Stress/depression from working at night?

Good post, I know what you mean about thinking to much on the negative side. Ive been dealing with it myself for many years. Its easy sometimes when you wake up in the morning to have your thinking default to the negative instead of to the positive. So when this happens I try to remind myself to get back to thinking positive. One thing that helps me is cutting way back on my caffiene intake. When I was juiced up on two coffees, two energy drinks on a daily bases, my mind would race at night like a hampster running around the wheel in a cage.

The one thing I liked about trucking was I would get back on the road from hometime with alot of worries and my mind would start to clear after I would lay down some miles. And for all you drivers who can't wait to retire I would say I did that 4 years ago and was happier out there truckin. And my wife wishes I wouldn't have retired also, lol. Soooo, I still got my CDL and my Dot medical is up to date just in case!

 

Some phrases I try to remember:
-Garbage in garbage out
-Nothing to fear but fear itself
-The power of positive thinking
-Don't over think it
-I'll cross that bridge when I come to it
-Don't sweat the small stuff
-This to shall pass
Sometimes a man/woman thinks to much!
As for night driving I hated it mainly because I could never sleep more then 2 or 3 hours during the day. Thats why I got out of pulling a refer.

 

Your body makes tiny amounts of melatonin. Take big doses will quickly shut down your body melatonin maker. I found when I started taking melatonin I didn't know how much to take. When I take more I have nightmares and night sweats. Start with the lowest dose you can. You may also need it to sleep after you keep taking it for a long time.

 

I also struggle with being nocturnal. It's almost like the whole world wants to move on without you.

But in the beginning you are going to have those feelings. But also understand it's actually the very least stressful time to be awake, because everyone else is asleep. Most people get stressed out because of things other people do.

Give it a few months, driver. Give your body time to adapt before you make a full decision. Embrace the dark side. We have more fun.

 

Use melatonin for about 2 weeks. It's not a sleep aid, but use it to help your brain sleep during the day. That's probably why you feel depressed, just because your brain hasn't learned to sleep correctly during the day.

 

I learned that my sleep was only a priority for me. If you only sleep when nobody makes demands on your time you will have a wreck at work or during your commute.