Can you be on anxiety medication in the military?

For anxiety disorders (for example, panic disorder), a person cannot enter the armed services if they needed any inpatient care, or outpatient care for more than 12 months cumulatively. They must not have needed any treatment for their anxiety disorder in the past 36 months.
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Can you have anxiety and be in the military?

In the vast majority of cases, young Americans hoping to join the military are barred from signing up if they've previously been treated for anxiety, depression or other mental health struggles.
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Can you be on medication in the military?

Recruiters generally tell applicants that they must be off medication for a considerable length of time — by far the most important measure to take — and show that they are able to function properly while off medication prior to starting the enlistment process and to be considered for a waiver.
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Can you get a waiver for anxiety in the military?

Army standards continue to stipulate that applicants who test positive for marijuana require a waiver to be eligible for enlistment, and applicants with a history of ADHD, depression, or anxiety will not meet enlistment standards and might not even qualify for a waiver, depending on their specific case.
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Can I join the military if I'm on antidepressants?

Response 1: Antidepressants are disqualifying for one year after you stop taking them. You must stop with your doctor's advice; do not stop on your own. These medications often have to be reduced slowly to lower side effects and reduce risk of relapse.
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Dealing with Anxiety in the Military



Does the military check your mental health records?

Obviously, certain security and safety positions like law enforcement and military agencies require a person to pass a mental health check. This almost always carries an in-depth look at any previous mental health issues you may have had.
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What medications are not allowed in the military?

DEA Controlled Substances Banned by the Military

Spice. Amphetamines. Anabolic Steroids. Synthetic Cannabinoids.
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What medical conditions will get you kicked out of the military?

8 surprising medical conditions that could bar you from service
  • Food Allergies. If you have a history of food allergies, you might be disqualified from joining the military. ...
  • Celiac Disease. ...
  • Contact dermatitis. ...
  • Asthma. ...
  • Braces or dental ailments. ...
  • Motion sickness. ...
  • Acne. ...
  • Too tall.
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Can I be drafted if I have anxiety?

For anxiety disorders (for example, panic disorder), a person cannot enter the armed services if they needed any inpatient care, or outpatient care for more than 12 months cumulatively. They must not have needed any treatment for their anxiety disorder in the past 36 months.
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How does anxiety affect the military?

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

Veterans impacted may suffer from nausea, increased heart rate, and avoidance of social situations. This might make it hard to hold jobs or go out and do things with family and friends. Veterans who are impacted may experience physical and emotional symptoms which can be debilitating.
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What does the Army prescribe for anxiety?

The most commonly prescribed are alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). Similar to the effects of alcohol, these medications are great at quickly generating relaxation. However, there are considerable risks with them. They do not mix well with alcohol or other sedatives.
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How do I link military to anxiety?

Before you can receive benefits, you'll have to meet the VA's requirements for your claim. You must have a formal diagnosis of your condition and link the disability to your active duty service. You must also present any medical records and lay evidence that shows the severity of your anxiety.
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Is anxiety a military disqualifier?

Anxiety issues, either current or historical, or panic, agoraphobia, social phobia, simple phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, other acute reactions to stress, and post-traumatic stress are disqualifying for entry into the service.
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What makes you non deployable?

Soldiers are considered non-deployable if they meet one of the following: Deployed. Soldiers that are currently mobilized according to Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS). Minimal Training Not Completed.
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Can you be in the military with ADHD?

Individuals with ADHD need a medical waiver to be able to enlist if they meet these points, with the branches — Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force — typically requiring that applicants be off medication for several months and prove that they can function without it to be considered for a waiver.
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Are medical discharges honorable?

A medical discharge is typically a general discharge under honorable conditions, but the severity and circumstances under which the medical condition began can impact the type of discharge you receive.
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Can active duty military refuse medical treatment?

Active duty military personnel have a right to informed consent before accepting treatment, as well as a right to refuse treatment if they disagree with such.
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Why does flat feet disqualify you from the military?

Those with flat feet are not suited to marching - they can sustain spinal damage. The government may not care if one is killed, but cannot take the chance of anyone's seeking a disability pension.
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Can you be prescribed Xanax in the military?

(Nov. 29, 2012) -- On Nov. 15, the Department of Defense expanded military drug testing to include selected prescription drugs in the benzodiazepine class, which includes such familiar drugs as Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Restoril, plus 31 others.
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What drugs can you use in the military?

What are the Most Commonly Used Drugs in the Armed Forces?
  • Marijuana. Easily the most used drug in the military. ...
  • Cocaine and other stimulants. Long stretches of duty lead many soldiers to turn to stimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine to stay alert throughout the course of the evening. ...
  • Opiates.
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Can you take medication in basic training?

Generally, medications not prescribed to you by the military are not allowed while in basic training.
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Will MEPS find out if you lie?

It is not the recruiters job to get you into the military, nor is it MEPS' job to disqualify you. For both, it's to ensure that only qualified candidates enlist. The criminal background check and security clearance investigations can and do find sealed records. If anyone tells you otherwise, they are lying to you.
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Can you get discharged from the military for mental illness?

In the military's scheme of things, serious disorders such as major depression, anxiety or schizophrenia may be grounds for medical discharge or retirement, usually depending on their severity and amenability to treatment.
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Can you join the military if you were suicidal?

Both suicidal gesture and self-mutilation are disqualifying for military service, by DoD regulation.
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Will taking antidepressants affect security clearance?

Depression and Anxiety Not Cause for Security Clearance Denial.
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