and extra emotional, depending on what is on my schedule and what I am required to do that day. That does not mean that I have mental health issues. Rather, that I am normal, and am just working at Life. Could it be the same for the OP?
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It sounds like you are able to, like a cyclist, take on the hills in front of you, adjust gears, take on what you need to take on each day. You decide, and you execute - switch gears, pedal harder, and you advance up the hill each day. Sounds you can compartmentalize strong feelings and still function when you need - to a point you cannot relate to others struggling to do so. Great.

But to others struggling with anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, the hill is very steep some days - not something they can just put the bike in a lower gear, or push the pedals harder to get up the hill. For some they are not in a position to do so - i've seen anxiety cripple people to where the hills before them seem like vertical face/ impossible climbs. If I can succinctly respond I'd say congrats that you yourself cannot relate to these issues as you don't face them and are blessed *so far* to be very capable, but be aware and have empathy that there are others for whom things you may ultimately be able to just decide then do, are a steep, daunting, at-times nearly impossible. Some with mental health issues - most that I know, also pedal harder and make it through a lot of steep climbs for them, some may not be obvious. You never know what battle someone is working through.

Hope that helps.
 
Speaking only from an NROTC perspective, there is almost no chance that you would be forced to enlist or to repay tuition based on a legitimate diagnosis and treatment of a mental health issue. I hesitate to say it would never happen lest someone conjure up the unicorn case where it did.

One option you should consider discussing with your PMS is the potential for a medical leave of absence. It would be time away from the unit so you can focus on your condition and getting better.

If you are enjoying your time at the unit then communicate that to your PMS to avoid any confusion that you just want to leave. Ultimately, the decision to keep you in the program will fall to the medical authorities for the (Army I think in your case?) Don't let that determine when you seek help or whether you seek help. If you need help, then have the courage to get that help and then you can move out from there.
 
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Iwutke said:
I don’t want to appear unfeeling, but when I see someone write that they are struggling with mental health, I honestly don’t know what that means. Using the OP’s words, some days I, myself, am very anxious and extra emotional, depending on what is on my schedule and what I am required to do that day. That does not mean that I have mental health issues. Rather, that I am normal, and am just working at Life. Could it be the same for the OP?
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I would say it's like many categories of struggles that people face. When it starts interfering regularly with daily life, keeping you preoccupied, unable to concentrate, sleep, etc., it's more than "normal . . . just working at life," and warrants professional attention. That would be my armchair description. And from what OP wrote, I infer that's where OP is.
 
This is just from my personal experience with a child who has struggled with anxiety. She initially tried therapy and when that didn’t help, she did medication and therapy. We were told the “gold standard,” for treatment when therapy alone isn’t sufficient is to do both and that it is important to continue with therapy once a medication is added. It’s important to remember that medication can take a while to begin helping. I believe this number works everywhere, if you ever feel you are in crisis, call 988, there are trained individuals answering these calls 24 hours a day who can talk you.
 
MMM3 said:
This is just from my personal experience with a child who has struggled with anxiety. She initially tried therapy and when that didn’t help, she did medication and therapy. We were told the “gold standard,” for treatment when therapy alone isn’t sufficient is to do both and that it is important to continue with therapy once a medication is added. It’s important to remember that medication can take a while to begin helping. I believe this number works everywhere, if you ever feel you are in crisis, call 988, there are trained individuals answering these calls 24 hours a day who can talk you.
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Thank you.
 
Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 don't apply to military personnel. only civilians with disabilities. The ADA don't apply to the federal government either.
 
SpadGuy said:
Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 don't apply to military personnel. only civilians with disabilities. The ADA don't apply to the federal government either.
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According to the EEOC, "The ADA's nondiscrimination standards also apply to federal sector employees under section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, and its implementing rules."
 
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