Should I be worried about receiving a discharge for Adjustment Disorder if I want to get back into the military?

PFC Hunter Martinez — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:35:28 -0400

I was separated during training in April 2022. To me I thought the reason was because of my suicide attempt or ideation which I expected but how does the military get off on diagnosing someone adjustment disorder which is by the name recent events or situations that cause stressors or make you act how you normally wouldn’t act but the event took place in my childhood and was traumatic and made me crack bad cause no help was offered wouldn’t that more align with PTSD then adjustment disorder or should I even be worried about a miss diagnosis if wanna get back in cause I don’t want that traumatic event to control my future

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Apr 2 at 2024 9:41 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:41:06 -0400

Hi Hunter. What is your specific question? This may help others provide you with some answers.

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Apr 2 at 2024 9:41 AM

CSM Chuck Stafford — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:41:56 -0400

Before trying to get back in, I recommend you seek assistance in dealing with your childhood trauma. Good Luck.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2024 9:46 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:46:42 -0400

To get a full answer, you would need to speak with a Psychiatrist and/or Psychologist. However, looking at the Health.Mil website:

https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Center-of-Excellence/Clinicians-Corner-Blog/Adjustment-Disorder-in-the-Military

If you feel if you were misdiagnosed, you will need to seek an second opinion/diagnosis from civilian mental health providers that may help you with the paperwork.

Adjustment Disorder in the Military

Imagine you just enlisted in the military. You’re young, in peak physical condition, and eager to test your mettle in defense of your country. Your family is cheering you on (though Mom’s a bit weepy), your school buddies just threw you a going away party, and you are exhilarated. Hoorah! And then you’re in boot camp. The physical challenges are fierce and exhilarating, but sometimes you’re not sleeping more than five hours a night, and you’re...

Response by PFC Hunter Martinez made Apr 2 at 2024 10:07 AM

PFC Hunter Martinez — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 10:07:55 -0400

Currently waiting to hear back from my recruiter on my situation hopefully by the end of the week I’ll know more what I have to do

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2024 1:04 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 13:04:12 -0400

PFC Hunter Martinez Hunter, you are young and have your whole life in front of you. You mentioned a suicide attempt. Wanting to join the military is admirable, but your first step is seeking help for the trauma that you suffered. Have you sought help?

https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

Veterans Crisis Line

24/7, confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones. Contact the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online, or text 838255.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2024 2:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 14:16:08 -0400

I had to read that like 3 times - no hate but punctuation is your friend.

You should probalby find a mental health professional who can accurately diagnose you and help you with this. Adjustment disorder is the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorder in active duty service members. "One of the defining features of adjustment disorder is that the symptoms arise in response to an identifiable stressor that occurred sometime within the prior three months.4 The symptoms represent significant emotional distress that is out of proportion to the reaction one would typically expect from a stressor of that severity. This is usually in the form of anxiety and/or depressed mood. However, if the combination of symptoms and disorder features meet the criteria for another disorder, that disorder has to be diagnosed instead of adjustment disorder. Symptoms may also be expressed behaviorally, such as having problems functioning socially or professionally (or in other important areas). Given that the symptoms are in direct response to a specific event, they are expected to go away soon after the stressor or its consequences end, usually fairly quickly and no more than six months later. The stressor can be almost anything if it prompts the above symptoms. It may be a single event, such as being in a fender bender or starting a new job (think of our new military enlistee above). Or it may be chronic, such as mounting financial debt or developing a painful disease. The stressor can also be as severe as that required for a PTSD diagnosis, as long as the other criteria for PTSD are not met.

You may have noticed that there is a lot of flexibility in the criteria for an adjustment disorder diagnosis, both in the symptoms and the stressor. What exactly are the symptom requirements, and are you sure it isn't an anxiety or depressive disorder? Or even a pretty normal response, given the circumstances? How do you know it isn't the first inklings of PTSD, given a stressor of such severity? Researchers and clinicians have noticed this as well, and there has been a big push in the past decade to more precisely characterize the disorder as well as to develop screening and assessment tools. However, there's still a lot we don't know, such as who is most likely to develop adjustment disorder, how severe it will be, and what the disorder's typical course is."

Adjustment disorder is typically diagnosed when symptoms are temporary and resolve within six months, whereas PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms are long-lasting and have a significant impact on an individual's daily life and functioning.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Apr 2 at 2024 4:29 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 16:29:46 -0400

As many have already stated on this post and your first one, We all sincerely hope you have addressed your mental health issues. Before anything else that needs to be addressed and more so it should be official and not something under the table from immediate family members. The Army discharged you publicly and if you are attempting to re-enter service or challenge your original diagnosis you will need documentation to support your assertion that you are well. Even more so if you are trying to challenge the complete diagnosis but I would warn against that as it was previously said that adjustment disorder is a temp diagnosis due to your current situation and PTSD is something that sticks with you much longer. If the need to diagnose you with PTSD due to childhood trauma is needed that is where your medical provider and documentation comes into play.

I wish you luck.

Response by PV2 Richard A Irwin Jr made Apr 4 at 2024 2:45 AM

PV2 Richard A Irwin Jr — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 02:45:28 -0400

As others have said, your mental health should be the priority.

Second to that, it will depend on how you were chaptered/discharged out and if you have a reenlistment code that permits you to reenlist.