Dr. Kristine Norris was a prior Air Force Psychiatrist who helped military members with postpartum depression. After she had her first child, she began to notice she was not immune to the symptoms of PPD. As the days went by she began to identify signs that she was suffering PPD as well. Listen in to hear her story as well as how military medical practitioners care for women experiencing PPD to ensure their military career stays intact.
Full Episode Notes are located at: www.themilitaryworkingmom.com/episode040
Whenever you get prescribed medication from mental health there may be a fleeting thought in your mind on how it will not only affect you be also your career. As of 2019, any anti-depressant medication had a 90 day stability requirement. This means you may be DQ'd, grounded, etc for 90 days while your PCM analyzes the effects the new medication has on your body. Once they find the right medication and dose for you, you return back to duty unless other underlying conditions are assessed. Dr. Norris mentioned that most depression helps the member and they return to work; however there are two, bi-polar and schizophrenia, that are automatically submitted on behalf of the member for a medical-board review.
What does this mean? This means the medication prescribed will most likely not affect your career in the military long term. If you hear of members being separated or retrained because of seeking help for depression, it is normally a combination of the doctor and Commander's thoughts on the matter for how the member can continue to conduct their job.
Dr. Norris, briefly mentions that if you want to seek help, off base providers are an option. But the underlying message is to seek help!