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January 2, 2009 in City
How to tell if you have cabin fever
The Inland Northwest’s relentless snowstorms may be adding to normal winter blahs. The symptoms of cabin fever can include irritability, sadness, depression and anxiety. And some people who feel trapped lack the energy to plot ways to escape that trap.
Paul Rosenblatt, a family and and social science professor at the University of Minnesota, has studied and written about the phenomenon, which is pretty common in snow-rich Minnesota.
He said in an interview today that the feelings of irritability and anxiety are normal when people feel trapped inside for days at a time. “For some people, having a name for it really helps.”
Some of the ways to escape the negative emotions? Tackle a household chore, such as cleaning closets. Catch up on correspondence. Plan a future gathering with friends — or a trip to somewhere warmer. Or just wallow in it a bit. Sleep if tired, for instance.
If you have some anecdotes about symptoms and solutions for cabin fever, Inland Northwest style, please e-mail Rebecca Nappi at rebeccan@spokesman.com or comment below.
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kyleg on December 31 at 11:34 a.m.
I’ve been watching a lot of movies lately: Gone With the Wind, All About Eve, Driving Miss Daisy, Wall-E, The Dark Knight, A Scanner Darkly… but then again I love movies so I don’t mind an excuse to sit around the house and veg. Been itching to see Kubrick’s The Shining recently… maybe now’s the time?
JeanC on December 31 at 1:04 p.m.
How do I tell when I have cabin fever? When I start having meaningful conversations with the furniture. Thank goodness for my hubby and kitties LOL
krzkrlzdablggr on December 31 at 2:04 p.m.
I know I have Cabin Fever when I suddenly start getting along with my little brothers…
TVDinner on December 31 at 8:04 p.m.
Removable cleats on my shoes have made all the difference for me. At least now I can walk around with some degree of safety. I walk every day, even just for 30 minutes if I’m pressed for time, so I feel like I’ve had some time to myself and outside the accursed house.
Rebeccan on January 02 at 9:23 a.m.
TVDinner,
Could you e-mail me at rebeccan@spokesman.com? I have a follow-up question on your comment for my print story. Thanks so much…