Confinement fatigue: what it is and how it affects us

Confinement fatigue is one of those forms of discomfort that has arisen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. and other similar situations that last for weeks or months.

In this article we will see what it consists of, what its main causes are, and what to do about this problem that affects us emotionally, physically, and socially.

• Related article: "The 8 types of emotions (classification and description)"

What is confinement fatigue?

Confinement fatigue is a set of feelings and emotions associated with the lifestyle caused by total or partial confinement. In general, it constitutes a form of psychological exhaustion, and while it lasts, the person who develops it feels discomfort. It "exhausts" us emotionally, with a mixture of stress and low mood similar to what happens in burnout syndrome.

In the case of the COVID-19 crisis, this psychological phenomenon may have affected many people, given that for many months we have been subjected to the need to minimize our movements, with all that this implies for our lifestyle and way of socialize.

Causes of stress in confinement fatigue

These are the main sources of discomfort associated with confinement fatigue

1. Lack of incentives

Some people, especially those unfamiliar with the use of computers and other electronic devices connected to Internet, can settle in a state of chronic boredom caused by the monotony of the stimuli to which they are expose.

Not being able to leave home limits the variety of experiences in which they can engage in their free time, and this is capable of leading to apathy: a mentality is generated according to which it no longer makes sense to look for interesting activities.

2. Lack of social contact

The fact of having remained for months in a state of relative social isolation, without being able to interact face to face with part of the friends, family and acquaintances, brings out a feeling of lack of a mutual support network. This feeling of loneliness becomes transformed into negative emotions linked to anxiety and a depressed mood. In turn, it can be very hard for the most extroverted people.

3. physical inactivity

Although our species is not characterized by being very agile compared to the rest of the animals, it is still true that the human body is made to move; Our body has evolved based on a lifestyle of direct contact with nature, which is what has prevailed in our daily lives for hundreds of thousands of years.

For this reason, spending a season hardly moving affects us not only physically, but also psychologically. And it is that the line that separates the body from the mind is, deep down, an illusion. Thus the way we interact with the environment conditions how we feel and how we tend to think.

In the case of fatigue due to confinement, the discomfort of barely adopting two or three positions throughout the day, not stretching the joints and leaving large muscle groups unused (such as those of the buttocks, which remain still and pressed while we are sitting) exposes us to anxiety, because we perceive ourselves as more vulnerable and physical exhaustion also causes the body to mobilize fewer resources to ensure proper functioning of the brain.

• You may be interested in: "The 10 psychological benefits of practicing physical exercise"

To do?

Faced with fatigue due to confinement, it is important to have psychological assistance; In this way, you can count on a professional who will attend to the case in a personalized and will offer tailored solutions, taking into account the characteristics of the individual and the context in which that lives. In addition, these sessions can be carried out remotely through video call platforms, so there is no risk of contagion and total confidentiality is also maintained.

If you are considering seeing a psychologist to overcome confinement fatigue or any other form of emotional discomfort, Get in touch with me. I am an expert psychologist in the cognitive-behavioral model and I attend both in my office in Madrid and online.

Bibliographic references:

• Damrad-Frye, R.; Laird J.D. (1989). The experience of boredom: the role of the self-perception of attention. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(2): pp. 315 - 320.
• Dimidjian, S.; Hollon, S.D.; Dobson, K.S.; Schmaling, K.B.; Kohlenberg, R.J.; Addis, M.E. & Jacobson, N.S. (2006). Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, and antidepressant medication in the acute treatment of adults with major depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(4): pp. 658 - 670.
• Gollwitzer, P. & Brandstätter, V. (1997). Implementation Intentions and Effective Goal Pursuit. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 73:pp. 186 - 199.
• Leary, M.R.; Rogers, P.A.; Canfield, R.W.; Coe, C. (1986). Boredom in interpersonal encounters: Antecedents and social implications. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(5): pp. 968 - 975
• Maier, X. (2018). The art of having fun. Jerez de la Frontera: Mouse's Nest.