Although it is not a diagnosis categorized by mental health experts, 'cabin fever' is "very real" and can have serious consequences for those who suffer from it and the people around them.
And, because of the recommendations for social distancing, isolation and confinement to combat the coronavirus pandemic, there are now more people in the world at risk of suffering something similar to this phenomenon.
But what is cabin fever?
It is a state of mind that was first described in relation to people who forcibly lived within small, remote, isolated or monotonous spaces.
The origin of the expression is unknown, but it began to be popularly used at the beginning of the 20th century, in relation to the mental state of the communities in the northern United States and Canada that endured months of confinement for long and intense winters.
Dr. Paul Rosenblatt , Professor Emeritus of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota in the United States, told the BBC that he conducted a study in the 1980s with Minnesotans to learn how they related the concept to their experiences.
Among the most prominent descriptions the expert heard were the feeling of dissatisfaction at home, restlessness, boredom, irritability and the need to break the routine.
Thus, for specialists, cottage fever is associated with terms like "claustrophobia" or "seasonal affective disorder," said Rosenblatt.
"In informal conversations I have heard synonyms like 'reluctance', 'climbing the walls', 'feeling trapped' and 'restlessness,'" he added.
What can cause it?
Although the trigger seems to be isolation, it can also depend on its conditions, such as the size of the house, the type of people who accompany you, a monotonous routine or, conversely, not having a routine, lack of stimulation, the geographical situation and inclement weather.
In addition to long-wintertime confinements, Rosenblatt found that among the most common scenarios were being confined at home with young children, due to illness or being responsible for someone sick or disabled.
"If the same people have physical limitations that prevent them from moving easily or reside in crowded homes, they may be more prone to the condition," said the doctor.
But there are also personalities that do not adjust correctly to the conditions of isolation, because "people who daily have a physically active life and who are very busy outside the home will have more difficulty adjusting to living locked up."
What are your symptoms?
Although there are no exact symptoms or specific order of appearance, Rosenblatt lists the following:
1. Feeling of uneasiness.
2. Feeling of being 'caged'.
3. Depression.
4. Irritability.
5. Loneliness.
6. Impatience.
7. Boredom.
8. Frustration.
"Some people can fall into depression, they can make bad decisions regarding the consumption of alcohol and drugs, or become threats to the people with whom they live," said the specialist.
On the other hand, boredom and lack of stimulation can also wear down the mind of the sufferer.
To make matters worse, this phenomenon can also affect other people in the environment "in the sense that that person who is restless, irritable, depressed, etc., will affect those around him, although other people may develop different sensations from those from the source".
How to fight it
While there is no specific treatment, there are several suggestions that can help alleviate your symptoms, such as:
1. Maintain contact with others, either by phone or online.
2. Establish a daily routine, but at the same time, be able to break it.
3. Plan something for the future when you can go out again.
4. Engaging in a hobby, such as listening to music, reading, playing parlor games, etc.
5. Find special projects to do in the short term at home.
6. Have frequent physical activity, since it will help you to release the tension for being locked up, as well as to burn calories.
7. Maintain social activity through video calls, to help you feel connected to others.
8. Take care of eating patterns and a healthy diet, avoiding excessive consumption of drinks and sugary foods, or junk food.
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