well let me try to keep this short so you guys dont get lazy eyed lol. Anyway, I was diagnosed with ADD about 3 yrs ago(im 23 btw) and started taking adderall to "help" or to give me an edge in school(also thank you mom for pushing me into taking them***sarcasm). Now my problem has always been school and reading and staying focused on reading and learning from a book and all that ****(but keep in mind, if a book is WORTH reading AND FUN FOR ME then i have no problem reading it closely).

To be honest, i hate school.

Now im a "laidback" type person. By laid back I dont mean lazy or whatever but just calm and easy going and when I have to do something or say something...ill say it, period.

Now this is a fact, when under stress and pressure...Im at my best. By that I mean that whatever happens, I go into a mental state of cool calmness and everything slows down for me. I can think and react quickly to whatever situation i have to attend to while phasing out any outside factors. The thing is...i truly believe after all these yrs that i was misdiagnosed. I mean when I was taking the pills I felt very strange. Like, I felt nervous all the time and paranoid and fidgety(sp?).Now ever since i stopped taking the pills(because i choose to) i dont feel different......maybe im just not into school..(yeah given im in college almost done with my degree lmao)

I dont know but someone told me that people diagnosed with ADD cant join the army. I took that hard..very hard. I have always wanted to be part of such a great branch.


Can anyone tell me if my dream is dead?

or is there hope?

Sorry, with ADD you can't join the Army.

__________________
"Leave the Artillerymen alone, they are an obstinate lot. . ."
Napoleon Bonaparte

huh? I thought you had a yr to be off meds then join.

The thing about ADD is that there are many different variables when it comes to whether you can join the Armed Forces or not. It's not just about the medication. They will look at your history and inquire into your medical records. It's not enough just to have you decide to stop taking meds and then join in a year. Every person handles their limitations differently. You may think you cope well but have you truly been tested in a similiar environment to basic training?

Regardless of what we all think here on this forum, you need to go speak to a recruiter to see what your chances are. Good luck.

__________________
Armygirl4ever,
Proud Army Veteran 1993-2004
Now Proudly Serving in the Silent (okay, maybe not always so silent) Ranks

I was involved in sports my whole life with nasty coaches and was in boyscout when i was a kid....lol j/k.


but seriously i have been involved in environment where screaming is religion.

It's not just about screaming and it's not just about basic training. Your schooling is only a short aspect about military life. There are other pressures.

But like I said, visit your recruiter and start the process.

__________________
Armygirl4ever,
Proud Army Veteran 1993-2004
Now Proudly Serving in the Silent (okay, maybe not always so silent) Ranks

the problem with ADD is even if you can handle it in a normal life situation there's really no way to know for sure you can handle it in a combat situation until your there, even basic training may not show that because you still know its training, and to find out that you cant handle it there ,its already too late your then risking your life and the life of your fellow soldiers, there may be exceptions but for the most part the armed services arent willing to take that risk, or willing to put others lifes at risk based on the assumption you'll be able to handle it.

i'm 23 with A.D.D, i've been off my meds since i was 14. I just didn't want to be one of those ppl taking meds their whole life. so i just try harder to accomplish my goals.

i talked to my recruiter about my condition, and he said there was no problem we just need something from my doctor stating that i'm fine and how long i've been off meds. then he said it wouldn't be any problem to get a waiver. get in touch with a good recruiter that'll help you anyway they can and not one of these BS recruiters. and you shouldn't have any problems.

In short, find a recruiter that will overlook the fact you have a medical condition that can endanger the lives of others.
You haven't had stress like the kind you get when some MFer is shooting at you. Where I just came from and will be going back to, we had daily mortar attacks. granted they never hit anything, but one of these days they're going to get lucky.
You got dealt a a crap hand. Man up and play it, quit playing poor, poor pitiful me.

__________________
"Leave the Artillerymen alone, they are an obstinate lot. . ."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Great news thank you

I know i can concetrate. I believe my situation has alot to do with discipline...I belive the armed forces is where i belong.