After Covid-19, is Cave Syndrome the new worry in town?

With the markets and offices opening up, are you finding it difficult to step out? Does the idea of getting back to your former life make you feel uncomfortable?

After the deadly second wave of Covid-19 and the prolonged lockdown, people are now a bit apprehensive about going out and about as usual. Arthur Bregman, a psychiatrist in Coral Gables, Florida calls it the “Cave Syndrome.” According to him, cave syndrome “occurs when people become attached to the Covid-19 situation.” This doesn’t mean they get attached to the virus but “attached to the home, the anxiety of uncertainty and its effects on our daily lives.”

This syndrome might seem common amongst people who are introverted and like to turn inwards when faced with a threat or fear. But it is interesting to note that this syndrome is not something that will only affect the introvert. In his article “Cave Syndrome: A Condition of Our Times”, Bregman expressed that, extroverts can also begin to live with the fear of uncertainty where the home becomes a safe space. He finds this occurrence similar to Stockholm syndrome wherein people rely on the captor for comfort.

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But there is hope at the end of this tunnel as love and affection from a dear one can help you come out of the cave. Companionship and support will help build an aura of happiness and prevent the development of Cave syndrome.