Summary
Have you ever had to stay at home for an extended period of time without leaving? Some people suffer from this experience. Find out an interesting expression, and some ways to deal with those feelings in this episode of The English We Speak.
Transcript
Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei…
Roy
…and me, Roy.
Feifei
We may sound a little different – that’s because we are not able to record in our normal studios during the coronavirus outbreak. There’s been a lot of discussion about self-isolation and staying at home, and today we have an interesting expression to talk about the stress you may feel in that situation.
Roy
That’s right Feifei. Today, we’re going to talk about ‘cabin fever’.
Feifei
Exactly. Cabin fever is the reaction to feeling trapped or isolated in a building for too long. It can be really stressful. This expression probably comes from people being trapped and not able to leave a small wooden house known as a cabin. The may not have been able to leave due to extreme weather conditions like a snowstorm, as these buildings are often found on mountains or hills.
Roy
People can become sad, restless and even lack concentration. They may also get food cravings, which in turn may lead to weight changes.
Feifei
That’s right. It’s a really serious thing, and it can cause you to suffer from anxiety.
Roy
Which is why we’re going to tell you some things that experts say you can do to help you cope with cabin fever.
Feifei
Yes, we’ll let you know right after these examples using the words ‘cabin fever’.
Examples
I started to suffer from cabin fever after I was stuck at home for two weeks.
Some scientists think that cabin fever is linked to the feeling of claustrophobia – the fear of being in closed places.
He said he felt really anxious and that he was suffering from cabin fever after not being able to leave his house. He also said he had gained weight.
Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re talking about the expression ‘cabin fever’, which is the feeling of stress from isolation that some people experience when they stay in a building for an extended time.
Roy
But apparently there are some ways that you can cope if you’re suffering from cabin fever, aren’t there Feifei?
Feifei
That’s right. One of the first things they say to do is to set regular meal times, so kind of a routine – much like you would have if you were going to work.
Roy
Yes, this helps regularity and limits binge eating and weight issues. Also, it’s important to try and stimulate your mind.
Feifei
Things like television are OK for distraction, but they don’t overly stimulate you. Something like reading a book may be more interesting and keep your mind active.
Roy
Yes, and doing things like puzzles or crosswords can also help. I really enjoy doing quizzes online. Also, you should make sure your friends and family are coping if they are in the same situation.
Feifei
Absolutely. A phone call to someone to check on them may really help them, and you can also give them the same advice we’re giving you now. Finally, it’s important to set goals. Try to achieve things in your day to keep you focussed. You could even make weekly goals depending on how long your isolation will be for.
Roy
Hey, why not try writing a book?
Feifei
That’s an idea. Bye, Roy.
Roy
Bye.