Can a trucker be macho and still turn to someone else to help deal with problems?

Absolutely!

I see so many truckers (and people in general) who are so afraid that they are weak if they turn for some outside help of any kind.

Would you trust someone who is in business for themselves if they did every single little thing themselves? Would you trust me if I taught myself everything I know about therapy without having any professors or mentors? [Don’t worry. I actually did go to college and have a lot of training from others!]

Probably not, right. Then why would you want to do everything yourself and not take any advice – or at least share ideas with friends, family, and others in your life?

Many people believe that turning to someone else for assistance, advice, or simply to bounce ideas off of is a sign of weakness, but that simply is not true.

Women, in general, are more likely to consult with others and they are often mentally healthier than guys. I hate to admit it, but it's true! Women usually know how to take care of themselves and guys need to learn from them. This is probably why women live several years longer than men on average!

People who insist on doing everything themselves usually do so for a good reason. Let's take mental health for instance. If you are a trucker and your company finds out that you are receiving mental health services, that could be harmful to your career. Yes, you are trying to improve your situation, yet you get punished for it. I know — this is wild! Maybe you are afraid of what others may think, and that makes sense.

But isn’t it a shame that a person seeking help may be discriminated against? As bleak as it sounds, there are ways to avoid the stigma and potential future problems.

Remember that you are able to get help with no one knowing. The trick is paying for your therapy directly, instead of involving an insurance company, which may then inform your work. I know money is tight and you would like to use your insurance. However, if you shop around for a therapist, you can often find one with a sliding scale fee.

By cutting out the insurance company, which can cause privacy problems due to HIPPA laws, a therapist cannot report your attendance in therapy to your work, friends, or anyone else. The only exception to this is that if you are going to hurt yourself or others (including child abuse), then the authorities would be involved.

Therapy is often helpful for:

• Relationship problems
• Stress
• Depression
• Anger
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling tired all the time

Here are some helpful tips for choosing a therapist:

• Is the therapist licensed?Ask him/her if you do not know.
• Does the therapist have experience dealing with what you want to work with?
• Will the therapist give you a few minutes on the phone or in person to get acquainted without charging?
• Do you feel comfortable with the therapist? If not, then find someone else.
• Will the therapist provide you with an appropriate referral if you choose to go with someone else?
• Will the therapist also provide phone sessions for when you can’t make the appointment? (This is especially good for truckers.)

Resources for finding a therapist:

• http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_search.php
• http://www.goodtherapy.org
• http://www.helppro.com
• Just Google “therapist" and your city and state.

So, if something is weighing on your soul, there is help out there, and no one has to know you are getting help. Remember: There is no shame in talking about or getting help for your life's problems.

Your health – mental or physical – is key to your happiness!

Buck Black is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with truckers and their families. His private practice is at the Heartland Clinic in Lafayette, Indiana, but he offers affordable consultation via phone and Skype at TruckerTherapy.com. Black also has clinical experience helping adolescents and adults with a wide range of problems including relationship issues, substance abuse, anger management, anxiety, and depression. Follow @TruckerTherapy on Twitter to learn more.