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Anxiety,OCD,and panic disorder

Discussion in 'Driver Health' started by worrywort, Oct 4, 2012.

  1. Oct 4, 2012 #1
    worrywort

    worrywort Bobtail Member

    3
    0
    Oct 4, 2012
    0
    Hello everyone. My name is Bill. I have been a otr driver for over 10 years and just hit my million mile anniversary without any accidents. In the last 5 months I have been off the road due to severe anxiety,panic attacks,and OCD. I have been in therapy since than to not much avail and am seriously considering medication even though I have always been against them. I have not tried to collect disability yet and still have enough in my savings to last for another 6 months before I go completely broke. I have tried to find light duty work in the meantime until I get my anxiety under control to no avail.Nobody seems to be hiring anywhere. I feel like Im at the end of my rope and have even been having suicidal thoughts. I dont really want to die,I just want to get out of this hellish misery and go back on the road and do the job that I used to love without the anxiety and panic attacks. Living with OCD really feels like hell. Anyway here are my few questions. Has anyone taken any antidepressant and was still able to pass a company physical and get hired by a reputable company? If I file for disability with SSI will a future employer find out about it or do I have to disclose it? If the answer is yes can an employer use that information and decide not to hire me as a driver? Are my days as a driver or owner/operator over for good?:biggrin_2553: My psychiatrist has suggested 10mg of lexapro as a start. Does anyone have any experience taking this anitdepressant? Any info. will be appreciated. I am really at the end of my rope and dont know what to do anymore.
     
    worrywort, Oct 4, 2012
    worrywort, Oct 4, 2012
    #1
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  3. Oct 4, 2012 #2
    IceCreator

    IceCreator Medium Load Member

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    Jul 3, 2012
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    Private message instead
     
    IceCreator, Oct 4, 2012
    IceCreator, Oct 4, 2012
    #2
  4. Oct 4, 2012 #3
    moparcas360

    moparcas360 Bobtail Member

    34
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    Oct 15, 2010
    Fraser,MI
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    yes i take prozac 20 mg and 5 mg of xanax for anxiety and i passed my physical. Start with lexapro and see how it works for you. everyone is different . I started with wellbutrin and that stuff is nasty. I was hired in at a small company, most physical drug test for illegal substances only.
     
    moparcas360, Oct 4, 2012
    moparcas360, Oct 4, 2012
    #3
    worrywort Thanks this.
  5. Oct 4, 2012 #4
    Countyboy

    Countyboy Medium Load Member

    495
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    Nov 10, 2010
    Littleton, NH
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    Used to take meds. Cycle went like this.
    1) I'm fine I hate meds, never gun a do it.
    2) wow life sucks I guess I need to take meds so I'm a failure
    3) meds are working
    At this point life calmed down and I worked through some stuff through therapy 2 times a week. I Had HUgE anxiety to the point any change in schedule would make me sick to the point I would vomit but was doing better with schedule changes, stopped needing to eat the same things for meals (this is still tough for me to not fall back into), and could deal with not doing some OCD habits dealing with dressing, locks, etc. I SLOWLY weened off meds and have been fine ever since. All this took 7-8 ish years.

    hang in there and try your best if you drive again to get a dedicated or regional gig. This is my big comfort on the road which I shouldn't do but no one is perfect. I go to the same 10-15 customers, stop at the same truck stops, park in the same spot, always shower at the same place etc and keep about the same schedule. I know I should break ALL the habits but the schedule is VERY comforting to me. Every now and the. I will break it up (I'm a NE regional driver in TN right now) but it does make me edgy. It's nothing to be ashamed of or stress that much about. Just keep up w/ therapy and find a medium of "normal" and comfort w/ OCD that doesn't negatively affect you.

    Check DOT list of acceptable meds, I had to give up soroquel (not sure on spelling) to keep my license. Be honest with companies you apply to. Some get it and like it. I always show up 17 min early and my habitualnous makes my FM's job easy as I'm very predictable on my runs so you could see why some wont mind.

    Keep your head up and just keep working through it.
     
    Countyboy, Oct 4, 2012
    Countyboy, Oct 4, 2012
    #4
    worrywort Thanks this.
  7. Oct 4, 2012 #5
    worrywort

    worrywort Bobtail Member

    3
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    Oct 4, 2012
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    Thanks for the info all 3 of you. Icecreator,I tried to reply to your PM but it wont let me since I dont have a 7-post count yet. I will see if one of the mods will forward it to you or let me resend it. Is there a link to where I can find a list of approved DOT meds? I know of one lady who tried seroquel(im not sure of the spelling either,lol) and she had horrible side effects from it. I think Lexapro is an acceptable med but I will have to check.
     
    worrywort, Oct 4, 2012
    worrywort, Oct 4, 2012
    #5
  8. Oct 5, 2012 #6
    Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

    4,234
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    Jan 30, 2012
    Charlotte, N.Carolina
    0
    sounds a lot like PTSD. there a lot of veterans driving trucks with very similar problems and we haven't killed anyone yet.lol you should be fine with the proper meds and/or counseling.

    good luck to ya.
     
    Numb, Oct 5, 2012
    Numb, Oct 5, 2012
    #6
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