End of Social Distancing May Be Difficult for Those with “Cabin Fever”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The return to the pre-pandemic routine, the relaxation of protective measures, the end of isolation or social distancing may identify a phenomenon in some people that psychologists refer to as “cabin fever”.

Despite its name, it is not an illness nor is it considered a mental disorder, but rather an impairment, an adaptive stress among people who experience emotional distress when in a state of withdrawal into their home and fear returning to activities at work, shopping, or having to attend a government office, such as a National Social Security Institute (INSS) branch.

“I have patients who are still very anxious about the fact that there’s no vaccine against Covid and that life is returning to the work routine,” says psychologist Célia Fernandes, from Brasília, accustomed to dealing with demands prompted by fear and anxiety.

The expression “cabin fever” has its origin in the early 20th century and served to report experiences of people who were isolated in blizzards in the Northern Hemisphere and then were required to return to social life. It also affected professional hunters who had been trapped in cabins in the woods; in the present, it can also impact workers who are constantly away because of their jobs, such as those employed on oil platforms.

“Any kind of isolation can trigger the condition, particularly if it is an extensive period and linked to fear. It is not only the fact of being at home for a long period of time, but the feeling that there is something unknown out there that can infect, kill, or make you sick,” contextualizes Débora Noal, a psychologist in Brasília.

Psychologist Ana Carolina de Araujo Cunto, from Rio de Janeiro, explains that the time to suspend distancing may be challenging for some people. “This transition from leaving a comfortable, controlled environment into the outside world may sound like a threatening, frightening thing to some people. A person may struggle to return to these activities and suffer.”

“Going out is no longer as natural as it used to be. People were used to go out, they were on the street and that’s it. Now they have to worry about wearing a mask, they have to worry about being physically distant from others. They can’t touch things. They have to wash their hands or use sanitizer gel. They must make sure that they are sitting in a place close to ventilation. We are in a constant state of alert,” Cunto describes.

For those with cabin fever, the home is the best, if not the only, place to be, explains the psychologist, “When the world outside becomes threatening for whatever reason, the home represents a place of protection, where one feels good, where one is protected and where one can have control over things.”

“For the individual with cabin fever, the home represents shelter, comfort, a feeling of protection, care and warmth. It is as if there is this unknown thing out there that one can not see, which in this case is the virus, and one cannot be sure if someone else is infected,” adds Débora Noal.

Attention on the return

The return to activities may be difficult at the start. Psychologists advise people to be aware of anxiety, fear, and even panic symptoms. There may be discomforts such as tachycardia, sweating, and trouble sleeping. There may be changes in appetite, from less feeling hungry to eating more.

Psychologists advise that each person should measure their adaptive stress. If it is very difficult to recover, one should try to recall the strategies used for other challenges, seek support in leaving home within one’s “socio-affective network,” comprised of family, friends, and neighbors, and if one has faith, activate spirituality.

Another suggestion is to leave home with someone you trust who also takes precautions against Covid-19. Another tip is to rehearse the outing, starting with a walk down to the building’s entrance or to the house’s gate. Then, at another time, a few steps on the street, and further on, longer walks to restore confidence.

Should this not be enough, psychologists suggest that people seek specialized assistance services “to understand the reactions, how they occur and what tools they can use to tackle them,” says Débora Noal.

“If someone realizes that they are unable to overcome their challenges and that this has become something bigger and paralyzing, to the point of being unable to fulfill their activities outside the home, then that is a sign that they need to address this with more caution. If they are unable to do this on their own, it is advisable that they seek therapy to determine if there is any underlying cause,” adds Ana Carolina Cunto.

Source: Agência Brasil