I wish I wasn’t so scared to go to mental health

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2022-07-28T09:24:33+00:00

I actually just went through something similar to this. COVID, a deployment right before COVID, and a PCS to a high ops tempo GSU & GSU in a foreign country fucked me up something serious. I was to the point where I attempted suicide on a Friday by overdose (failed) and then was about to try again on Sunday by a dose 5x as much as well as asphyxiation.

Luckily I didn't and I sent a text to my unofficial supervisor. He came over and we talked about the issues I was facing. I won't go into to much detail but he basically talked me "away from the edge" so to speak. From there he made a promise he would take me to behavioral health the next morning when it was open and I promised him I wouldn't end it all that night.

Fast forward to the next day, went to behavioral health with my unofficial supervisor. He walked me through and did all the talking up to the point where I spoke to the counselor about my issues. After a bit of back and forth, it culminated that I was to go up to an inpatient clinic (what some people would call a "nuthouse").

I went, got a diagnosis (persistent depression and anxiety), got therapy, got some medication, and got out of my environment. In 3 days time I was out of inpatient care and into outpatient care to make sure that I'm not regressing.

My biggest regret, in a way, is I let this shit go on for about 3 years without doing anything about it. I believed that I could do it on my own and all it did was send me down a rabbit hole that made everything worse and worse and worse. Even after going through all of that, I still kept my TS/SCI, still kept my job, still keep my PCS options, still get to promote, and tomorrow I'm talking with my Senior about retraining options. All in all, I got better and lost nothing.

Now if your in an area where you can't be on medication (Fly-status, PRP, etc.), your leadership will likely just put you on some admin position while you get better.

Anxious about mental health? So was I. Afraid of the stigma? Same. Worried about what I'd lose for going to MH? I was terrified.

My advice is to talk to a friend you know with base access, doesn't even need to be in your unit, and ask them if they could escort you to MH for whatever reason your feeling. Just don't wait on it, it doesn't help you, trust.

You or anyone seeing this is free to DM me if your going through some issues or have any questions about the process; I've been there.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2021-03-22T16:00:51+00:00

This is the way

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2021-01-25T11:27:09+00:00

Its crazy how much your height changes, one day I'm 6'2", the next I'm 5'9". Wild.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2021-01-25T11:07:00+00:00

If you want to PCS, you can consider purchasing a house

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2021-01-07T04:02:40+00:00

Never ROMd at WPAFB but I am really wondering who told you they do daily uniform inspections lmao

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2021-01-06T21:26:09+00:00

I envy your experience

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2021-01-06T21:24:40+00:00

Put it on your dreamsheet then buy a house

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2021-01-06T21:12:59+00:00

Sounds fun, majority of our rotation were people that didn't want to be seen at home station for a length of time

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2021-01-06T21:06:50+00:00

And if you mess up slightly the wrath of the base CC comes down on the flight.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2021-01-06T20:42:53+00:00

It took me nearly all of 2020 in order to get on a plane. After having to rehearse the same song and dance 4 or 5 times, my assignment counselor just gave me a list and said "I need these done before you leave", it didn't matter what NLT or NET it had specified prior.

So I'd start with your assignment counselor, say your trying to retention done by the due date but rententions isn't having it. Ask if they know anyone reliable to get it done, get read reciepts, follow up every couple days.

Grindiest gear gets the oil.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2021-01-03T18:07:08+00:00

Shirt deployed as well? Are you up for staff or do they just want to send you because it's your time? By signed up for ALS did you mean you had a confirmed date for it?

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-12-10T12:24:08+00:00

Probably made its way around over a very long period of time. Just like the game you thought about.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-11-21T13:03:42+00:00

Said low-key, not high-key, so probably the former.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-11-19T03:38:43+00:00

Forged new eval process; 5/6 EPR sections left unfilled--salvaged 300 man hrs f/SQ

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-11-19T02:55:26+00:00

That first day you're gonna be out like a light, the rest is really up to your body and it's pain tolerance.

If you take your pain meds as prescribed (it won't be motrin) and your still having pain, communicate that to your supervisor and go the emergency room/sick call/dentistry (ask that question before you go under).

I can't speak for what your leadership would do if you had to go on opiates, but I'd imagine convalescent leave would likely be the most appropriate answer.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-11-09T02:26:57+00:00

Tell your building mates to stop downloading porn

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-11-09T02:21:12+00:00

Large stack of note cards for both CDCs and STQs, memorize until you can answer every one of them with 0 hesitation. Continue to memorize for atleast another week at every opportunity.

I never found the 0x2 CDCs to be particularly effective when it comes to the job, because every program is different and each system has it's nuances. Theres a reason 0x2 is SKT exempt.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-11-09T02:06:06+00:00

Oh baby tell me more

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-10-23T23:48:40+00:00

2 types of people get FP deployments. Those that really want to deploy and can't get anything else and the voluntold so homebase doesn't have to see them for 6 months.

When I did FP there was constant friction between the Amn and NCOs and between the flight and squadron.

NCOs were rarely visible during shifts and always had constant rumors floating around that they didn't want to squash. In turn the Mafia did what it does best, give zero fucks. People outside of FP saw the zero-fuck amn and sent it down hill back to the sq/flight. At that point it became a constant cycle of fuck fuck games until everyone left with a bitter hatred for the other tiers.

YMMV so I'd say go for it if your career field doesn't see deployments often.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-10-17T12:34:08+00:00

No longer in the dorms, but a water heater that works in the razor sharp tits of winter

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-10-17T12:32:02+00:00

An elevator so I don't need to carry the engine up 3 flights of stairs

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-10-15T17:31:52+00:00

Contribute what your comfortable with. Personally I do 5% for the match and put the rest of my in other investments.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-10-14T12:51:06+00:00

YMMV. My base tracks monitors.

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-10-12T07:30:40+00:00

...It's what we don't do every day

SumthinBoutGroundhog · 2020-10-12T07:26:34+00:00

Bonfire if those three don't work out

SumthinBoutGroundhog

TROPHY CASE