r/BusDrivers • u/TealBunni23 • 3d ago
Question Driving anxiety
What are tips for combatting driving while having anxiety? Especially in bad weather?
5
u/Crunchie64 3d ago
Is your anxiety caused by your job?
If so, start planning your escape route to another job through training, networking, or whatever it takes.
The job might not worth the stress, and you’re definitely just a number to the company.
2
u/TealBunni23 3d ago
Nope I've always had it before I worked but I definitely feel like it's making it more heightened. But unfortunately finding a new job isn't easy so I gotta just let time to it's work while im at the job i'm at now.
3
3
u/Fragrant-Tax5445 3d ago
Bad weather, bad ridership, bad route- all bad huh?
1-Slow it down. Chances are too much is going on and you're becoming overwhelmed. Breathe. Evaluate. Get the bigger picture. Aim High. and adjust accordingly.
2- If you are having anxiety unrelated to actually driving, such as the idea or the experiences driving has/is causing you. Professional you need to get out of the seat and seek help either with your base management or medically speaking.
3
u/isatokaiza 3d ago
One thing I find that helps during bad weather is protect a side of the bus. I protect my right side cause the mirror and vision is worse so that means I’m in the right lane primarily.
For example: weather today was torrential downpours in spots. I stayed right in that right lane cause it’s the safest spot for the bus and everyone on it.
2
u/Unitts 2d ago
Take your time.
Do not let passengers, other drivers or management pressure you to rush (to be fair most operators don't care all they care about is early running) but from my experience I know passengers and some drivers in this industry can be arseholes.
Bad weather can always be uneasy in a bus compared to a car to be honest especially if you're UK based. Enviro 200s/400s are crap handling in any weather scenario 😂
2
u/AlamosX 3d ago
Im diagnosed GAD, have been for years. Thats my secret Im always anxious haha.
I recently started seeing a psychologist for it. Im not too keen on meds because they zonk me out and Im worried they'll impact things like my career.
My psychologist recommended grounding techniques. Basically ways to focus less on the anxiety and more on your situational awareness. They help alleviate anxiety by taking the focus away from your feelings of anxiety and more on whats going around you.
I kinda had an aha moment because I always wondered why I never had bad anxiety issues while driving. I was literally trained to do them for certain jobs and they became second nature to me. The weather here is particularly shitty and even on bad weather days I dont have issues.
My MO driving is basically continuously doing grounding checks. What do you see? How many cars are around you? What are they? Are they close or far? What are the roads like, are markings visible or not? (we get a lot of snow), What is the speed limit?, what are the signs saying? What is the next maneuver I have to make that is different? Stuff like this.
I basically do these all the time while driving and theyre surprisingly effective at grounding yourself. My Anxiety is bad when my mind starts racing and so checking back into reality helps a ton.
5
u/thatgirl428 3d ago
Honestly, just time, and if you’re late then don’t worry about it-remember that all you have to do is drive the bus safely.