BLUF: Command directed BH eval gave diagnosis of Bipolar Type II couple days ago, looking for some assistance on way ahead and what to expect. I have browsed the forums which have helped answer some questions but am anxious about what the future is going to be like.
I had been having a lot of mental health issues since I joined in 2005. For context I am a SSG in the Army, and been both reserve and active duty throughout the last 19 years. I am currently active duty and since roughly the end of 2022, I have been in the lowest of lows I have had in a long time and my behavior when getting pushed over the line has either been acting out violently by trying to break items, or a full breakdown of crying which has happened in front of the Junior enlisted, of course the response was "you can't do that in front of joes" which would make me more upset since I really felt I couldn't control it. I started therapy through an off post referral and after a few sessions and descriptions of past BH issues, she said that she suspected BPII, but knew that a diagnosis could cause issues with the Army. A couple weeks later we attended JRTC, where I had made a comment in frustration caused them to pull me out of the box, and was told to attend a mandated BH appointment. So after a roughly 4 hour session, the doc said he was going to diagnose BPII, and that he would send the information to my commander and I will have my medication intake on the 1st. I skipped a lot of my BH past, but it is something that makes sense however, I had really planned on trying to stay in to pay off more debt and try to go to retirement. Unfortunately my time in the Reserve means I only have roughly 9 years of Federal Active time. Of course my leadership are all like they are wrong you were just having a hard time adjusting, and saying that its not a big deal. With all the research I've done in the past week I have assessed that it is 100% a MED board to be found fit for duty, with the outcome being almost 95% an unfit for duty due to the condition, I say that because I have read about those with 18> 20< years of active service, which I do not fit into. Honestly I'm anxious, and scared. I came back on active to get my finances back in order get promoted finally despite completing SLC 3 years ago, and then either get experience for a good career outside the Army or go to retirement. Feels like that dream is going to get pulled away. I know its something I can't really plan for know but I'm afraid of how much this will impact me financially, and how much it feels like I am letting down my team mates. Asking around with my leadership for what to expect is coming up empty too so any help on planning on what I have to do and what my expected timeline may be would be very helpful. Thank you.
I had been having a lot of mental health issues since I joined in 2005. For context I am a SSG in the Army, and been both reserve and active duty throughout the last 19 years. I am currently active duty and since roughly the end of 2022, I have been in the lowest of lows I have had in a long time and my behavior when getting pushed over the line has either been acting out violently by trying to break items, or a full breakdown of crying which has happened in front of the Junior enlisted, of course the response was "you can't do that in front of joes" which would make me more upset since I really felt I couldn't control it. I started therapy through an off post referral and after a few sessions and descriptions of past BH issues, she said that she suspected BPII, but knew that a diagnosis could cause issues with the Army. A couple weeks later we attended JRTC, where I had made a comment in frustration caused them to pull me out of the box, and was told to attend a mandated BH appointment. So after a roughly 4 hour session, the doc said he was going to diagnose BPII, and that he would send the information to my commander and I will have my medication intake on the 1st. I skipped a lot of my BH past, but it is something that makes sense however, I had really planned on trying to stay in to pay off more debt and try to go to retirement. Unfortunately my time in the Reserve means I only have roughly 9 years of Federal Active time. Of course my leadership are all like they are wrong you were just having a hard time adjusting, and saying that its not a big deal. With all the research I've done in the past week I have assessed that it is 100% a MED board to be found fit for duty, with the outcome being almost 95% an unfit for duty due to the condition, I say that because I have read about those with 18> 20< years of active service, which I do not fit into. Honestly I'm anxious, and scared. I came back on active to get my finances back in order get promoted finally despite completing SLC 3 years ago, and then either get experience for a good career outside the Army or go to retirement. Feels like that dream is going to get pulled away. I know its something I can't really plan for know but I'm afraid of how much this will impact me financially, and how much it feels like I am letting down my team mates. Asking around with my leadership for what to expect is coming up empty too so any help on planning on what I have to do and what my expected timeline may be would be very helpful. Thank you.
