Cave Syndrome May Be The Cause Of Your Post-Epidemic Anxiety
- What is "Cave Syndrome"?
- Two Types
- Why It Happened
- How to Treat
Finally, we begin to see the light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel. After more than a year of N95, testing, speculation, fear, countless losses, terms, and local laws change constantly during the COVID-19 epidemic, we are finally approaching something similar. With 59% of American adults undergoing at least half an injection and studies confirming the effectiveness of the vaccine against the spread of coronavirus, the CDC announced on May 14 that fully vaccinated people could gather in uninfected homes where approved. Login: Cave Syndrome.
What is "Cave Syndrome"?
In the face of all this, all this progress has to be the best. But the year of separation and trauma has created new concerns (and in many cases stopped the existing ones) about how to return to normalcy. According to the American Psychological Association, 49% of all adults interviewed reported that they felt uncomfortable with returning to the community - and 48% of vaccinated adults would agree. a response to the trauma of one of the most turbulent years in recent history.
Two Types
Cave syndrome is more than just a little doubt about food in the house. According to Scientific American, sufferers often fall into two camps.3
The first ones are those who have become accustomed to what we called our "new normal" last year. They are hesitant to rejoin public life because of the positive changes that come with this new way of life: homework, public space, and no obligatory social gatherings.
The second group includes vaccinated individuals who still have a deep fear of infection or spread despite scientific confirmation from the CDC. "There is a difference between the actual risk factor and what people perceive as their risk," Alan Teo, associate professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University, explained to Scientific American.3 "We had to learn the habit of wearing a mask. to stay away from the community, not to invite people, "he added." It's very difficult to break this habit once you've done it. "
Why It Happened
According to Drs. Sanam Hafeez, those with existing disorders, especially those surrounding social or health issues, may have developed Cave Syndrome more than others.
"When the 'clear' bell rings suddenly, people have to worry about what they are wearing, what they look like, the journey they are taking or not going on, office politics, weddings, dinners, etc. Most of us are unemployed because we began to feel safe in our strange world," he explained.
How to Treat
Fortunately, there are steps that patients can take to alleviate those concerns and to slowly return to the community. Drs. Hafeez is clear that it is best to start small and avoid getting into a rut before you are ready. He says large gatherings may sound very threatening, and he suggests that you re-practice at a reduced rate. Instead of having a group dinner in a crowded restaurant, eat in a quiet place with two friends whom you trust completely. Instead of taking a long trip, an overseas flight, try something at home.
Equally important is being kind to yourself and being patient with yourself. If you read this, you are living in a tragic time that forced us all to change almost every aspect of daily life to protect ourselves and others — indeed many of us have developed coping strategies and new forms of depression. But what some mental-health professionals fear is that the more severe forms of Cave Syndrome can turn into something very debilitating. If your anxiety is beyond your control, reach out to a mental health professional or reputable provider.
Try to go at your own pace — remove the fear of missing out, and do not compare yourself with what others can do.
For those who think this is something they can handle on their own over time, Drs. Hafeez has a few important tips to keep in mind. "Try to go at your own pace - remove the fear of missing out, don't compare yourself with what others can do, but be willing to take small steps to move on to your comfort zone to get to the next level," he told Byrdie. "This epidemic has been a traumatic event and continues. As you begin to feel confident in doing small things with people you know and trust, you will gain confidence and be able to move on to new challenges with uncomfortable situations the way you were created."