Quick question about me and the military

If i'm already depressed and suicidal, shouldn't being in the army be a plus?

I'm in high school, I'm dead broke, I'm sad all the freaking time, death is welcoming to me. Doesn't the army hope for people like me?
People who don't care about living or dying and who doesn't care about what happens to them? Plus I'll be getting paid for it. And who knows, if all goes well then they'll pay for my college.

Well, I'm hesitant to state my opinion because I don't want to offend you or anything.. But I can try my best explaining my opinion..

Being in the military most *likely* will not help with those things, although I have never been in contact with the military, I believe that the military will be more depressing than anything..

People can see some pretty depressing stuff out in the field.. and with a weapon at hand, I wouldn't trust myself. I really wouldn't. That is how I look at it.

But what it all boils down to is that it is what YOU think is right, and what YOU feel. I don't know your thought process, but if you think it's right and it might help you, then you have that choice to do it.

Hello, DeepThoughts. I think you need to be referred to a psychiatrist for an evaluation and appropriate treatment. Thoughts about the military can radically change when live rounds start coming your way.

Which is not to say joining the army is something you should rule out. Your decision to join, however, should not be based on the thought processes of one who is mentally ill and suicidal.

If you feel that joining the military will help you, there's nothing stopping you from joining. Go for it, if that's what you want. If you are having second thoughts about it, why join? As stated above, it may not help you, and may make your depression worse. An uncle of mine is currently overseas, and when he gets back, my aunt says she has to hide the alcohol, because he gets depressed over the fact that he couldn't save one of his mates (and he always blames himself for it, too).

Hopefully you find what works for you. Personally, since you are already suffering from depression, I would not suggest you join, as you may just get yourself killed. I hope I did not upset you in the least. Best of wishes!

I am a military spouse and I strongly advise against making this decision in your current state of mental health. The military will probably only succeed in making you more depressed if anything. There is nothing wrong with joining but I think you should make the decision when you are in a better frame of mind (no offense meant) to make such a large and life changing decision. The military (especially Basic Training) can be very intense and stressful and I really do not think it will help out your situation. Feel free to PM me though if you want to talk more about it or you have questions about the military and I will be happy to answer them.

I am with TheByz on this...for you to get treatment. Also, there are a lot of tests that can show you are depressed even before you don a uniform. If you are suicidal, they see that you do not care to live and figure why would someone like that care to defend our country? Please get help!

I don't think that would be such a good idea. Plus, I'm not even sure if you'd be allowed in the army with your current mental health issues. My father, who has major depression, was rejected from entering the army due to his mental illness. Please get some help!

I don't believe it is a good idea.What if you get a squad leader ect that singles you out for whatever reason and just makes you feel more depressed and suicidal. Deploy for a year, and in that year your world will become a lot smaller and that squad leader will be a large part of it...You may trust yourself now but in a few years who's to know.
Well that is my story and I'm out now and thankfully without being medically discharged, It just wasn't worth the risk., I had ptsd before I enlisted but didnt know what was wrong with me until after. Just see a therapist,and be honest them and with yourself.

Hi, DeepThoughts,

First of all, I'm sorry you're feeling the way you do. Being as depressed as you are is no easy state of mind to have to live with. I hope you know you're not alone in the way you feel.

I have a friend who is in the military, and from what she has told me, while it's a rewarding experience, it's also a brutal one, physically, mentally and emotionally. If you're already having mental/emotional problems, joining an environment as harsh as military life is probably not going to help. The training that you would have to endure is extremely demanding, and for someone who is depressed, forcing yourself into that kind of training would not only be difficult, it might ultimately become crippling.

I don't believe the military would be the right place for you right now, and you need to examine your reasons for wanting to join up. It seems to me like your depression might be skewing your vision of a few things, and I do hope that you can get help for that. See a doctor and/or mental health professional first. Get well, and then decide what you want to do, when you have a healthier perspective on things.

Others have given you sound advice and I hope you listen to it.

Jmo/Jme,
No the Army does not hope for people like you...all branches of the military hope for people who want to serve their country in peace and in times of war.
Active military service people and Veterans care very much about living and dying. We care about each other, and the freedom and safety of every civilian of our country.

After getting therapy for your mental health issues, if you still want to pursue military service, do so then. Others have used their service as a means to pay for college...but there may also be a high personal price to pay before the tuition is paid.

Catherine
Proud Veteran

My other thought was that, if you are depressed and/or suicidal, you are most likely thinking about death, and being dead. If you are thinking about those things, it just may happen to you, you might get yourself killed because of it; thinking sub-conciously about it. Kinda like when you have a negative thought process ALL the time of the day ahead, well... it will be a negative day, if you think and believe it will happen...

Okay, so here is the scoop from Active Duty Navy and one who suffers from life long major depression...

First, the in-processing at MEPS will most certainly rule you "unqualified". The doctors that are processing you before you ship out for boot camp are looking for ANYTHING to keep you out. It's a screening process.

Next, if you were to get in...only by lying about your condition, boot camp in the Army would literally crush you, mentally!! I know! I have been in for 15 years and it SUCKS!!!!!

Let me assure you of one thing...Military life and depression/mental illness DO NOT go well together!!!!

Trust me!

...and the other side of that is you must be able to on the six/cover the backs of your fellow soldiers. We depend on others to to do this and we do it for them
Being distracted may not only get you killed--but also them.

...that is if you actually made it that far.1flagwriter has pointed out the challenges of joining the military.
It's no picnic for sure.

You could join, graduate from boot camp and military occupation school, go to a combat zone, for just one day, complain about having mental problems and be medically discharged. As long as you don't get an Honorable, Dishonorable or Bad Conduct discharge (in other words a General under Medical conditions) you'll get free medical care and probably at least a partial pension for life. For those who question my service I served 12 years with five Honorable discharges (five years during the Vietnam Era, Grenada and Lebanon).

Just checking in... how are you hanging in there?