How to deal with depression?

I sleep great Thanks to MyPillow.

 

I suffered from bouts of depression while OTR. Find a hobby for right before you pass out. Needed something to not get stuck in my head.

 

Things you can do..

1. Talk to someone. Family, friends, wife, priest, whoever. Socialize the best you can. Being cooped up in a metal box can hamper that. Unless your a non-social person, but then you'd probably not be depressed.

2. Find something to take your mind off it. Audio book, music, podcast, etc.
3. In your downtime get out of the truck. Take in a movie. Grab a bite to eat. Maybe do so with other drivers.
4. Start a hobby. Something you can do on the road. It'll help keep your mind off the fact your alone while gone weeks at a time.
5. Find a game, an play it while on the road. Phone, Xbox/ps4/laptop, etc. Again goal here is to socialize and keep your mind from focusing on the negative.
6. Exercise. Get out there an get the blood pumping.
7. Take a walk. Ride a bike. This ties into 3. Get out of the truck.


Here's some info on depression an lack of sleep being tied together.
Sleep and Depression

Sure there are other places for further info.

Depression sucks an is something a lot of people suffer from but either refuse to admit or aren't aware they have it. Not all depression is the same either. Not everyone who is depressed is suicidal for example.

The things I listed may seem silly but they come from my own experience or others I know who've had similar issues. So perhaps they will work for you, an if they don't an you find something that does...please share. There is also a lot of information out there on it, an way to combat it. It's not just a trucker related thing that's for sure.

Best of luck to ya. Having had family an friends battle all kinds of depression from mild to severe I truly wish you the best.

Sirscrapntruckalot - I found that with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you're not alone. - Dwayne"The Rock" Johnson

 

sex

 

In the dark of night, when you can't sleep...know somewhere right now, there is a cat race that has failed. I blame Iluvcats.


Sirscrapntruckalot - I can haz cheezburger? - That cat, from that cat meme

 

If he's doing team, or training his partner or trainer may not like that option very much...

Tried to add this to last post but wouldn't let me insert a quote, so apologies for the mutli-posts.

Sirscrapntruckalot - Purrrrriibbbit. - A cat/frog designer pet.

 

Lack of sleep can really screw with you, in many ways. Sleep should be your first priority when the truck is parked. Yes, eat, bio, shower, laundry, etc need to be done too, but if you skip a shower, fail to brush your teeth, miss a meal, or wear a dirty shirt an extra day, it won't kill you.

If you fail to get proper rest, it's only a matter of time before something bad happens.

 

Figure out what frees your mind each night. I watch YouTube videos on my tablet of people playing Call of Duty zombies. The tablet is Velcro’d To the sleeper area wall. This puts me to sleep in about 10 mins.