anxious truck driver

My husband who has been driving tractor trailer for the past 17 years had an attack about a month ago...I was there with him, he had been showing signs of nervousness, and worry while driving in winter conditions and it all just seemed to come to a head one morning.  He woke up and was just sitting behind the wheel getting ready to start his day when all of a sudden he was overcome by anxiety, he started shaking and breathing funny and then just sat there and cried.  He said he just couldn't do it anymore...
Now we are seeing a psychiatrist and he has him taking clonazepam.  Sure this calms his thinking and helps him sleep, instead of worrying that he is some kind of failure.  But our main concern is that he is actually scared to get back in the truck and drive.  He thinks he may feel ok once the spring comes and the snow is gone...
I don't think the doctor understands...he actually asked him if he thought he could drive while taking this medication, it makes him mellow and drowsy at times...i don't think he should be driving 80,000 lbs of truck while drowsy.
What i would like is some sort of material or websites related to truck drivers and driving anxiety.  Anywhere I look I just find ads for books that will 'cure driving anxiety', nothing about actually needing to be on the highway and keeping going with freight that is time sensitive.  I don't think the doctor fully understands the demands of driving a truck, it's not like you can go home and try another day when things look better...thankfully we were only 1300 miles from home and have a truly good friend that came out to rescue us...I drive as well but with the way he was behaving I couldn't fully concentrate on the driving and block him out.
I would really like to hear if someone else has ever had the same situation.
Oh by the way, we are Canadian and winter driving is normally second nature.

[anxietysuks]

I'm so sorry for this to happen to your hubby, I deal with anxiety and one of my fears is driving, I had a panic attack while I was on the freeway, I thought I was going to die, I thought I was going to pass out, I had my kids in the car which made it even worse. This happened about 2 years ago and to this day I wont drive on a hwy without someone, I would rather have someone else drive. I dont take any meds so I dont know about him driving while taking them. Good luck to him I wiah you the best.

[JSGeare]

There are several issues here. First, medication and driving are often a bad mix. On the other hand, your husband's a pro, and would know if he were too woozy to drive. I'm surpirsed the psych asked HIM if he thought he could drive while taking the med. I would expect the shrink would warn him about it, or tell him to pay close attention to any drowsiness.

The other issue is the underlying causes of the panic. This is good territory for therapy, so your husband can dig out whatever is chewing at his gut and deal with -and then be done with the pills AND the panic.

Next chance you get, sit down with your husband and really talk out your comfort level with the psychiatrist; if the guy (gal) makes you edgy, get another and explain to the new one your misgivings about getting a prescirption and THEN being asked if he could rive. Something's not adding up here, for me.

There is going to be a period of digging through mental rubble to get at the panic -the drug healps with symptoms, but doesn't make the underlying causes go away, anymore than an aspirin cures a cold.

And I'll tell you something else. I know for a FACT that your husband is not the only driver out there with panic. Make an effort to connect with the others.

Finally, stay with us, encourage your husband to post material of his own, and keep us up to date.

I admire you for having dealt with the situation promptly and forthrightly.

We're all riding with you.

[historybuff24]

I'm very sorry for your husbands anxiety.
I also found meds I was taking didn't help driving phobia.
I got books on the subject, which really didn't help either.
I looked on Amazon and there were some tapes one could listen to while driving(relaxation).
My primary care doctor suggested biofeedback, which I never tried.
Good luck to you both.

[burby6867]

how are you making out with your driving? i too,drive a trac/trailer and i've been battling this for about 15 yrs. when it first happened,i cried like a baby,because i thought i would never drive again, but here i am,still driving and still battleing.  i also have severe issues on my motorcycle. hopefully,you will come to see that your not crazy and your not less then a man,and you can learn to deal with this.  i see it's been 2 yrs since you posted,please if you get to read this,let us know how your coping.thanks and good luck.