Hut syndrome: what it is, what causes it and how can it be overcome
The Coronavirus has upset our lives, significantly changing our habits and the perception of everything around us. In addition to being a threat to everyone's health, the fear of the pandemic, contagion and the consequent lockdowns have significantly affected everyone's psyche. In fact, being forced to stay at home without being able to go out or having to give up one's normality has caused disturbances of varying intensity on a psychological level. One of these is the so-called Cabin Syndrome and in this article we will find out what it is.
What is hut syndrome
Hut Syndrome did not arise due to COVID-19, but the pandemic has certainly increased the number of people who have suffered from it or who are still trying to overcome it exponentially. It is also called Cabin fever o Prisoner syndrome and it is a state of psychological malaise at the idea of leaving the house due to a more or less long period spent in the home and completely separated from society. It is not surprising, therefore, that this disorder arises later to a time lapse of detachment from reality and which manifests itself just when we could at least partially return to normalcy.
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Symptoms
Many people said they started suffering from Cabin Syndrome after the first lockdown caused by the pandemic, during the spring months. In fact, according to the Italian Society of Psychiatry, when we were approaching the so-called phase 2 and we were talking about the possibility of reopening and the possibility of leaving the house or meeting family and friends, many accused a strong sense of loss and anguish These forms of psychological discomfort push the individual to remain in his own refuge, that is, that safe place that is the home.
Therefore, let's briefly see what are the main symptoms that occur due to the Prisoner Syndrome:
- A continuous state of anxiety;
- Sadness, frustration and distress;
- Frequent episodes of irritability;
- Lack of enthusiasm, energy and desire to do;
- Sense of bewilderment, loneliness and failure;
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleep disorders.
What are the causes
As we mentioned, the Cabin fever o Hut syndrome existed before in psychology, but the Coronavirus and the lockdown strategy have brought this disorder to everyone's attention. Relating it to the current situation, the causes at the origin of this malaise are different. First of all, always staying at home, a routine is established according to which the home walls are the only safe haven. Everything is done in one place: smart working, training via app or video, calling with friends via a screen, recreational activities with family or children only inside. In short, you reorganize your life without ever changing your environment. In doing so, one's home is seen as the only protected place, outside of which dangers and uncertainties reign.
Furthermore, the tendency to stay at home even when it could be done without may also be due to the fear of contagion itself. All this because, despite the loosening of the rules and bans may be established, Covid-19 has not yet disappeared and the fear of getting sick still blocks hundreds of people inside their "nest".
So let's summarize what the main causes behind Prisoner Syndrome can be:
- Fear and distress towards the outside world;
- Terror of getting sick;
- Fear of infecting family and friends
- Discomfort in leaving the house and not finding the pre-pandemic normal situation.
The "victims" of the Cabin fever
The condition of social isolation that lasted for many months has touched each of us from a psychological point of view. Symptoms such as anxiety, irritability and lack of energy have been seen in subjects of very different age groups, even in children. However, as psychology experts have pointed out, there may be categories of people who are more likely to manifest. this syndrome. It is mainly about:
- Hypochondriacs, or people who are particularly apprehensive about their health;
- Individuals who are inherently reluctant to change and with difficulty in adapting;
- People with previous psychiatric disorders or other phobias.
How to deal with and overcome the hut syndrome?
Although the symptoms and causes of this syndrome are important and must be taken seriously, it is possible to deal with this malaise. It is good to say that according to the opinion of the experts, the hut syndrome should, if not disappear, at least decrease in an "automatic" way with the progressive improvement of the pandemic situation. However, while waiting to return to a true state of normalcy, a series of tricks and tips can be put in place to overcome this fear of social reintegration.
First of all, you have to accept your emotions, without trying to hide them or blame yourself. Being struggling with all the problems caused by Covid and the period of isolation is not easy, indeed: it is normal to feel emotionally and mentally shaken. For this reason, we recommend that you come to terms with what you feel and take care of yourself with small daily gestures. If you feel that this discomfort is not improving, consider talking to someone, even a specialist, with whom you can compare.
Also, to try to recover some of the enthusiasm that the pandemic seems to have, set daily goals. In fact, being always at home you risk letting yourself go to laziness and indolence. Setting goals or daily tasks, on the other hand, helps to make us feel useful, to increase our self-esteem and to remove worries from the mind. These goals can be of various types, from a timely organization of work to regular physical activity.
Finally, practice gratitude. It is a difficult time for everyone and we know how difficult it is to find a positive side or "the light at the end of the tunnel". At the same time, however, the last few months have opened our eyes to how much everything we took for granted is rich in value, from a simple dinner with friends to the possibility of traveling and moving freely. Perhaps the greatest lesson of this pandemic is the appreciation of the little things and people we love.
