HELP!! Mental Health MEB possibility

Hello all,
I have been seeing a mental health provider for a few months now about my anxiety and claustrophobia in tight places and this seems to be going nowhere. I often times skip out on commanders calls, awards ceremonies etc. because I cant handle being in a place with no windows or tight space. I literally freak out, my heart starts pounding, blurred vision and I sweat like I ran a marathon if I am in an room or area with no windows, doors or sense of direction. Mental health provider says he may look at a possible MEB. I don't know much about it but I don't want to get out of the military as I need medical for my kids. My son had his last June (2018) 5th open heart surgery and my daughter was born premature at 22 weeks at 1lb, 4 oz. WE NEED MEDICAL, anddd, my wife just got diagnosed with epilepsy. It never fucking ends for my family. I don't want to get out of the military, but at the same time, I have constant anxiety every time I walk into a building, and I am starting to get in trouble for always being unreliable, not following directions and skipping out on mandatory briefings. Also, a family circumstance arrived that I CANNOT leave this state, so I may have to get out. (its a long story)

Anyway, how long does the process take and if they start a MEB process and my enlistment is gonna end in 8 months, will they still med board me to take care of me, or look at it like " naw he may get out anyway, hes on his own?" Thank you I'm so lost and stressed out.

 

[chaplaincharlie]

Enlistments can be extended for an MEB. Most importantly, your symptoms can be treated and resolved. So, if you want to stay in and take care of yourself and family, work you MH treatment plan hard. Get busy getting well. It can be done!

 

[Warrior644]

Hello all,
I have been seeing a mental health provider for a few months now about my anxiety and claustrophobia in tight places and this seems to be going nowhere. I often times skip out on commanders calls, awards ceremonies etc. because I cant handle being in a place with no windows or tight space. I literally freak out, my heart starts pounding, blurred vision and I sweat like I ran a marathon if I am in an room or area with no windows, doors or sense of direction. Mental health provider says he may look at a possible MEB. I don't know much about it but I don't want to get out of the military as I need medical for my kids. My son had his last June (2018) 5th open heart surgery and my daughter was born premature at 22 weeks at 1lb, 4 oz. WE NEED MEDICAL, anddd, my wife just got diagnosed with epilepsy. It never fucking ends for my family. I don't want to get out of the military, but at the same time, I have constant anxiety every time I walk into a building, and I am starting to get in trouble for always being unreliable, not following directions and skipping out on mandatory briefings. Also, a family circumstance arrived that I CANNOT leave this state, so I may have to get out. (its a long story)

Anyway, how long does the process take and if they start a MEB process and my enlistment is gonna end in 8 months, will they still med board me to take care of me, or look at it like " naw he may get out anyway, hes on his own?" Thank you I'm so lost and stressed out.

Welcome to the PEB Forum!

Indeed, at this particular point in time, your top priority should be trying to get the highest quality and proper medical attention feasible in order to have an opportunity to continue military service if you are referred with acceptance into the DoD IDES MEB/PEB process.

As such, the issuance of Directive-Type Memorandum (DTM)-18-004 – “Revised Timeliness Goals for the IDES" puts the total processing goal for 80% of DoD IDES cases as 230 days. The IDES via DoD Manual 1332.18 (Volume 2) is used to determine the fitness and applicable disability benefits of military service members with duty-related impairments. To that extent, federal law provides benefits for eligible military service members whose military service is cut short due to a service-related disability incurred in the line of duty.

Nonetheless, I definitely concur with @chaplaincharlie's above statement "Get busy getting well. It can be done!" for sure via maintaining a "positively proactive" demeanor throughout your established medical treatment plan(s). Take care!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"

Best Wishes!

 

[tony292]

First, if you are seeing a psychologist or therapist, you need to get referred to a Psychatrist because they are the ones who can prescribe anxiety meds. Do whatever you can to get medicated to ease the anxiety and then seek a MEB.