Mental Health Matters: Managing Stress and Loneliness on the Road
What does it mean to be a successful truck driver? The quick answer is likely something along the lines of “delivering loads on time and in full.” A perfectly good job description, sure, but it says nothing about the driver. Here’s a better definition, provided by Smart-Trucking.com: “Successful drivers are those who consistently deliver their loads safely, in a timely fashion, while maintaining a decent standard of living.”
True success isn’t just about doing the job, but balancing those responsibilities with your own personal well-being. Sometimes that means pushing yourself to take care of the job, and sometimes that means adjusting the job (or how you approach it) to take care of yourself. Truckers are accustomed to the former – putting in long hours and significant time away from family to meet their deadlines – but too often are unfamiliar with the latter, instead ignoring their own health for the sake of the job. The truth of it is, truckers deserve a good quality of life as much as any other worker or employee.
Talking about quality of life and mental health is especially necessary when you take into account how hard life can be for drivers. It’s a tough job! Difficult traffic conditions, tight deadlines, time away from family, lack of social contact/support, loneliness, low wages, frustrating regulations – not to mention the recent uncertainty surrounding self-driving tech and drone delivery – all take a toll.
On its own, loneliness affects the emotional stateof 33% of truckers, a number that would surely be even higher if people were more willing to discuss mental issues. And considering there are over 4,000 deaths and over 80,000 injuries that occur in large-truck crashes every year, it should be no surprise that many drivers also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a severe anxiety felt by those who see or experience horrific events.
So what can truckers do to take care of their mental wellbeing, given all the challenges of the job? While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, there are a few key ways that can help drivers maintain and improve their mental health while on the road.
1. Forget the Stigma
For whatever reason, people don’t like to talk about mental health despite it being a totally normal part of life. In fact, 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental health issue in a given year, and over half of all Americans will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives.
Your brain is the most complex organ in your body, so it makes perfect sense that it needs occasional check-ups and treatment just as much as any other body part.
Our tip: Ignore the stigma, honestly evaluate your mental well-being and take the steps you need to stay healthy and happy.
2. Stay Connected
Positive relationships are one of the biggest predictors of life-satisfaction and happiness, as well as physical health and total life expectancy, so staying connected to friends and family is one of the most important things you can do.
Keeping in touch with your friends and loved ones is easy, whether it’s making phone calls, using social media, or sending postcards and letters.
3. Bring a Buddy
You don’t always have to sit alone in the cab. Some people choose to drive as a team, including married couples, parents and children, siblings, and friends.
Or, if you can’t convince a human friend to join you, consider man’s best friend. Taking your dog on the road can provide companionship, stress relief, and opportunities to exercise and meet new people.
4. Take Care of Your Body
The mind and body are inextricably linked, each affecting the other. Lower stress improves things like blood pressure and digestion, and a healthy body contributes to a clearer mind.
The keys to physical health are eating right and getting exercise, both of which can be difficult on the road. But making the effort – preparing healthy food, investing in a good pair of walking shoes, and staying showered and well-groomed – can make a world of difference in giving you energy and helping you feel good about yourself.
5. Get Some Sleep
For peak brain and body functioning, medical experts recommend that adults get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. To get the best sleep, avoid stimulants too close to bedtime, do some light exercise during the day, have a pre-sleep routine, and find your ideal levels of temperature and light. From time-to-time, you can also consider getting a hotel room to really relax outside of the cab. We’ve previously written about sufficient sleep for truckers here.
6. Keep Your Mind Active
It’s easy to go into autopilot or get stuck in your head on the highway – keep your mind alert and active by rolling down a window, singing along to your favorite song, engaging in some CB chatter, and/or planning out quality breaks. Want more ideas? We’ve put together a list of our top tips for staying bright-eyed behind the wheel.
7. Don’t Self-Medicate
Beyond the dangers of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they’re just not good for you, period. Some may abide by overindulging in alcohol or drugs for momentary relief from stress or another mental ailment, but substance abuse actually makes mental health issues worse over the long term and can additionally lead to crippling dependency and addiction.
Self-medicating is poor medicine and is something that truckers should avoid at all costs. If you have a problem with substance abuse, please seek out more information and treatment.
8. Talk to a Pro
Mental health check-ups and treatment are just as normal as going to the dentist or the doctor. If a mental health issue is interfering with your ability to live a quality life, it’s a good idea to talk to a professional. As with a Check Engine light, the cause of any particular issue may be a mystery and will require some troubleshooting, but the whole process begins with a conversation with a trusted professional.
Counseling, therapy, and regulated prescriptions are all possible treatments for mental illness. It can be hard to know where to begin, so start by talking with your usual primary care doctor. They will be able to assess any physical issues and help you decide what type of mental health professional you should visit.
Our last note is not only about you, but also about your family members, friends, coworkers, and employees: remember that mental illness can affect anyone. When speaking with others, including fellow drivers, do your part to help destigmatize mental health and treatment. It’s a normal part of life, and if we talk about it that way, people will be more willing to get the treatment they need. When you’re open and willing to encourage people to take care of themselves, you contribute to building a better industry and a healthier world.
michaelb
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