I'm really going to try my best, and if it doesn't work out, then I'm fine with that!

[Anesthetize]

I’m a 29 year old Canadian man, South Korean by ethnicity and moved here in 1997. At the age of 15, I was diagnosed with OCD. By the age of 18, my OCD was so awful that I attempted suicide over it. Ever since then, my mental health has been mixed, at best. And I have a long history of alcohol and DXM addiction.

Recently, I heard the story of Navy SEAL Adam Brown, who, just like me, was an addict. He ended up sticking a knife into his own neck at one point and had an impressive rap sheet. Still, he recovered, and he became a SEAL.

I’m actually totally open to the possibility that I won’t ever be able to fly at all. I’ve made peace with that a while ago, and I have a bunch of other career interests that I want to pursue! So I guess I’m lucky in that sense. If Transport Canada tells me “no” then I’ll be fine with it. But it’ll be even better if I can make this work. This is my childhood dream!

[FoxFly]

Thank you for sharing your story.
btw, you just done your medical exam and waiting for report ?

[champcamp]

Getting a medical with a history of mental health issues is difficult, but it is not impossible. Transport Canada’s main concern is that you are able to be stable with minimal treatment (i.e. seeing a therapist, perhaps an SSRI prescription). This means that your addiction issues must be in the past. You will probably have to get evaluated by a psychiatrist (not a psychologist). When you first apply for your medical certificate, be open about your past, TC may be able to access any part of your medical history, so you don’t want to get caught omitting something. Do you want to be a professional pilot, or just fly as a hobby? The category 3 and 4 medical certificates are more lenient, so I would do your research as to what kind of flying you want to do. The less restrictive your medical category, the better your chances at getting approved. Do plenty of research before you take the leap. Again, it is difficult, and may take several years, but if your mental health is under control, it is very possible. Good luck buddy!