Mental Health Past. Possible to get medical?

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Morgssoars
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Mental Health Past. Possible to get medical?

Post by Morgssoars »

Hello, I am 25, and I want to be a commercial pilot. I love flying so even if that’s not possible, I still want to fly recreationally. I have started flight training and got the news back my class one medical has been denied. They went on to say the medications coupled with my diagnosis makes me unfit for any area of aviation. So I can’t get any category. However, they did say if the diagnosis (bipolar II) is in question, which it is, I could send in paper work. When I did my medical, I mentioned I would be coming off the medication I was on, which I have.

Bit of context, my home life was complicated growing up, I didn’t know how to properly take care of myself or cope with adversity. From 15-20 I was given a number of different diagnosis from different doctors. I had 2 suicide attempts. They said depression, anxiety, add, and decided on bipolar II in the end. I think this was because at the time I was smoking pot and drinking constantly. After I was finally able to move away from my parents place, I got the help I needed, went to rehab and learned the skills I needed to be an adult. I learned how to eat right, excessive, manage emotions and kept only the positive people in my life. I have been sober, happy, stable and healthy for 5 years now. I have so many personal references for this, but the issue is I haven’t seen any doctors, expect for the one a year ago helping me come off my meds, who agreed my diagnosis might have been because of my circumstances at the time.

So I guess my question is, with all this in my past, if I show them I’m stable with no medication, is it possible I might be able to get a medical, even just a class 3/4? Has anyone else been through something like this? Also, open to the idea that perhaps this just isn’t possible for me.
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hithere
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Re: Mental Health Past. Possible to get medical?

Post by hithere »

If you could get a doctor( and its going to have to be a psychiatrist) to say that you are not symptomatic and not taking any meds and that the Bipolar was probably not an accurate diagnosis you may have a chance. Even if he says it was probably anxiety or depression instead of Bipolar that would help because Transport is ok with a previous anxiety or depression diagnosis as long as it is in full remission. But you are better off talking to an CAME(civil aviation medical examiner) who is experienced in difficult cases. Try Dr. Brendan Adams(he is Calgary but he does telephone consults) at https://www.aviationdoc.com/
or Dr. Trevor Gillmore in Toronto. But I would definitely not spend any more money in flight training until you know what, if any, medical category you can get.
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Castorero
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Re: Mental Health Past. Possible to get medical?

Post by Castorero »

Man, it sucks having had to grow up in a situation like that. Good for you in getting your life back on track and starting to think about the future.
It can only be better for you going forward.

Being a commercial pilot is not all that is cracked up to be, my friend, there is a lot of inherent stress and many anxious moments on a daily basis sometimes. Often enough the only way to mitigate that is by having a drink or two at the end of the day.
Sometimes more than one or two.
The same applies to law enforcement, first responders, and on and on.

Now, I would be thinking of a more stable and less stressful vocation like a down to earth trade where you are home with your family at night, every night and are less likely to be reminded of the early stresses in your life.

I am done with the intense stresses and strains of a life lived at full speed, in the fast lane. Now, I am very stress averse and seek the peace and quiet of an ancient calling tending a flock of sheep...

In the end, you will decide what suits you best, and I wish you a good life.
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AndrewStennisrGUY
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Re: Mental Health Past. Possible to get medical?

Post by AndrewStennisrGUY »

As I understood, you have been stable since you moved off from your parents. It may be that the circumstances in that time affected you and were the cause of your behavior. I had a similar problem: I had a diagnosis - borderline personality disorder (during my teens' age). At that time, I had great problems with my parents, weeds, and bad company. That's why I thought that all these facts affected my mentality. When I grew up, I decided to become a flight attendant, but there was a problem with my therapy and the diagnosis.
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Joe Suarez
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Re: Mental Health Past. Possible to get medical?

Post by Joe Suarez »

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. It's understandable that you would be frustrated and disappointed after putting in effort to pursue your dream of becoming a commercial pilot. However, it's important to remember that the medical requirements for pilots exist to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

Based on the information you've provided, it sounds like you have made significant progress in addressing the issues that led to your diagnosis in the past. It's possible that you could provide medical documentation and references from healthcare providers and others who can speak to your current stability and suitability for flying. However, ultimately it will be up to the relevant aviation authorities to determine whether or not to grant you a medical certificate.

It might be helpful to consult with an aviation medical examiner from https://www.riviamind.com/ or an aviation attorney who can provide guidance on the process and your options. They may also be able to provide insights into whether there are any alternative career paths in aviation that might be accessible to you.
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Last edited by Joe Suarez on Sun Apr 16, 2023 1:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
dialdriver
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Re: Mental Health Past. Possible to get medical?

Post by dialdriver »

Persistence is key to your success. If you are off medication and stable, it might work out.

Seek out supportive medical professionals only. Dr Brendan Adams, for example.
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AtraxLiud
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Re: Mental Health Past. Possible to get medical?

Post by AtraxLiud »

It's understandable that you're concerned about your diagnosis affecting your chances of getting a medical for aviation. While I'm not an expert, it's definitely worth pursuing the option of submitting paperwork to question your diagnosis and provide evidence of your stability without medication. It might also be beneficial to seek out a doctor who specializes in aviation medicine or mental health to provide an assessment and support your case. For this you can try to consult with such specialists https://ibgportland.com/health-insurance/health-coverage-for-oregon-small-business-owners-and-entrepreneurs. They could offer their professional opinion on whether you're fit for flying.
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JohnBaker
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Re: Mental Health Past. Possible to get medical?

Post by JohnBaker »

It might be worth pursuing the avenue of reevaluating your diagnosis and presenting your case to medical professionals who can assess your current mental health and stability.
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LeetPeon
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Re: Mental Health Past. Possible to get medical?

Post by LeetPeon »

Regarding your medical evaluation, it's positive that you've been stable without medication for an extended period, and your commitment to personal development and positive changes speaks volumes.

It's essential to consult with qualified professionals in both aviation and mental health who can guide you through this process. If you ever need additional information or resources related to mental health or addiction recovery, you can visit fherehab.com for more insights and guidance. I hope your journey towards achieving your dream of becoming a pilot progresses positively, and that you find the support and answers you need along the way.
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