My anxiety goes up when the weather forecast is for bad weather. This past year has been terrible for bad weather. We had one of the worst winters we had ever had & then we had really bad floods In the Spring. My job consist of working in the snow storms, being called in the middle of the night to plow snow & it seemed the phone was ringing all the time for me to go to work. I would work 8 to 10 hour shift, go home for around 4 hours then go back to work for another 12 to 16 hour shift. When the phone would ring I would jump because it startled me. I couldn’t (& still cant) sleep because I am just waiting for the phone to ring. I love my job but need to get over the bad weather anxiety. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
triple “L”
bad weather anxiety
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Guest
Hi. I am so sorry you thought no one cared! I think a lot of people aren't sure what to say that might be helpful. You are not alone. While reading your post, it occurs to me that when I am following a snow plow, that is the safest feeling in the world! I live in the mountains, and every winter I have to drive in snow. Sometimes the snow is so deep, and falling so fast, that the only good place to be is right behind the snow plow! I never thought about the driver of that truck being anxious. I do have a suggestion. This is something I like to do when I have to head out in the snow, or drive during a storm: I listen to books on CD. If you have headsets, you could try doing this. I choose books like a slow moving mystery, or a historical fiction. The people who read these books usually have great relaxing voices. When I'm alone in the car in a storm, and I can hear their voices, I feel like I'm not alone. It really helps reduce anxiety for me. I hope this helps. Remember, you guys in those snow plow trucks are heroes of the winter roads!
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Serenity66
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:40 pm
No trust me you aren't alone hon. I just got here to the forums and haven't been here for a few days so I didn't see this thread until now. I know exactly what you mean about the anxiety going up sometimes skyrocketting when the weather/weather forecast gets bad. I also have a major problem with that. I don't like bad storms of any kind and have to get my mind focused on anything/everything but the weather in order to stay at some form of calm. I have already been fretting like crazy about this winters forecast for us. It doesn't sound good and I am not looking forward to it at all. I am so afraid that we will get another bad ice storm like we had last night and that we will lose our electricity. We lost it for 5 days last winter and it was awful. I wished I could give you some tips but all I can tell you is I get my mind off of it and on to something else that will occupy my brain. Isn't it sad we stress and worry so much about things that we can't control or change and that may not even happen at all. Also tell yourself you ARE NOT alone with your fears as there are a lot of us that also get anxious and upset at bad forecast to. Hang in there.
God bless and hugs,
Susan
God bless and hugs,
Susan
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Guest
I don’t have a clue why my anxiety goes up at the first sign of bad weather. It’s just that this last year has been so bizarre w& all. I kind of enjoy plowing snow even though I’m out in the worst of blizzards & such. I feel as though I’m making the roads safer for the public & last winter I had many truck drivers thank me for the job I was doing. I even had one truck driver buy me breakfast (on my day off) one morning & another buy me a news paper to read as there way of thanking me for doing such a good job on my snow route, they made me feel good about what I was doing. I have seen many accidents & a few people have died from them, I know it’s not my fault as I’m doing the best I can to keep the roads safe. Most of the people were driving way to fast for the conditions but it still bothers me that they wreck up & or are hurt or die. I think a lot of it is worrying about my wife getting to & from work even though she said I shouldn’t worry. I have done this job for 16 years & my anxiety has never been like it is now. My anxiety has always been there & I worry about everything but this last year it has just jumped on me like a run away freight train. I will survive, I always do lol.
Thanks so very much for your replies back to me pecos & sadchatterbox I really do appreciate it.
Larry
Thanks so very much for your replies back to me pecos & sadchatterbox I really do appreciate it.
Larry
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Guest
Hey "L"
Sounds like staff is a little short handed at work ! You shouldn't be on the roads for that long. Even truck drivers can't go for more than 8 hours with 8 hours rest in between. I can only imagine what you are going through working back to back to back 10 - 12 hours with only 4 hours in between ! It's no wonder your anxiety is up. I don't have any advice because I work 8 - 10 hours a day in a building (out of the weather). If you need to vent some more, come back to these message boards !
Sounds like staff is a little short handed at work ! You shouldn't be on the roads for that long. Even truck drivers can't go for more than 8 hours with 8 hours rest in between. I can only imagine what you are going through working back to back to back 10 - 12 hours with only 4 hours in between ! It's no wonder your anxiety is up. I don't have any advice because I work 8 - 10 hours a day in a building (out of the weather). If you need to vent some more, come back to these message boards !
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Carolyn Dickman
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 3:00 am
Hi manofmusic,
At work we all agree that why can we work 16 hours straight in the worst of conditions but truckers can only run 8 hours & then have to rest for 8 hours, but i guess thats state gov. for ya. I’m not really complaining about the long hours. The job I had before this one was really bad. I ran a service truck for a tire company & fixed tractor, combine & truck tires in the farm fields for 18 years. I worked the same hours as the farmers did in the spring & fall & that could be 60 to 90 hours a week. I’m glad I’m not there anymore LOL. The venting does make me feel better but I hate complaining but glad there are people out there that will at least listen to me. Thanks for listening.
Take Care,
Triple “L”
At work we all agree that why can we work 16 hours straight in the worst of conditions but truckers can only run 8 hours & then have to rest for 8 hours, but i guess thats state gov. for ya. I’m not really complaining about the long hours. The job I had before this one was really bad. I ran a service truck for a tire company & fixed tractor, combine & truck tires in the farm fields for 18 years. I worked the same hours as the farmers did in the spring & fall & that could be 60 to 90 hours a week. I’m glad I’m not there anymore LOL. The venting does make me feel better but I hate complaining but glad there are people out there that will at least listen to me. Thanks for listening.
Take Care,
Triple “L”
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Guest
I get a little anxious/sad when I look out in the morning and see clouds and gloominess as opposed to sun. My body needs the vitamins and I fear as I get older i'm becoming more susceptible to SAD - the seasonal depression. This time of year tends to be hard...but then again so does spring.
I think it may be the inconsistancies of your job that have you more anxious. If you only have 4 hours of rest in between shifts, that's not enough to rest your mind or body. If I'm tired my anxiety levels are ridiculous. Something needs to be done about how many hours you're working and are on call so you can rest your mind, body, and soul!
When my husband tells me I have to drive him in to work for 2am-4am, he's asleep by 6pm the night before....I don't sleep at all! I lay there and toss and turn knowing I have to get up early to drive him to work. If I knew bad weather was coming, and I was on call... my stress levels would be out of sight as well. At least there is a reason for your anxiety and it can be fixed. If it's really bad I'd have a talk with your boss, if you can. Or get together with your co-workers and work out a plan. Thanks so much for keeping the roads safe at all hours of the day and night but there are sometimes when you have to worry about you first. What good are you to anyone else if you're not feeling right? I hope you're feeling a bit better now, at least.
I think it may be the inconsistancies of your job that have you more anxious. If you only have 4 hours of rest in between shifts, that's not enough to rest your mind or body. If I'm tired my anxiety levels are ridiculous. Something needs to be done about how many hours you're working and are on call so you can rest your mind, body, and soul!
When my husband tells me I have to drive him in to work for 2am-4am, he's asleep by 6pm the night before....I don't sleep at all! I lay there and toss and turn knowing I have to get up early to drive him to work. If I knew bad weather was coming, and I was on call... my stress levels would be out of sight as well. At least there is a reason for your anxiety and it can be fixed. If it's really bad I'd have a talk with your boss, if you can. Or get together with your co-workers and work out a plan. Thanks so much for keeping the roads safe at all hours of the day and night but there are sometimes when you have to worry about you first. What good are you to anyone else if you're not feeling right? I hope you're feeling a bit better now, at least.
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Guest
Hi maigan_lynn
I knew when I got this job that there would be days or nights with very little sleep. It's just that last winter was the worst winter we have had in my area. We had record snow fall for the winter & hopefully this winter won’t be as bad. They are forecasting freezing rain here for the early morning 3:00 to 6:00am or at least some where around that time & so far my anxiety isn’t too bad. I have a new heavy duty tandem truck at work with all the bells & whistles. Twin spinners, 900 gal salt brine tanks, ice blade under the truck, drop chains, 11 ft right hand wing & of course the snow plow on the front & a new computer control in the cab that runs the sander & spinners. This helps me a lot knowing I have good equipment. It’s not really the weather I don’t think that bugs me its like you say, it’s the short time I got to sleep & how often it happened last year. I mean it was almost daily we were out knocking back drifts fighting ice storms or snow. The wind blew almost all winter & that would mean the snow would stick to the road & become ice or big drifts. Then spring came & we had tornadoes & floods & we worked almost all summer repairing the roads from wash outs & such. It was just a real bad year & I guess it just got to me & few others. I will be OK, this program is helping a lot so far & I’m only on session 3 & about to start session 4. Plus it feels good to vent & have other people respond back with ideas. As far as talking to the boss that won’t do any good as far as the hours we have to work. We have 6 routes & 7 full time drivers & 2 part time driver who work only when there is a storm & they work the over night shift with 2 full time guys. My boss knows about my anxiety & is very good about giving me positive feedback & if I say something negative about myself he always says I shouldn’t think that way & then he will say something positive. Well that’s enough venting for one day LOL. Thanks for listening.
Triple “L”
I knew when I got this job that there would be days or nights with very little sleep. It's just that last winter was the worst winter we have had in my area. We had record snow fall for the winter & hopefully this winter won’t be as bad. They are forecasting freezing rain here for the early morning 3:00 to 6:00am or at least some where around that time & so far my anxiety isn’t too bad. I have a new heavy duty tandem truck at work with all the bells & whistles. Twin spinners, 900 gal salt brine tanks, ice blade under the truck, drop chains, 11 ft right hand wing & of course the snow plow on the front & a new computer control in the cab that runs the sander & spinners. This helps me a lot knowing I have good equipment. It’s not really the weather I don’t think that bugs me its like you say, it’s the short time I got to sleep & how often it happened last year. I mean it was almost daily we were out knocking back drifts fighting ice storms or snow. The wind blew almost all winter & that would mean the snow would stick to the road & become ice or big drifts. Then spring came & we had tornadoes & floods & we worked almost all summer repairing the roads from wash outs & such. It was just a real bad year & I guess it just got to me & few others. I will be OK, this program is helping a lot so far & I’m only on session 3 & about to start session 4. Plus it feels good to vent & have other people respond back with ideas. As far as talking to the boss that won’t do any good as far as the hours we have to work. We have 6 routes & 7 full time drivers & 2 part time driver who work only when there is a storm & they work the over night shift with 2 full time guys. My boss knows about my anxiety & is very good about giving me positive feedback & if I say something negative about myself he always says I shouldn’t think that way & then he will say something positive. Well that’s enough venting for one day LOL. Thanks for listening.
Triple “L”