Alcohol Abuse Advice

Question by Joe: How may this affect my National Guard or other professional career?
I was wondering how any of this would affect my National Guard career or even get me kicked out. Back in the past when I was little I was prone to suffer from Panic Attacks whenever a situation got extremely unbearable (including hyperventilation). The panic attacks would also trigger my asthma. I didn’t mention it when I signed because….you know recruiters…they love to say what we should or not mention and well….I followed his “don’t say a word” advice.

Of course, my panic attacks happened when I was a little kid. Now I am 20 years old and thought I had both my asthma and my panic attacks episodes under control.

Unfortunately, a few situations have happened at my home since I signed and my panic attacks have returned, they actually happen once per week…or even twice.

The situation is that, my father, who happens to be an alcoholic for 20 years got in a very heated conversation with my mother, my brother and myself. He even threatened to kill us three because he called us “ungrateful bastards”. Not the first time though, but this time it got really bad and I even had to restrain him because he attacked me and my brother. He is going through a psychiatric evaluation now. The situation somehow shackled me and allowed my panic attacks to return. Bear in mind that I THOUGHT my asthma was fully controlled since I’ve not had an asthma attack for years (my asthma is more linked to my panic attacks or smoke). From that on I’ve been having these following symptoms:

-Chest Pain between above the heart, sometimes the left shoulder or closely below the heart. I am not saying it could be the heart, but maybe the stabbing pain comes from elsewhere…thing is they disappear and reappear without warning. They aren’t that bad but are quite uncomfortable…
-Panic Attacks which include hyperventilation which is not good for someone with asthma
-Headaches (stab like pain)
-Tiredness
-Dizziness
-Lack of Appetite
-Extended sleep (like awakening at 1:00 pm even though I go to bed early)
-Sometimes shortness of breath
-Nausea…sometimes
-Coughing
-Depression (due to not being able to control the other symptoms)

I am really worried, because I got a bonus, plus the MOS I like and my shipment is scheduled for next year (Summer 2011). My first drill will be on October 1st 2010.

Now, I am not sure if I am pushing health too much by pursuing something I might not be able to complete. I want this but I am concerned if I have a panic attack during training, or at Basic Training, or during any other situation.

I am also afraid of telling my recruiter because he will give me the same speech of “it’s all in your head” and “you’ve got to control it” and I know all he cares is the nice bonus he’ll get after I finish Basic…

So do I simply pretend and hide everything and pray I don’t get an asthma/panic attack and any complications during my first drill?

or

Do I go to my drill and tell the commanding officer there about my situation?
I also am having trouble sleeping…
Again, I am afraid that they might notice, kick me out and get me a discharge and ruin my professional life…
Also, the stabbing pain happens sometimes between my neck and my left shoulder. Emotional distress also triggers this pain as well as my panic attacks…

Why does this happens to me now when I thought I had all my life set?

Best answer:

Answer by X Sd
Well technically you lied. So if you want out of the army and you admit this, you may get an unfavorable discharge. What I recommend, is if you really want to be in the army- deal with your attacks best you can. Once you complete basic and ait- you can go to sick call and tell the medics it’s the first time you’re having these conditions. Or you can simply write a letter to the commander of your recruiting office and ask to be separated from the delayed entry program.

If you decide to stay in and you have apparent medical issues deemed to make you unfit for duty, you’d get a medical discharge- just make sure you don’t let them find out you’ve been having these issues. Stick to one story.

And FYI, recruiters don’t get paid bonuses per enlisted recruit. They simply get paid on the same pay scale any nco does vs. Years in service plus speciality pay etc etc. Although, the more they recruit, the chances of being promoted is higher. But most recruiters don’t choose to be recruiters, you can volunteer but most nco’s are randomly selected – so they’re not in it for the money.

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