Truck Drivers Mental Health Issues
Truck drivers are the backbone of our society, and spend most of their time driving across primarily rural roads and highways-through the heartland and other. It is especially hard to deal with it during the holidays: loneliness, isolation and all of the accompanying anxieties go with it. Many drivers festoon their dashboards with pictures and little keepsakes from their wives, husbands and children. However, it can never be totally negated, and the loneliness is driven home much harder with the holidays. Every truck driver wants to spend the holidays with their family, but that cannot always be afforded, as supply lines to the consumer have to be maintained, 24/7, 365 days a year. Truck drivers are an integral part of our society, and at times have to make horrible sacrifices.
So how do they cope when the loneiness and isolation is so driven home over the holidays? After all, they have a job to do and cannot always speak over the cell, text-or use whatever modern communications conveyance. But when they can stop to spend the night, phoning home becomes a critical thing during the holidays. However, the loneliness and isolation is at its most acute, and a phone call may only make it work. A way to alleviate it is to try and schedule their holidays early when they have to drive. After all, it is mostly the kids who suffer; the spouses for most part understand. The truck driving man and woman suffers just as equally. So having a holiday dinner and at least some gift openings helps to alleviate the emotional stresses and strain endured by all members of the family.
Long distance work, such as truck driving, is certainly very hard on families due to the spouse and parent not being able to come home everyday. For the lonely driver on the road spending as much time as possible with their families certainly helps when they are on the road, especially during the holidays. Having an earlier (or slightly later holiday dinner) helps. But all drivers know it can be a very lonely job, especially during the holidays. If they have to work during the holiday season, communicating with the family is important. Having a partner who understands also helps the truck driver to come to terms with driving over those endless expanses of road and highway, seemingly stretching into infinity. All of the family have to work as a team to help emotionally support their truck driving father/mother and parent.
