Cabin fever: The English We Speak

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei

and me, Roy.

We may sound a little different – that’s

because we are not able to record in our normal

studios during the coronavirus outbreak. There has

been a lot of discussion about self-isolation

and staying at home, and in this programme we have an

expression to talk about the stress

you may feel in that situation.

That’s right Feifei. Today, we’re going

to talk about ‘cabin fever’.

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.

People can become sad, restless and even lack

concentration. They may also get food cravings,

which in turn may lead to weight changes.

That’s right. It’s a really serious thing,

and it can cause you to suffer from anxiety.

Which is why we’re going to tell you some

things that experts say you can do to help

you cope with cabin fever.

Yes, we’ll let you know right after these

examples using the words ‘cabin fever’.

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.

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.

But apparently there are some ways that you

can cope if you’re suffering from cabin

fever, aren’t there Feifei?

That’s right. One of the first things they

say to do is to set regular meal times, so

kind of like a routine – much like you would

have if you were going to work.

Yes, this helps regularity and limits binge

eating and weight issues. Also, it’s important

to try and stimulate your mind.

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.

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 families

are coping if they are in the same situation.

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.

Hey, why not try writing a book?

That’s an idea. Bye, Roy.

Bye.