Typically, the “cabin fever syndrome” symptoms (showing similarities to Seasonal Affective Disorder and claustrophobia) involve a range of distress signals such as restlessness, irritability, impatience, feelings of lethargy, difficulties concentrating, low motivation, food cravings (gaining weight) and sleep disorders (difficulties to fall asleep or sleeping too much) (Read also: “ Essential Oils To Help Reduce Stress And Improve Your Immunity“).
In contrast, introverts may have a much easier time. As is to be expected, extroverts will have a more difficult time adjusting to social isolation. In particular, how restrictions in movement will be experienced varies depending very much on our personality.Ĭertain types of people will find self-isolating more difficult than others. Of course, personality factors, cultural factors and economic conditions will affect how social isolation will be managed. Social isolation contributes to a sense of loneliness, a fear of others, concerns that can have a negative impact on our self-esteem, creating problems in living. For example, numerous studies have shown that polar research crews, due to the extreme conditions they work under, can suffer from reductions in their immune system. If that’s not the case, isolation will negatively affect our mind and body, as many astronauts and polar station explorers can testify. From palaeolithic times onwards, we require regular contact and cooperation with other individuals for the purpose of survival. Of course, the informal name of cabin fever may have originated in the olden days in North America when settlers would be confined to their log cabins during the long winters.Īlthough it is not an official syndrome – it is not listed among the list of psychiatric disorders – the social distancing and isolation designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus can pose a serious threat to our general state of well-being.Īfter all, taking an evolutionary point of view, we can list as one of Homo sapiens’ major existential needs: the need to belong. The “cabin fever syndrome” can be described as a claustrophobic irritability or restlessness which we may experience when stuck in a confined indoor space for long periods of time. When stuck indoors, some people become what has been called “stir crazy”. This has affected many people, giving rise to the “ cabin fever syndrome“. To contain the spread of the coronavirus, many countries have shut workplaces, schools and places of entertainment, confining millions to their home.
Ways to cope with cabin fever during coronavirus plus#
Being restricted in the freedom of movement, plus having the perception that our limited time on earth is just ticking away, will have a massive psychological impact. Given the present pandemic, the spatial and temporal restrictions placed on us will have an enormous effect on our psyche. Karl Jaspers, the German psychiatrist and philosopher, once wrote that “humans become aware of themselves in boundary situations”.
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