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Old 04-17-2013, 10:34 AM
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Default Anxiety disorder and trucking

Hello everyone. I wasnt sure exactly where to start this thread since I am not exactly a new driver. I have been off of the road for nearly a year due to an anxiety disorder. It started out with having panic attacks in Jan of last year and later developed into chronic anxiety with OCD and panic disorder since my panic attacks were becoming more and more frequent to the point of where I no longer felt safe even driving a car. At first I thought my panic attacks were related to heart or thyroid problems but I went to 4 different specialists,including a cardiologist,and they all gave me a clean bill of health except for a huge spike in blood pressure when I have a panic attack. When I check my BP at home and calm it is still a little high but nothing too alarming.
My DOT physical expires in 4 more months and at the time I renewed it it was a 2-year card.
I have 10 years of driving experience with nearly a million safe miles and a stable record with a clean MVR and a fair Csa score. I really wish I could go back to work but with this disorder even having a normal life at home is difficult. I have never experience a disorder like this at such a severe stage. Since I didnt believe in medications I sought therapy during the year I have been out of work and I did gradually get better until I hit a huge relapse again last month after having another panic attack. Nothing really seems to be helping and at this point unless I try medications,which im afraid and reluctant to do,I dont see any other way of going back to work. I have filed for disability with SSI 3 months ago which is still pending. Have any of you overcome anxiety and/or panic disorder with or without meds and recovered enough to go back to an over-the-road driving job? Do you know which medications are allowed and you can pass a DOT physical with? Before all of this happened I was an independent O/O but I have already lost my equipment and went bankrupt and if I ever recover and become normal again I will have to start again as a company driver.Most companies are telling me that my experience is still very recent and they only ask for 1 year of exp. in the last 3 years or 2-3 years in the last 5. In other words I have one more year to work with to try and recover. I know some antidepressants are allowed but do they really work and help control panic and anxiety? Anyone here with a similar experience? Any help,advice,or personal experience would be appreciated. Sorry for the long diatribe.
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Old 04-18-2013, 10:28 PM
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Old 04-19-2013, 02:57 AM
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I can offer some empathy.
I suffer anxiety attacks and insomnia, and hope the best for you, because I know how difficult and debilitating these symptoms are.

Something is causing this, and you have to find out what, so you can treat or manage the symptoms.
If you aren't able to manage this on your own, you need to see a doctor.
It is treatable, but not an easy problem to solve, so the more you can decipher the cause, the more you can help a doctor treat you.

I have a family member who is able to treat their symptoms with just half a tablet of Wellbutrin daily.
Hopefully you can find relief soon! Best of luck.
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Old 04-19-2013, 07:26 PM
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First, I agree with everything RoadHog said.

Do you know WHAT is causing the anxiety? I know what causes mine.

Yes, the medication DOES usually work. And you should see a doctor and start on SOMETHING! Wellbutrin may work. Paxil is another one that is widely accepted.

As for passing a DOT physical (OR drug test?) ANY drug (except insulin and a few drastic ones like morphine) is acceptable AS LONG as it is prescribed by a doctor who is aware of the duties involved in driving a truck. I have ADD, but don't take Ritalin for reasons quite similar to your concerns. But.... I COULD... and still drive a truck.

I had some real problems with this BEFORE I started trucking, but trucking was part of the solution. I STILL have them at times, but not when I AM trucking.

There ARE some really good "natural" compounds that can help. I will give you a list later. But, IF it takes a pharmaceutical... don't be afraid to take one (or more.)

One suggestion is to go ahead and take that DOT physical NOW.... before it expires. IF you can pass it and get a 2 year card, you have more time to deal with the situation... AND it won't add to your anxiety. That ALSO allows you to honestly respond (on the form) that you are not being "treated" for a mental disorder. [I would NOT admit to a problem or history.]

I think it is good and important that you had specialists give you a clean bill of "physical" health. If it is not a physical ailment, then it is surely something that can easily be treated with either natural or pharmaceutical means.

Did you not find ANY possible reason during your therapy? Therapy alone may not solve the problem, but... it should have helped to identify it.
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Old 04-20-2013, 01:33 AM
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Thanks guys. Golf,after 5 years you still have the same avatar. Glad you are still around. Since no known physical disease is causing it my therapist thinks it is from lots of compounded stress from my last marriage. 4 years ago I did pull a muscle in my back that put me in pain for a couple of days. After the pain subsided I had my first panic attack climbing Sherman Hill in WY. I was able to overcome that one bout and after a few months off I was back at it. 3 years later the attacks started recurring again. My therapist also thinks the main trigger that woke the anxiety was the pulled back muscle I had 4 years ago. The problem is that now it has become automatic and my mind is programmed to panic whether I think about it or not. Psychiatrist gave me a prescription for Xanax but most companies arent allowing any benzos in the truck. Only antidepressants like Paxil,Zoloft,prozac,celexa,or lexapro. Those can take weeks to work IF one of them is the right medication. One doctor suggested starting on a betablocker to help lower my blood pressure and they might stop my attacks altogether. Any of you guys tried any of these meds? The Xanax might help me but the problem is that it can be addictive and a lot of companies dont accept it since it is a tranquilizer even though in light doses all it is supposed to do is to keep you calm. Have you guys ever driven while on these meds? If you dont feel comfortable talking about it in the open you can always tell me in a PM. Golf,I look forward to the natural list.
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Old 04-20-2013, 02:06 AM
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I tried Wellbutrin once and it worked right away. I stopped after a week though, because it made me feel worse, not better.
I've sought to manage this without drugs. I don't even like to drink.

I don't know about any of these drugs taking weeks to have an effect.
I'd be more inclined to cut the doc's dosage in half to start with, because I bet these things take effect right away.

My symptoms lately, are from a serious drug treatment for a terminal illness. Like Hobo, I know the source of my symptoms.
I've had a major anxiety attack 40 years ago that hospitalized me for a week, so I know how serious this can become.
I also know what caused this to begin with. I was mentally and emotionally abused when I was young.
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Old 04-20-2013, 03:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadhog View Post
I tried Wellbutrin once and it worked right away. I stopped after a week though, because it made me feel worse, not better.
I've sought to manage this without drugs. I don't even like to drink.

I don't know about any of these drugs taking weeks to have an effect.
I'd be more inclined to cut the doc's dosage in half to start with, because I bet these things take effect right away.

My symptoms lately, are from a serious drug treatment for a terminal illness. Like Hobo, I know the source of my symptoms.
I've had a major anxiety attack 40 years ago that hospitalized me for a week, so I know how serious this can become.
I also know what caused this to begin with. I was mentally and emotionally abused when I was young.


Praying for your recovery and peace. Sorry to hear about your illness.
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Old 04-20-2013, 03:34 AM
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Thanks! after almost 4 years of battle, I have been successful and am in remission now. Just came off the drug treatment last month.
I'm a real mess though in the aftermath of it all.
The drugs took a serious toll on me, and left me with advanced arthritis and nerve damage, lost most of my teeth and vision, and the anxiety and insomnia has been off the charts.

I've been off the meds now for a month and I think from chemical imbalance, it brought on a huge anxiety attack 2 weeks ago, that brought on heavy duty insomnia for the last 2 weeks.
My insomnia will go for DAYS with no sleep, and talk about rough. I'm in my 3rd day of no sleep right now. Been through this so much it's almost routine.

Thing is as much as I've been through, I can handle the insomnia.
I know I'll get on top of this all soon, as my body and mind begins to recover.

Worst thing for me to endure was the loneliness and depression. I was homebound throughout the last several years, and I live alone, so I'd go weeks without seeing anyone.
But then I'm a driver joking aside that was the hardest part.

I could only walk 20 steps before getting out of breath. I'm now getting outside and forcing myself to get moving again. I walked a half block, and gradually increased the distance.
Today I walk a mile and it felt so good... even the pain after felt good, because I knew that pain was healing.

I feel so lucky to still be alive. I'm going to garden and go fishing until the next shoe drops. I went out fishing several times in the last week. Felt so wonderful
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Old 04-20-2013, 04:24 AM
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Congrats Roaddog! My uncle went thru 2 years of chemo and had a stemcell transplant. He is also in remission and has been for 2 years. You are pretty strong for going thru all of that. Hopefully I will be well enough to hit the road again and we will run into each other one day. I go see my Doc next week to find out what might be the best med to start with. That is if I can muster up the courage to leave the house. Wellbutrin works well for some people. My doc didnt recommend it for me though.
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Old 04-20-2013, 01:10 PM
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I hope you get to the bottom of what is causing this, because knowledge is strength, and with anxiety, you need strength of mind.
It will help you especially during an episode. Part of the problem with anxiety is the panic part. The more you understand, the better you can rationalize your situation, and prevent yourself from panic, at that point you feel you are loosing control. You start to sweat and get shortness of breath, and you know things will get worse from there... but the more you know what is happening, the better you can calm yourself and not sink into panic.

That is what I call managing the problem. For me, I'm not going back to work, so I won't add more drugs, but rather just "manage" things. I also know the harsh drugs I was on brought out all my physical and mental weaknesses. Once those harsh drugs are out of my system, I'm sure things will subside, and I can easily manage from there.

If I could get healthy enough to go back to work, I'd probably seek a drug to stabilize myself. Lots of people have to do that these days, as we all go through so much stress. We live in an insane world like never before and our lives always seem to be on the brink of chaos. I'm not surprised many people are suffering anxiety and depression. I think everyone does, but some of us have a weakness that gives us a fuller dose of hell.
If you can identify what is going on, you can get on top of it. It is treatable, if you want to go back to work, and most people do use some drug to stabilize their "frame of mind" if they feel their symptoms are severe enough.

In the beginning for me, if I started to panic, then the symptoms just escalate. The more you do this, the worse it gets. The brain is the most powerful organ. You can will yourself to death, or even will yourself to health. Panic is the worst thing on the brain, and it will really suffer, if you don't stop this panic crap. The brain loves to be in control of all your functions and sort everything into order. Use your brain to figure this out... trust me, IT WILL. (or at least your brain will confirm you are nuts)

May God bless you with health, and get you back to work. Someone has to pay my social security.
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