Hello, i am an Army Reserve Officer. I saw a civilian psychiatrist 2 years ago for irritability and just moodiness in general. I only went because my wife and I were having issues communicating and I thought the irritability might be making it more difficult. It’s never affected my work or my life in any other way. I am an ER nurse and work in a very chaotic trauma center which is where I thrive. The psychiatrist put me on Lamictal and Wellbutrin but never told me an official diagnosis. I didn’t think anything of it at the time.
Last month, I volunteered for a deployment to Honduras. When I asked for a letter of stability from my provider she told me that her diagnosis was Cyclothymia which is on the bipolar spectrum and disqualifying for military service. I don’t agree with this diagnosis and at this point, after couples counseling, I don’t feel like I need to be on the meds anymore. Like I said, this isn’t something that has affected my work in any way at all. I was recently asked to take command before I signed up for the deployment because I am very capable and competent. My question is, what happens next? I have reported the medications on my PHA the last 2 years and it was never a problem but now that I’m trying to deploy it’s become a problem. I have been in the Army for 8 years and I want to do the whole 20. Is my career over?
Last month, I volunteered for a deployment to Honduras. When I asked for a letter of stability from my provider she told me that her diagnosis was Cyclothymia which is on the bipolar spectrum and disqualifying for military service. I don’t agree with this diagnosis and at this point, after couples counseling, I don’t feel like I need to be on the meds anymore. Like I said, this isn’t something that has affected my work in any way at all. I was recently asked to take command before I signed up for the deployment because I am very capable and competent. My question is, what happens next? I have reported the medications on my PHA the last 2 years and it was never a problem but now that I’m trying to deploy it’s become a problem. I have been in the Army for 8 years and I want to do the whole 20. Is my career over?
