What is cave syndrome?
Cave syndrome is not a theoretical or official diagnosis, this is a new term defining the condition of adult people facing nowadays after staying a long period in lockdown and social isolation.
During this trying time of pandemic caused by a COVID-19, many people feel uncomfortable going back to their normal life, cave syndrome has developed in them.
Now after staying in this cave, many people feel uneasy and anxiety grows in them about facing the world and returning to social life. They even hesitate to participate in real-time interpersonal communication. Even after getting vaccinated along with their full family, they are afraid to go back to their usual normal life. Some of them even lock themselves in their room.
After passing one year of sheer loneliness people feel uneasy to adjust to normal norms of life. The longer people live in their cave, the harder it becomes for them to get themselves out.
Two types of people
Cave syndrome is not limited to uneasiness towards normal life, it is much more than that. There are two types of people who fall into the category of cave syndrome. One type of people who get comfortable staying indoors and accustomed to this new form of lifestyle hence unwilling to go back to their normal life. Other groups develop a great fear of infection despite taking precautions, there is a gap of communication between the actual amount of risk and people perceive it as risk.
What to do now?
- Though you may have spent plenty of time residing inside your home, you may have lost touch with many of your friends and family. To get back to your normal lives you can think about the good time you spend with your kith and kins.
- Don’t be so hard on yourself. Take baby steps towards normal social life. Start communicating with friends and family while maintaining precautions such as wearing masks, being vaccinated.
- You don’t have to compare yourself with others, remember to move at your own pace.
- Anxiety and fear are the severe forms of this cave syndrome. If it becomes overwhelming you may take help from a mental health provider.
How to get rid of cave syndrome?
- Well, social gatherings at a larger scale may impose a great threat, we can arrange small gatherings maintaining all rules and regulations imposed by governments.
- Try to communicate with kith and kins. Maintain a healthy relationship with all of them.
- Try to go for a long trip to a distant place where the infection rate is lower.
Final word
Last, of all we all are going through a tough time, we have to take care of both our physical and mental health. Any obstacles you find to cope with the situation you must ask for help from others. Taking help from a doctor can make your life a lot better. Take baby steps to become accustomed to the current situation eventually everything will be alright.
