Cabin Fever Kills

From time to time, I get locked in to my work. I do not get out of the house for days on end and stay locked into the monitor on my computer.

The result of this hiding out could be what some people call “cabin fever”. This is defined by Wikipedia as “a slang term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a party is isolated and/or shut in, alone or together, for an extended period. Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, forgetfulness, and excessive sleeping.”

It is not know exactly where the term originated. It may have been when the early settlers were kept in their cabins for long periods of time. Or it may have been the result of explorers crossing the seas on ocean crossing sailing trips and having to stay in their cabins for most of the trip.

All I know about it is that the result is that my wife tells me that I need to get out and go for a ride. Getting on my bicycle and riding for 30 minutes to an hour will snap me out of my cabin fever.

For me the way to get out of this mild depression is to get out and participate in life. To get out of the house and see something other than my computer screen.

The result of this “disease” is that one may become “restless, irritable and discontent”.

Get Off Of Your Butt

I am not sure why it happens or how some activity can cause it to go away. But, I think that if you have been feeling this way, get busy.

Go for a walk, go for a ride be it in a car, on a bicycle, on a horse. Just something to get the juices flowing and flush out the depression.

Here is Jack LaLanne’s take on the secret to happiness (it includes exercise).

Life is as good as I allow it to be.

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