The New Normal, Cabin Syndrome, Symptoms, and Tips

Given the pandemic that we are experiencing, social isolation was adopted to a greater or lesser extent as the most effective measure to avoid continuing to infect us.

We stayed locked up at home, as it was our best way of taking care of ourselves, but after a long period of time and with very little limitation for outings, we got used to a greater or lesser extent to that "new way of life".

They say that it takes a person 21 days to acquire a habit; At first, acquiring it requires a lot of physical and mental effort, bringing anxiety as one of the most important symptoms. Then, as the days go by, we begin to get used to this new habit.

But... How do we go back? How do we start dating without fear? How do we adapt to the new hygiene and social security measures? How do we acquire it again?

• Related article: "10 daily habits that improve your emotional balance"

The process of returning to normality

Now we are in Spain in the de-escalation phase; This means that little by little we will begin to leave, with new limitations and customs that we will have to acquire little by little.

Something that I am seeing in many people is that now that we can get out little by little, a situation of fear and fear begins to be generated, which means that it is difficult for us to leave our house and the confinement that we have been experiencing for two months.

We talk about the cabin syndrome, which is the fear of going out, fear of contacting other people, fear of carrying out activities that were previously daily in our lives. We are aware of the real risk involved in exposing ourselves to leave.

That is why it is totally normal for feelings of insecurity and fear to arise, since we perceive our home as the only safe place to be. It has been difficult for us to understand that we should not leave home, but now that we can, it is difficult for us to face this new way of life, since after weeks of confinement our mind has become accustomed to the safety of our home. This is due to a natural consequence of spending so much time at home confined.

Symptoms that we can have if we are going through the syndrome of the cabin

These are the different ways in which this problem manifests itself.

• On a cognitive level: Difficulty concentrating, memory problems
• On an emotional level: Symptoms of depression, feeling more anxious, anguish, fear, feeling of suffocation
• Very afraid to go out, to resume our old routine, to establish social relationships, lack of motivation

How do I get back to the new normal?

The first thing I advise is make our exits gradually, that we ourselves are the ones who are regulating what we need and how we do it.

It is important to graduate our contact with the outside but little by little, and to see how we are feeling, what emotions it generates in us. It is essential that we listen to each other and reflect on what is happening to us, and that we can express it. I recommend doing it little by little, since in this way we will gradually make contact with our life and not abruptly.

It is also important that during the hours they let us do something that we like, such as enjoying the sun, smells, nature. If we like to do sports, gradually connect with it. It is much easier if we concentrate on these little things in order to be motivated so that the next day we can repeat the start. Before confinement, surely we did not stop to see many things because we always had them.

But now, after the wave of infections due to the pandemic, we should put more emphasis on the little things that we used to take for granted and that now we cannot do them.

To alleviate the symptoms of cabin syndrome, it is necessary to take into account respecting and following safety protocols. Faced with the fear that going out to the street can generate, Social distancing, use of a mask, hand washing is essential, where all together will provide us with more security, both individually and in our society.

It is normal to be afraid at these moments, but it is also normal to want to overcome it little by little and leave feeling more secure about ourselves and the outside.

To be able to practice, if possible, relaxation techniques and breathing, will make us feel calmer, and above all connect with our greatest fears in order to overcome them little by little.

In conclusion

In these weeks that we have ahead, I advise being able to evaluate ourselves and pay close attention to how we are feeling day by day, about all that if the feeling of fear continues to exist as the days go by, to be able to consult with a professional about what we are feeling. Many times it happens to us that we do not know how to get out of a situation, and we need psychological help to be able to do it.

We encourage everyone to be able to start being a little more positive, and that together we will be able to get out of this situation. It is normal that for some of us it may cost more effort, but that does not mean not getting it. Not all of us have the same times or the same tools, and none of us ever experienced this confinement. It is a totally new situation for everyone.