April is National Stress Awareness Month, and for over-the-road truck drivers, it is a timely reminder of the unique stresses they face while navigating long hours, tight deadlines, and isolated environments. Trucking is essential to keeping the economy moving, but it also places a considerable mental and physical burden on those behind the wheel. During this month, it’s important to raise awareness about the causes of stress and explore practical solutions to help OTR drivers stay healthy and safe behind the wheel.
While stress feels inevitable, it carries a wide set of very real health risks that take a toll over time. We generally all can imagine a stressful situation, but what happens when we start to feel run down, excessively tired, distracted, irritable or anxious, and notice an assortment of physical ailments such as headaches, sore muscles, and upset stomach – are we likely to connect this with the stress we are experiencing? For many, the answer is no, and yet, these symptoms (and more) can be stress related.
As we experience short-term stress, our body releases a number of hormones to prepare our body to react to environmental stressors. We may even notice some short-term benefits such as better memory and concentration. With time, however, those benefits quickly fade and we’re left with inflammation in the body. While healthy habits like adequate sleep, healthy food choices, and exercise can help, it may not be enough to cancel out the effects of high levels of stress. With inflammation comes a lengthy list of increased health risks ranging from allergies and autoimmune disorders to heart attack and stroke. The good news is that there are ways to reduce these risks – and it starts with reducing your stress.
The Mayo Clinic encourages a stress management technique known as The Four A’s: avoid, alter, accept, and adapt. We start with the stressors we can avoid entirely, then find ways to alter the impact of the stress from what is left. This could be some small adjustments such as scheduling a curbside pick-up for groceries to save time and be prepared for heading back out on the road. From there, we work on acceptance through building a positive mindset. Finally, we adapt our expectations, which can often be achieved through one simple, but powerful, question “will this matter a year from now?”. You can read more about The Four A’s on our website. (https://truckersfund.org/the-four-as-of-stress-relief/)
While this approach is a great start, we still have some work to do. Even with the best efforts, stress may still be part of our day-to-day lives. It is important to build in self-care activities that help to reduce the impact of stress further. While self-care looks different for each individual, this could include calling a friend, journaling, utilizing a tactile tool such as a stress ball, exercising, and investing time in hobbies such as playing an instrument or drawing.
Lindsey Bryan, Health & Wellness Manager for the St. Christopher Fund knows the importance of stress management as she works with OTR drivers daily. That’s why it makes the list for topics included in Healthy Habits, a 12-week virtual program that focuses on preventing and managing chronic conditions. “The day-to-day stress of the job adds up, but then we layer on other factors like the isolation out on the road, tough deadlines, unexpected traffic – it adds up quickly and can affect a driver’s health long-term” says Bryan.
National Stress Awareness Month serves as a reminder for everyone, especially over-the-road truck drivers, to be mindful of the physical and mental impact of the profession and the importance of being intentional in reducing and managing stress. By recognizing stressors and taking proactive steps to prioritize mental and physical well-being, truck drivers can minimize the impact of stress while on the road. Here’s to healthier, happier journeys ahead!
To learn more about the Healthy Habits program or any of the St. Christopher Fund Driven to be Healthy programs, please visit our website at https://truckersfund.org/healthwellness/ or you can reach Lindsey Bryan at [email protected].