Ms Sng suggests that shifting our mindset to focus on positive thoughts also helps. To manage cabin fever, it is important to stick to our usual work, sleep and meal times, and talk to friends or family if you feel distressed. вЂњBut if you find yourself being worried to a point where it impedes your daily functioning, like poorer appetite, poor sleep patterns, or if you are unable to concentrate or complete your work tasks, it would be advisable to seek help from a mental health practitioner,вЂќ said Ms Sng. While most of us will not develop mental health disorders from cabin fever, it may cause us to feel more anxious, irritable and sad. вЂњThe increased distress experienced may trigger other mental health disorders like generalised anxiety, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression and some may entertain suicidal thoughts,вЂќ said Ms Sng. These people should seek the help they need if they feel their moods deteriorating. Of greater concern are those who already have mental health issues. While extroverts can adapt to being alone with time, Ms Sng added, вЂњAs isolation prolongs, both extroverts and introverts may similarly find themselves feeling distressed at the situation.вЂќ This depends on their personality, temperament and current coping abilities,вЂќ said Ms Sng.ДЇor instance, extroverts may feel worse at first because they enjoy being with other people. вЂњDifferent people may experience a combination of symptoms, and to a varying extent. Some of the symptoms of cabin fever include stress, restlessness, impatience, being easily agitated or highly irritable, lethargy, decreased motivation, persistent sadness, low moods, having a sense of hopelessness, mistrust of people, poor concentration, poor sleep hygiene, food cravings and even weight changes. However, people all over the world вЂ“ including in sunny Singapore вЂ“ may now be experiencing the phenomenon as they stay at home for long periods of time during COVID-19. The term cabin fever is often used in countries to describe the feelings experienced by those trapped at home because of extreme weather.

While we are not astronauts, who are by nature highly resilient and undergo rigorous isolation training to cope with the conditions in space, many of us are starting to feel the effects of being confined to our homes, without much human interaction, during this circuit breaker.ДЇeeling alone and sad, and not being able to cope with these feelings can lead to вЂњcabin feverвЂќ.ДЄdrienne Sng, a National CARE Hotline volunteer who is the Director of Clinical Services at BoysвЂ™ Town, explains, вЂњ Cabin fever refers to the cycle of negative and distressing emotions experienced by individuals as a result of being isolated or feeling вЂcut offвЂ™ from society at large.вЂќ Astronauts have been known to spend up to a year, mostly alone in confined quarters, floating above the Earth.

Cabin fever watch online