Aa
Need Help, Traveling person
My name is Chris, I am in sales, I travel 300 days of the year and I am in a new city/state every 3 to 4 weeks. When I started this job, things were great, I was makin more money than I ever have and was happy constantly. Over the last 3 to 4 monthes, I have been losing my temper with my assistant, sitting in my hotels depressed about nothing. Waking up in the middle of the night to smoke or sit up and not be able to go back to sleep. If the morning starts out bad, the rest of the day usually ends up that way and my sales numbers are going downhill quick. I smoke about 2 packs a day and it usually only takes me about 2 to 3 minutes to smoked a cigarette. When I go out to dinner, I can sit down, eat and be done in about 20 minutes. My family has pointed these things out to me and said I have been doing them for awile. Everytime I go somewhere, I feel like I am ready to leave as soon as I get there. The biggest issue, is that I can not make appts to talk to anyone cause they want me to go to them for weeks and weeks, but I cannot due to the fact that I travel. What do you suggest I do to resolve this issue? Is this an example of Anxiety? or Depression? I am good at what I do, but I think I am going to jeopardize my job because of the fact that my sales are suffering or I get so depressed and upset that I just quit. I am at the highest point I have been in my life and I do not want to ruin it. I feel like my nervous system is on the brink of going off the handle. If there is any suggestions or ways that I might be able to fix this, please let me know. Thanks for your time.
Chris R.
Chris R.
I'm surprised they didn't tell you more, but they really won't KNOW more until the tests are returned. But not to worry -the black stool can mean that elements of blood, such as "Billy Rubin" are in there. Or it could mean all those charred steaks you've been eating have added some charcoal to your, er, "output." So, just follow through and let us know what they come up with, remembering, always, that a positive lab test means just one thing: MORE tests.
We're gonna get to the bottom of this!
We're gonna get to the bottom of this!
Well, some new things have occured. This is kinda a hard thing to talk about. Over the last couple monthes I have also noticed that my stool has turned pretty black, and when i say pretty black, I mean prolly about 1/3 of every BM is black. I did not know what that meant till yesterday when they ask me at the exam. They never told me the reason for it, they just asked me if I had black stool. So last night i just googled black stool, and found out that it means I am bleeding somewhere inside???!!! Now i am really worried. Will my bloodtest tell them if something is wrong internally? My dad had Ulcers at a very young age, and I was thinkin that could be another problem of the stress. And just another update, I took one of those alprozalam this morning b4 I went out to make some sales, and I was alot cooler and calmer than usual, even a little sleepy feeling. But the sales went great today, and I did not get upset or mad about a thing, even the Chicago traffic....
It honestly sounds like your lifestyle, the stress and traveling would get to anyone eventually. I hope the doctor can help you!
Hi, Chris. That's good that you got to get to a Dr., and that he did a blood workup, rather than just put you on an anti-depressant, or benzo, like they usually do. Be really careful about what they suggest as far as medications, okay? I sounded a lot like you 31 years ago, when I was 25 yrs. old (except the smoking and eating---I rarely did either!). I was very OCD, a perfectionist, and anxious as heck. I ended up getting whopped with full-blown panic attacks which soon turned into agorophobia. My Drs. weren't smart enough to try anything other than giving me valium. 31 yrs. later, I'm addicted to klonopin, a benzo like valium, and on disability for chronic depression and agorophobia. I know this sounds like a dark message, and I don't mean for it to. You are probably suffering from stress from your job, and maybe some depression. I just wish someone would have warned me about the addictiveness of some of the drugs they shove at you, and trust me, I asked. I still have the Drs. telling me klonopin isn't addictive, and there are no long-term side effects, and that's a flat out lie! I'm not saying that sometimes the drugs aren't the answer, but they need to try other things first, like trying to figure out what's going on that's causing you to feel the way you do. At least your Dr. did bloodwork, so that puts him miles ahead of the "best" Drs. I've seen. Good luck, and keep us posted, okay?
Sondra
Sondra
Thanks for the advice, I went to the doctor today, He is gonna give me a complete blood workup. He got worried when i told him about the health of my relatives. He also gave me aprazolam or something like that and said It would help me sleep. Blood Pressure was a little high, no diabetes yet. And to answer your question greenly, I have always been pretty hyperactive when it comes to eating and smoking, its just gotten worse as of late. The doctor told me I need to go to my hometown and get a normal physician to see everytime I get a chance to come home. That and quit letting my job get to me... Thanks again for u guys advice, I will let ya know if something comes back on the bloodtest
Sales. Traveling. I remember. *****, doesn't it?
After awhile, there is nothing new under the sun; the excitement and challenge is gone, it is all about repeating the same stuff over and over.
And the one thing about sales is all that ALONE time; there in your room, watching the same junk on the hotel TV as you watched at home; the same crappy continental breakfast, offered by the hotel as though you were thrilled about it. Pref-fired eggs. And they ask me why I drink.
Spare me.
In a way, traveling sales -and I'm talking about a vast territory, here, not the route salesman thing- is a way we find out what we are like when no one is looking. So -how are you doing with that? You don't have to tell me, but think about it. That's why there's a Gideon Bible in the room.
OK, OK. You travel 300 days a year. That leaves 65. So 52 of those, I suppose, are your one, lousy day home. And that leaves a couple of weeks to cover vacations and holidays. On the other hand, if you cover basically the same 25 states all the time, it probably means you could locate a shrink or therapist who is along your way, rather than in your home town. And if you work for a BIG outfit, like IBM or HP or one of the major food or tobacco or liquor distributors, I'll just bet they have an industrial psychologist on staff whose job it is to help folks like you make the adjustment.
But, go figure: you think you are alone? I doubt it. There are plenty who bare the same burden with the same unpleasant effects. Your job: find them. I gar-on-tee that, bad as you think you are (and it IS bad) there is another psychiatric case out there who is even worse. How do you find them? Its not that tough: talk to the friendly clark at the desk, tell them about your story, about the wish to at least talk to someone who understands what you are going through. They can't give you a room number, but they can take your note and pass it to someone who fills the bill. Hang out at the crummy bar in the hotel -talk to that stranger 3 seats down. Here's something wacky: join the YMCA. No kidding. Join one, and you've joined them all. When you pull into town one day at 5:30 PM, head to the gym. Meet people. Talk. "Hey! You too?! Let's have dinner."
Here's something else: a few of your clients would LOVE to have you over for dinner. Find out who -and go their plave for dinner. Turn your route from an excursion into lonliness into a social affair. Get to know their kids; bring 'em a little something.
You might STILL have the anxiety, for a number of reasons, but I gar-on-tee, again, that the other sales people do, too. Out of all your days, you can find a way to connect with a professional long enough to get any medication that might help.
How am I doing, here? You think I don't know what your life is like? You know better.
After awhile, there is nothing new under the sun; the excitement and challenge is gone, it is all about repeating the same stuff over and over.
And the one thing about sales is all that ALONE time; there in your room, watching the same junk on the hotel TV as you watched at home; the same crappy continental breakfast, offered by the hotel as though you were thrilled about it. Pref-fired eggs. And they ask me why I drink.
Spare me.
In a way, traveling sales -and I'm talking about a vast territory, here, not the route salesman thing- is a way we find out what we are like when no one is looking. So -how are you doing with that? You don't have to tell me, but think about it. That's why there's a Gideon Bible in the room.
OK, OK. You travel 300 days a year. That leaves 65. So 52 of those, I suppose, are your one, lousy day home. And that leaves a couple of weeks to cover vacations and holidays. On the other hand, if you cover basically the same 25 states all the time, it probably means you could locate a shrink or therapist who is along your way, rather than in your home town. And if you work for a BIG outfit, like IBM or HP or one of the major food or tobacco or liquor distributors, I'll just bet they have an industrial psychologist on staff whose job it is to help folks like you make the adjustment.
But, go figure: you think you are alone? I doubt it. There are plenty who bare the same burden with the same unpleasant effects. Your job: find them. I gar-on-tee that, bad as you think you are (and it IS bad) there is another psychiatric case out there who is even worse. How do you find them? Its not that tough: talk to the friendly clark at the desk, tell them about your story, about the wish to at least talk to someone who understands what you are going through. They can't give you a room number, but they can take your note and pass it to someone who fills the bill. Hang out at the crummy bar in the hotel -talk to that stranger 3 seats down. Here's something wacky: join the YMCA. No kidding. Join one, and you've joined them all. When you pull into town one day at 5:30 PM, head to the gym. Meet people. Talk. "Hey! You too?! Let's have dinner."
Here's something else: a few of your clients would LOVE to have you over for dinner. Find out who -and go their plave for dinner. Turn your route from an excursion into lonliness into a social affair. Get to know their kids; bring 'em a little something.
You might STILL have the anxiety, for a number of reasons, but I gar-on-tee, again, that the other sales people do, too. Out of all your days, you can find a way to connect with a professional long enough to get any medication that might help.
How am I doing, here? You think I don't know what your life is like? You know better.
With your schedule, I think I'd blow a gasket, too!
You stated that 3-4 months ago you began to lose your temper with your assistant. Can you think back to that time and try to figure out what changed?
You then list a whole bunch of stuff that began to happen........like not sleeping well, smoking way too much, not eating well and gobbling your food, not wanting to be "social."(Wanting to leave as soon as you got somewhere)
Easy to see why your sales are slipping. So much of what you describe are classic symptoms of anxiety.
In my humble, non-medical opinion, I think you need to get with your doctor and discuss all of this. Have a really good physical to rule out any organic cause for this change. If the tests all come back negative, then you're pretty much left with a DX of anxiety and hopefully your doctor will be smart enough to address this issue by referring you to a good therapist and possibly some meds to help you temporairly slow your body AND mind down while you get to the bottom of what is causing this burn out.
I really believe you're going to be OK, but you've been pushing yourself so hard and not treating yourself so good...........time to take a bit of a time out and take care of YOU for a change! I would hate to see you lose what you have obviously worked so hard to build.
Let us know how you're doing, OK? And post here anytime you need to talk or vent!
Peace
Greenlydia
You stated that 3-4 months ago you began to lose your temper with your assistant. Can you think back to that time and try to figure out what changed?
You then list a whole bunch of stuff that began to happen........like not sleeping well, smoking way too much, not eating well and gobbling your food, not wanting to be "social."(Wanting to leave as soon as you got somewhere)
Easy to see why your sales are slipping. So much of what you describe are classic symptoms of anxiety.
In my humble, non-medical opinion, I think you need to get with your doctor and discuss all of this. Have a really good physical to rule out any organic cause for this change. If the tests all come back negative, then you're pretty much left with a DX of anxiety and hopefully your doctor will be smart enough to address this issue by referring you to a good therapist and possibly some meds to help you temporairly slow your body AND mind down while you get to the bottom of what is causing this burn out.
I really believe you're going to be OK, but you've been pushing yourself so hard and not treating yourself so good...........time to take a bit of a time out and take care of YOU for a change! I would hate to see you lose what you have obviously worked so hard to build.
Let us know how you're doing, OK? And post here anytime you need to talk or vent!
Peace
Greenlydia
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?
