AIBU to ask if this would exclude me from the army?

[Rivermonsters]

Hello mumsnet! I’m hoping some people who have served/currently serve can help me out. When I was 13 I suffered from anorexia (never was hospitalised or had a tube shoved down my nose just told to go to CAMHS). Now, I’m fully recovered and working hard to build up bigger muscles. I plan to take a gap year so I can work on fitness etc (17 now looking to apply when im 19). I was wondering if this would affect me joining? I’m a different person now, more confident and have a brilliant mindset. I can get a letter from the GP saying I’m physically fit if that would help my case.

apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/can-i-join/medical

You can still apply to join the army even if your medical history includes one or more of these conditions. Your application will be assessed on its own merits against medical standards for entry.

You will just need to explain to them, OP. They will want to hear how far you've come in your recovery, and how well you're doing. It will not mean you'll be turned away immediately.

DH knows of people in the military with some of the conditions on that list - it did not bar them entry.

Did you receive any treatment, OP?
I'm thinking 50:50 on military but unlikely to be issue for other uniformed services (like police).
Don't rely on reddit, ask actual recruitment people.

Would be definite No for military if you had actually been hospitalised.

[quote Rivermonsters]@Polyethyl would my past be an issue if I wanted to get a SIA license and do private security?[/quote]
I had a Sia badge, was never asked my medical history

@lljkk yes via camhs. Never had no nasogastric tube or hospital treatment. Baso just talking therapy and they weighed me

Eating disorders are on the list of exclusions:
apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/can-i-join/medical#

Re police - my relative is in the police (doing very well in their career) and has a history of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, adhd and something else that I can't remember (not an ED though). Also the history was a lot more recent than yours before the police application.
Actually this type of career has been brilliant for my relative who is a million times stronger and very happy.

It definitely wouldn't stop you joining the prison service, if you fancied that. You need to be over 18, and IMO, better if you are over 21. You could be an OSG, where you had no prisoner contact, to start with.

Huge numbers of prisoners have MH conditions, and it can be very helpful to have staff who understand those conditions intimately.

[quote Rivermonsters]@AwaAnBileYerHeid would it be a problem for the police force? I’m really screwed up if it is cos I don’t wanna go uni [/quote]
I don't think it will be much of a problem, I've known someone join the army with a history of anxiety and someone else join the submarine service with a history of anxiety and depression (caused by childhood neglect(.
The important thing is, this is in the past. You were a child then.
If you are looking at alternatives to uni, there are some amazing apprenticeships around at the moment, have a look at the government's "find an apprenticeship" website.
Good luck.

@RAFHercules thank you! Will check that out

No it will be absolutely fine as long as you are able to demonstrate that this is a pass issue and sufficient time has past for them to conclude that this issue is not current

[quote MaskingForIt]Eating disorders are on the list of exclusions:
apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/can-i-join/medical#[/quote]
That does not mean it stops you from being able to get in though.

Have you asked the GP if they'd do such a letter? It has medicolegal implications and they may not be happy to.

[quote MaskingForIt]Eating disorders are on the list of exclusions:
apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/can-i-join/medical#[/quote]
It says it "might stop or delay you joining" which actually suggests it's a case by case basis.

Thank you all for your lovely comments! you’ve cheered me up MN x

At 17 yo, OP is still what many would call a child.

I have no idea, but I just wanted to say, congratulations for turning things around!

There are LITS of options that aren't Army or Uni.

An apprenticeship for a trade could set you up well, more females doing it now too.

Best wishes.

Even without the anorexia the army would still contact your GP for a full health history though, so there is no advantage to you preempting this. It's not the anorexia in itself that is the problem it's the MH issues associated with it, so not so much you physical recovery but your mental health one. But give it ago you have nothing to lose. It's definitely not just a case of you explaining that it was all in the past though. They will absolutely want medical evidence of this