Here is a list of things that automatically disqualify you from being a pilot if you are diagnosed: depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, diabetes, bpd, PTSD, alcoholism or any other substance abuse disorder. Some understandable, most not so. If you are diagnosed with any of the above the only way to be allowed to fly is to get certified as being completely cured of your condition.
It's difficult for the FAA to prove you have been diagnosed with anything, but easy to prove if you are receiving treatment for anything. So the natural end result is that pilots don't go to the doctor for any of the above.
It's an open secret that the majority of pilots have ADHD and just live with it untreated because of these rules. Aviation feels like a job designed for people with ADHD, it's hilarious. There has been a huge pilot shortage developing these last few decades because as medical practice has improved, pilots get diagnosed before they get their license and realize they are supposed to hide it and suffer in silence if they wanna be a pilot.
Idk where to post this but it's too long for the mega thread so here. Sorry it has nothing to do with communism, as old farts who refuse to get with the times is one of the few big problems we face that isn't unique to capitalism.
Edit: Extra fun thing is I had successfully managed to make myself forget about flying until it came back recently and now it's the only thing I can think about again. When I found out I wasn't allowed to be a pilot I had to force myself to forget, and I guess I forgot why I wasn't supposed to think about planes anymore.
Its just not that easy for me. Also, if in the wild event of a crash, I could potentially go to jail for failure to disclose on my medical. And what if someone was killed? I don't want to live with that.
Maybe it would be a good idea to talk to an aviation lawyer about it all before giving up. This is the first time I've spoken to anyone about it, there isn't a single person out there in my life who knows I've been struggling with this. It's really hard for me to talk about. If I could be cleared on my medical then of course it would be worth it.
all of those risks exist no matter what when you are a pilot. You could go to jail for gross negligence if you screw up bad enough. Has your ADHD ever affected your ability to fly before? I mean yeah obviously discuss it with an expert, but I'm trying to point out that your worries are somewhat irrational(Not saying unimportant, but worth treating as an internal, not external issue). Obviously you could get in trouble but you've already come this far and don't seem to have the problems these rules are designed to keep you out for.
I've for sure made errors before, but it's hard to say if ADHD was the cause of those errors. In the end everyone makes mistakes in their training, and I know lots of people that have fucked up far worse then I ever have.
And I understand it's somewhat irrational. Thank you and everyone who is telling me to keep on, I'll look in to speaking to a lawyer. I need to go through my medical records as well and see if I was ever officially diagnosed. You are all right I shouldn't give up so easily now.