Originally Posted by
USMCFLYR
I've never gone down that road - so I'm curious if you are correct about just COUNSELING? Certainly if a doctor puts you on DRUGS - that is a HUGE deal.
We are still lucky that the rules don't seem to have changed that much after the JetBlue (over Amarillo wasn't it?) and the GermanWings incidents.
With substances, treatment type doesn’t matter much—it’s the diagnosis that screws you. Avoid being diagnosed, if at all possible.
I would never advocate for someone to hide anything, but after seeing how the FAA handles substance dependency/abuse issues, I would suggest non-clinical treatment first. Self ground, if required. Try AA/NA, etc. The second you get a healthcare professional or substance abuse counselor involved, an official diagnosis WILL follow. And once you have that label slapped on you, it’s all over.
The follow-on therapy/testing/monitoring requirements (after the gymnastics required to obtain the SI in the first place)used to be 2-3 years. Manageable. They very recently upped them to 5-6. If you make the cure worse than the disease, people will try to live with the disease...