Newbie mental health question

[deathbat87]

Hello, I'm new and had a question regarding people's experience with prior mental issues and the police psych exam.

For a little background, I am a US military veteran that received a medical discharge (Honorable) for PTSD and injuries leading to impaired neurological function. I took an interest in law enforcement and last year passed POST Level III and am currently a volunteer deputy with the county sheriff. The 'psych' eval, if you could call it that, for a volunteer is very skimpy and I know nowhere the level of an active duty officer or deputy applicant's psych eval. Mostly it consisted of questions relating to past treatment and my military treatment records. Plus in my county volunteers have not been allowed to carry firearms for some time (although I have passed P.C. 832).

The reason behind my questions is that I still go through my psychiatrist for ongoing treatment, especially when I feel things may be headed south. My psychiatrist is also THE evaluator in my area for prospective police applicants. Well at my last appointment he told me he didn't want to discourage me, but also that he didn't want me to be disappointed because according to him I will never work for any law enforcement agency based on my past mental health issues and neurological impairment. When I went through POST, I indicated all of my past treatment on my application, as well as for my deputy volunteering, and besides the few questions I was asked on the issues I was cleared.

I guess what I mean to ask is if, in anyone's opinion, I should still at least try? One of the things my academy instructors as well as my superiors in the military taught me is that the surest way to get disqualified from something is not to try. I just hope that I didn't waste four years getting my degree because my ultimate goal was to enter either the FBI or Marshals service.

[retdetsgt]

Go ahead and try, but my old agency wouldn't hire you if your symptoms were bad enough to get you a discharge.

That being said, as someone who suffers from PTSD from Vietnam combat and 28 years of police work, I would strongly advise looking into another career. I didn't have any symptoms (that I can recall) until I hit my mid 40's, but by the time I was in my early 50's, I was a dangerous person. I can guarantee you that although it may not immediately, it will exacerbate what you have.

[mcsap]

The shrink did you a great favor by being candid with you. Mental Health issues are DIFFICULT for us to accept.