How Your Anxiety Can Contribute to Cabin Fever

Warmer weather is finally here, and for many people, so is the itch to get outside (and do something, anything!). After the holiday season and dreary cold weather, it can often feel like we’ve been stuck inside, bored, unmotivated, and uninspired.

Unfortunately, that can lead to “cabin fever”. While experiencing a bit of cabin fever during the winter season isn’t necessarily a problem, if you’re already dealing with anxiety, it can make things worse. 

So, how can your anxiety actually contribute to cabin fever? More importantly – what can you do to cope when it hits again?

Fueling Your Anxious Thoughts

Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways. But, most people who struggle with it find that their symptoms become worse when they feel isolated or alone. 

When you’re “stuck” inside, it’s easy to let your thoughts run wild. Doing so can make you feel more anxious. You might also start to feel trapped, especially if you’re forced to stay indoors because of bad weather. 

Obviously, those things aren’t inherently dangerous. But, when you’re already an anxious person, they can feel overwhelming. 

When you spend more time indoors without a lot of physical activity, your brain tends to start to worry about things that you would be too distracted to think about, otherwise. That could include everything from your financial situation to relationship issues. These are completely valid concerns to have, but being alone with your thoughts can make it easy for certain subjects to feel worse than they actually are. 

What Are the Signs of Cabin Fever? 

Cabin fever isn’t directly categorized as a psychological condition. But, some of the symptoms you can experience from it are similar to the ones you might have with anxiety. That includes restlessness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty concentrating. 

So, it should come as no surprise that if you’re already struggling with anxiety, those symptoms may become worse. 

Additionally, cabin fever can lead to feelings of hopelessness, and may even contribute to depression. Your eating habits can change, and you might find yourself with a lack of motivation to do things – even things you typically enjoy. 

How to Combat Cabin Fever – and Anxiety

Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do about having to spend time at home. But, that doesn’t mean you have to succumb to the effects of cabin fever or let your anxiety make things worse. 

One of the best things you can do to cope is to stay on a regular routine. Finding comfort in your everyday rituals will make it easier to deal with anxiety, and help you to feel more in control. 

Make sure you connect with people. One benefit of living in this day and age is that technology has made it easy to stay connected. You never have to be “alone” if you don’t want to be. While nothing can replace the feeling of having friends or family members around you, talking to someone on the phone or on a video call can make a big difference in how lonely you feel. 

Finally, spend time outside. 

That might seem easier said than done, depending on the weather where you live. But, spending just a few minutes in nature each day can make a big difference. Nature is a natural mood booster, and being outside can help you to feel less cooped up. It’s also a wonderful way to calm your anxiety naturally. Fortunately for many of us, the weather is improving which is a great reason to add “go outside” to the daily routine.

If you can’t seem to shake the cabin fever, or if sick kids or working from home keep it flaring it, you’re not alone. Feel free to contact me to set up an appointment. Through anxiety treatment, we’ll work on even more ways to cope, so your anxiety won’t make things worse. 

Photo by Christopher Czermak on Unsplash