<p>I just got a letter from the DoDmerb and just as I was afraid of, I was medically rejected because of “history of anxiety disorder”. So my question is, what now? I was only on Zoloft for 2 months and when I went to my doctor, I highly doubted it was a panic disorder, just that I was highly stressed from college. Truthfully I would call it more of a misdiagnosis than anything…does anyone have the link for the other web forum about this? Also does anyone have any experience with this, if so what happened?</p>
<p>The other sit is United</a> States of America Service Academy Forums - Powered by vBulletin You want to go go onto the Dodmerb section and there is a gentleman from Dodmerb who can help you out. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Good luck. The DoDMERB process is a bear, but it's a battle that's definitely worth fighting.</p>
<p>He has posted his email to ask any questions concerning the DODmerb I highly recommend doing that. He helped me very well with one of my problems D: silly doctors not submitting forms, then finding out they gave the wrong hearing test. O and they dont even have the right equipment D:</p>
<p>You can apply for a medical waiver. However to help your argument you might want to go to a therapist and get a new evaluation to show this is no longer a problem. Did you address the issue of stress so that will not be an issue in the future? I think when applying for a waiver the medical personal want to see that you can handle all the stress and pressures of the Academy.</p>
<p>You are probably on the mark to question your diagnosis - it seems that some doctors are quick to diagnose what may only be a temporary emotional state as a panic or anxiety disorder, and then prescribe a quick fix. Not sure what DoDmerb will say about that, but you do need to consider your reactions to stress when applying for a service academy. College is certainly very stressful, but from what I have heard, that is multiplied many times at a service academy, so you are the only one who can determine whether you think you can handle it...just a factor to keep in mind during your decision making process.</p>
<p>I had to deal with Dodmerb as well . . .I'm not going to sugar coat it for you, it is a long, frustrating process. That being said, it CAN be done. If I was you, I'd start collecting statements from teachers, coaches, mentors, etc. saying that they never observed you having any anxiety problems. Also, try to get a letter from the doctor who prescribed you Zoloft that says you are no longer in need of the medication (or that you would have been fine without it in the first place). What you can't do is sit around and wait . . . Dodmerb seems to forget about people if you dont keep pestering them.</p>
<p>This is definitely going to be a gut check, you gotta want it!</p>
<p>Don't panic worry, fight for it. You'll get in somehow. People who usually come from a very stressful environment or situation, divorced parents, or dangerous neighboorhoods, academic shock at first year of college, usually last longer at the Academy. If you want it bad enough, you'll find away to fight Dodmerb.</p>
<p>As suggested go to the above referenced serviceacademyforums and check out the DoDMERB section. Get a second opinion. No Joke! Get an appointment with a Psychiatrist (not a therapist). Your current doctor might be able to fast track the appointment and knowing the situation should not be insulted. Explain that you think you were initially misdiagnosed. Give him/her copies of your records and talk. Might take a couple of sessions. Ask him/her to submit an evaluation to DoDMERB along with a letter from you explaining your thoughts on the situation. It will be an out of pocket expense but worth the effort.</p>
<p>I think wildcat is correct in many ways. Not only are the SA's stressful so is the military.</p>
<p>Play the FF game and here are scenarios YOU WILL FACE...if none of them get your heart racing then you'll do fine if any or all of them make you say oh crap do I really want to do this then rethink your desire to join the military.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You will never be paid enough in the service, you will always be saying when I make the next rank I will finally be able to buy X, Y or Z. This process will continue until you retire. It becomes very stressful when you are married with 3 little ones and living on the economy overseas. Remember flight pay is @125 a mo. for the 1st 2 yrs, and you won't see the big bump until you almost a major, but by that time the pay bump is lost to having to put your kids in braces!</p></li>
<li><p>You will always be spinning in circles...by the time you prove yourself you must PCS and so you start the cycle over again...add onto this the fight to get in resident PME or cross train into a new jet(which may mean taking a crappy job to get it), plus the need to get a DP for O-4, when only 1 or 2 can get it out of 14 people, getting your Masters done and trying at all times to divert the big nasty yr Remote in SKorea or the sandbox.</p></li>
<li><p>Your wife is 9 months pregnant and you are deployed, she is left overseas with no family to give birth to your child...or she only delivered 10 days ago and a war has broken out so you will be going to a far away land, and she can't get home for at least 6 weeks ---no passport for the baby!</p></li>
<li><p>You take jets to safety from a hurricane while she stays behind with the kids. The town makes front page news and headlines on CNN. You can't talk to her b/c there is no electricity,phone or cable, but you also know there is no potable water, and the base has informed you that the pine tree in your front yard has landed on the side of your house. You can't get home for 10 days b/c the runway is under water and you will be leaving in 14 days for 120+/- TDY to the sandbox.</p></li>
<li><p>You will most likely bury a colleage way before their time. You might even be the guy that has to fly in the pattern until SAR comes, or be the guy that tells their spouse they died. Col. Ken Byrd had to do that for Capt. Cliff Massengill, when he was a Capt. He will tell you he still can remember the day. Cliffy died when his son was 6 weeks old and 3 days after signing his papers to get out. He is now buried at the AFA.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>All of these examples occurred in our family. Before Bullet retired we buried 8 guys from our community. 6 of the 8 had children under the age of 3. Not one spouse lived near their hometown and had family with them when they were notified, except for their young children.</p>
<p>Finally, as many people know Bullet retired only in Aug (officially 3 days ago) at the retirement ceremony he spoke about how our daughter(she is 16) and him were fighting and he couldn't understand why she hated him so much. Our daughter had told him she was tired of him always leaving us and worrying about him dieing. It is hard as a parent to see your child sob as they say goodbye to their friends. Bullet and I chose this life, but we forced it upon our children, they had no vote. One of our dearest friends turned down his promotion to Major, b/c he had calculated that out of 8 yrs in the AF he had spent 4 yrs away from the family. He played the FF game to his retirement and said he didn't want to be a stranger to his children.</p>
<p>The hard cold facts is the military is stressful. Financially you will never be a millionaire, you will always do what the AF tells you to and with a sharp salute (move when they want you to, be assigned a crappy deployment, fly whatever plane they determine, and never express your opinions). Iy is an amazing life, but it is stressful and it will be stressful whether you are a cadet or Col.</p>
<p>I wish you the very best, I just hope you view the military for what the reality of life is like compared to the illusion.</p>
<p>BTW I LOVED EVERY SECOND AND WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN it was worth every pain we ever experienced. I miss the life daily and I know that our children miss it too...otherwise we wouldn't have a DS who will be commission in 12 as a Lt. in the United States Air Force</p>
<p>thank you so much everyone, I will definitely go to my doctor on Tuesday and ask him to write up another evaluation saying that I didn't really need it and was just going through one of the most stressful months of my life. also since my school has a free psychiatrist, i'll definitely go them also.</p>