Yeah. Magic works too.

Knowing what the military is about before you enlist is also fundamental.

There were a lot of cooks and file clerks in the Arden Forest who got handed a Garand, a bandolier of M2 ball,  and an entrenching tool, and told, "The Germans will be here in 6 hours - go did yourself a fox hole in that frozen ground and hold them off - or slow them down."  If you are military, you are expected to at least defend yourself.  There is also a non-zero chance that the leadership will decide that they need line riflemen more than they need machanics, (or whatever you end up).  Besides, there's no "kinder, gentler" basic training for mechanics...

Hmmm, different take here.  Had my first anxiety attack 5 years ago. Thought it was a heart attack at the tender age of 27. Lotta guys wouldn't cop to this, but I do happily.

See, a panic attack isn't the same feeling as being shot at. I've been shot at. It is about 10 times the adrenaline release. Like someone stepping on your pituitary, and squeezing every last little bit out. But you learn, after 2 or 3, how to face fear and adrenaline the likes of which you have never felt. If you can remain calm and collected while your BP is pushing 220/174 (true story), your EXACTLY the MF'r I want sitting next to me.

After experiencing all the fear response your body can give, the rest of the time you are a pretty frosty dude.

I know a few guys, like me, that were sought out for our long experience in desert environments, and worked overseas some years back.  I was always very honest about my issues to them, and reluctantly some time later, almost HALF of the guys said they had experienced at least one.

Fortunately panic attacks and acute anxiety manifest themselves AFTER the stressor event(s), so when you hit your rack, or even days later, or weeks really, you get popped. But you learn to feel them coming on, and out comes the Clonopin. (They say they are addictive, but not for me)
Then, after 20 minuites, GTG. Actually, that shit is so good, stuff could blow up next to you and you could care less. And at least for me, no druggy feeling or reflex deficiencies.

I look at my anxiety issues as a HUGE plus, and frankly a unique opportunity, like learning to fly.

YMMV.

By the way, after about 40, most people tend to grow out of them. Weird.  I haven't had one in 2 years.

I just wrote a huge answer but changed my post. I'll bet most of the responders have never had an anxiety disorder or served in the military. If you haven't done both at the same time, STFU. You don't understand. To the OP, depending on what triggers your anxiety, you may have no problem at all. I didn't and I did 20+ years with no problem doing anything I needed to do.  Only you know what you can do or what you can't. You'd be surprised at how many fellow soldiers share this with you.

If you can't take some ribbing on the internet without getting your panties in a bunch, you'll never make it through an enlistment.

As for something non-combat?  I saw somebody mentioned being an electrician in the AF.  I was in a communications unit in the AF.  We sent some people to Iraq, and CENTCOM promptly closed their base.  Because they were attached to CENTCOM and the powers that be didn't want to give up people, USAF comm weenies got to perform convoy duty with the USAF SPs.  MSGT Steven Auckman, a man I greatly respect, was in my AFSC (that's an AF MOS).  You can read his bio here: http://1stmob.com/a14.htm http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/seauchman.htm

There are no "safe" jobs in the military.

Reading this OPs posts had giving me high anxiety. I want to go do a line of coke or meth now and I have never touched that stuff in my life.

I cant tell if you were telling me to STFU or not. You were vague.  Am I "most responders"???

According to Regs, you cannot be on ANY meds at the time of enlistment. Many medications, especially those dealing with any kind of mental health issue, will also have a minimum waiting period befor you can enlist. Meaning, you have to be off of it for two years, and cleared by your doctor, befor you can enlist. Even then you will probably require a waiver.

Once you are in, if the condition comes back, they will put you back on meds. If it's serious enough to make you a liability in combat, they will discharge you.


So the answer is yes, you can enlist as long as you are not on the meds and you wait the minimum time, if applicable.

And as far as "non-combat" jobs goes, we had mechanics, cooks, personel clerks, and petroleum specialists on our convoys downrange. There is no such thing as a non combat job anymore, ANYBODY can end up manning a .50 in the turret of an MRAP, even females.

The military isn't "just a job".  I think this is the part you are not understanding.  It isn't civilian life with uniforms and cool rifles.  Its nothing like civilian life at all.  You cannot seek and find a sheltered corner in the military - hoping not to stress yourself.  You first need to get through training - which is more stresful than you probably imagine.  A lot of stress (intentional to rid you of your civilian reasoning and expectations), lack of sleep, change of diet, inspections, huge physical and psychological stress.  Work in real units is also fairly stressful - lack of time to get things done, people shortages, a lot of problems you haven't encountered before.  Hoping to do "vehicle maintenance" also means that you have to be able to get your head around picking up your rifle - if needed and getting it done.  It means serving when and where you are needed.



I won't say the military is beyond your grasp - but don't imagine that you are going to find a quiet corner of the Army that isn't going to stress you out.  If you are still in high school - believe me when I tell you that you have NO IDEA what stressed out is like.



 

I was in during the 60's and 70's.  Nobody really knew what anxiety was and it surely wasn't diagnosed by many doctors.  I imagine the percentage of folks, both civilian and military, that had todays description of "anxiety" was the same as it is today for the general population.  The only difference now is that we put a label on it and hence are better able to separate the "haves" from the "have nots".  I'm also sure I served with a lot of folks that would meet todays standards for "anxiety" that performed their duties very well.

Meh.......I have anxiety and take meds for it, and I just got back from my second tour of Iraq.......if you can treat it you should be as good as anyone else. Perfectly normal people go ape shit more often than those in treatment.

THIS

No such thing as a non combat job in the .mil.  Doesn't matter what your "job" is, if you're in the .mil then you're in a combat related career.  Of course some MOS/AFSC's have a higher probability of actually seeing combat.

They seriously need to get rid of the term "anxiety".  Having anxiety about a test, or some bills, or being shot at is NOTHING like an anxiety disorder or panic attacks.  Seriously.... those of you who are equating the two need to go do some reading.

As the gentleman stated above, the adrenalin rush from a panic attack is NOTHING like anything you can experience on your own, and what makes it weird, is that there is no stimulus causing it.  I had my first one about 4.5 years ago and trust me, I'm not one to get "anxious" about things.
Panic attack description:
Palms start to get sweaty
tight chest
tunnel vision
the feeling that you need to run, but for no reason (fight or flight)
pounding heart (like... 180+bpm pounding)
EXTREMELY high blood pressure


Now... since I have learned to control mine and almost never get them, and if I feel one coming on I know how to make it go away (that skill took a while) I have realized that they have actually made me mentally stronger.  I don't get super jacked up over things that should make me amped.  I came home one night to an open door in my house, grabbed my pistol and cleared the house.  Apparently my roommate had left the door wide open when he left so nothing was amiss.  But it wasn't until after that I realized that I was completely calm about the whole experience, even afterwards.

Also... anxiety and panic disorders have different triggers for different people.  My trigger was thinking about death as an old man wasting away.  That thought still terrifies me, and therefor I really don't think it would apply to me being in a military situation.

No, not you. I was agreeing with what you said.  Sorry for the misunderstanding.