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Driving conditions are poor, your spouse phoned to say the water heater is leaking again, and your head feels bigger than the wet windshield you’ve been staring at for days.  There’s no denying, life is full of stress.  For truck drivers, identifying stressors and good stress management skills is crucial.

Acute vs. Chronic Stress
According to the Mayo Clinic website, stress is your body’s reaction to the constant demands of the world.  There are two kinds of stress:  acute and chronic.  Acute stress is your body’s immediate reaction to a threat, challenge or scare.  For example, you just floored the brakes to avoid a bad accident. This kind of stress puts in self-defense mode, causing your heart to pound, head to ache and palms to sweat.

Chronic stress results from long-term exposure to acute stress.  Your body’s response to chronic stress is much more subtle than the acute stress response.  But the effects may last longer and cause more health problems.  Stressors that may lead to chronic stress, are the nagging, day-to-day life situations that seem unrelenting.

Stress Affects Your Health
So which stress is most worrisome?  It’s often the build up of little things that can really “stress you out.” For example, you have a poor relationship with your dispatcher daily, or worry about your finances constantly.  Such stress can lead to health problems, including headaches and fatigue, poor concentration, irritability and depression, isolation and resentment, even weight gain, say some sources.

Identify Your Stress Triggers
Understanding what stresses you (stressors) is a big part of stress management. Situations that create stress – such as major change, unpredictability, work, boredom, family — are as unique as you. Your genes, personality and life experiences all influence your body’s stress response.  The Mayo Clinic suggests keeping a stress journal for a week, rating on a scale of 1 to 5 what gives you a negative physical, mental or emotional response.

Stress Management Skills
As you consider what de-stressors might work for you, remember to differentiate between stress management skills and diversions, like watching TV or taking a shower.  There are countless books, gurus and websites on stress management.  It seems that most boil down to finding work-life balance:  take care of yourself; have good relationships; set limits; don’t rush to anger or argue.  Also consider learning new skills to help you relax:  deep breathing, meditation, prayer, movement and stretching are just a few.  Again, the internet, library or bookstore (books on tape) can offer many suggestions.    

 If you have comments or ideas on what you’d like to read in “Healthy U for Truck Drivers,” send them to healthyu@bayandbay.com. Until next time, remember, small steps can lead to big change and a healthier you.