The Alcoholism and Crippling Depression Thread

[tagradh]

True glory.

 

[arg]

gold

 

[The Butt]

Onder makes another classic post.

 

[Matt]

But his whole life he has been anti-medication, the military does nothing to change that since he's like 25 years old or whatever. He's not a 17 year old just waiting to graduate HS.

I think you can even get prescribed medication when you're in anyways, but is the solution really just to take pills?

I'm not inherently anti medication. I just haven't wanted to give up on military service in lieu of getting help. Any kind of treatment for major depression (that I use my insurance for) will show up on medical records, so whether I just get counseling or whatever, it'll bar me from entry. And I can't afford to pay for counseling out of pocket, so I don't know what else to do.

He wasn't saying that military work makes people depressed. He's saying that since his joining the military is contingent upon not taking anti-depressants, he's basically forced into a position of not treating his own depression, thus guaranteeing (more or less) that he will be miserable.

There are options aside from medication, but that seems to be the paradigm we're working within.

Basically. And, I have been trying to get a job in my field (economics/finance) and haven't even gotten an interview in over a year. The military seems like my only job option even though realistically I know it isn't. I'm scared of getting medically boarded out with a dishonorable if I join and then try to get treatment. That's a risk it's looking like I'll have to take though.

 

[rms]

You cannot get medically boarded out and dishonorably discharged. Tons of guys go into the service with pre-existing injuries and problems hoping to get the government to cover for it

I see what zabu meant now

 

[Matt]

Are you 100% sure about that?

 

[Master_Yoda77]

My butthole hurts just reading Onder's posts.

 

[rms]

Are you 100% sure about that?

Med board means you are discharged with benefits, specifically financial compensation for physical and or mental issues. If you are dishonorably discharged, you do not get any benefits from the VA/Gov.

You would only get discharged if you made it through MEPS without declaring prior psych evaluations (I think they do one too, but that was 7 years ago and I forgot) and then while you are in they found out you lied about a pre-existing condition. That's probably a general under honorable which means no GI Bill but if you get injured while you're in you would be financially compensated for life.

 

[Matt]

I've never had a psyche eval so that's good news. Maybe there's hope then.

 

[CiG]

Seriously considering loading up a backpack with notepads, pencils, extra clothes and taking what money I have and just living rough for a while.

I think my depression may be resurfacing after all these years.

 

[no country for old wainds]

you should all just collectively go have a wank in a forest i'm sure youll feel better

 

[CiG]

Don't have forests here.

 

[The Ozzman]

My Opa was a "functional" alcoholic and graduated with a PhD in organic chemistry

organic chemistry

Probably why he was a functional alcoholic

That's a joke because I hated chemistry in high school

 

[Funerary_Doom]

I think it's really stupid to judge someone based on how many beers they drink or whatever. Everyone has their own vices. Also, if it's not truly affecting them and their career, whatever who cares. Anything that's done excessively can be a vice.

Also, i realize i drink less now but when I do actually drink it's a lot and to the point where I get sick. Finding that balance is tricky.

 

[Master_Yoda77]

Found out that a friend is mine killed himself. I wasn't a good friend with him, but he was someone that I always enjoyed hanging out with. He was kind enough to house me and Zephyrus at his apartment in Minneapolis when we were there.

Feeling kinda low today. This is hitting the heart strings today.

 

[The Butt]

Sorry to hear man. That is rough.

 

[CiG]

It's such a shock, when you find out someone you know commits suicide, I've gone through it myself and you never quite fully recover from the experience.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[The Ozzman]

I had two friends in college who killed themselves within maybe a year of each other. One shot himself and the other downed a bunch of antifreeze. You must be in a lot of pain to want to do that to yourself. I'm not going to judge at all but there are better options out there. I know talking to a therapist helped me through some shit. Sometimes having an unbiased third party around to bounce ideas off of is the best medicine.

 

[Addo_Of_Nex]

Found out that a friend is mine killed himself.

I didn't see him very often, but I would consider him a good friend. I woke up a couple of hours ago to Facebook message from his best friend who insisted I know that he "admired and loved" me about four times. He was a great person. Probably the only person I've never gotten mildly irritated at for trying to wax philosophical with me while I'm trying to practice playing pool, because he was a genuinely inquisitive person that wanted to hear what you had to say.

I was going to get drunk today anyway, but I'll kill some brain cells for him tonight.

 

[Master_Yoda77]

Watching him stumble around Parishes trying to talk to your about philosophy was hilarious. Just like watching him trying to sing karaoke songs while super trashed.

Fucking good times.