Cabin Fever

The Price of Solitude

I truly love the soft serenity that the Boreal Forest offers any person who stops long enough to seek out the beauty of solitude; however, I would be lying if I didn't admit that solitude sometimes has a price. Perhaps you think I am referring to the lack of socializing. Well, that might be partially true. The real price is cabin fever.

While cabin fever is definitely a negative experience, I have always thought of a teddy bear fridge magnet Grandma would point to now and again that read, "Grin and bear it." That mantra of hers has stuck with me and it should come as no surprise that I have come to accept one of the most psychological circumstances of life on Rosehill as just a yearly phase we go through as a family.

You may be wondering why I've decided to talk about cabin fever. My reason is simple. It's reality. When I first began MUL, I decided to portray life as it is lived, not as I might wish it could be. If I didn't admit to getting cabin fever, I would be portraying reality as skewed, unrealistic, and might as well deem my family perfect in spite of our flaws. So it seems vital to discuss the cabin dweller's equivalent to the sailor's doldrums.

What is cabin fever?

What is cabin fever? I'm sure we all have our own definitions, but I would describe it as a crazed irritation that ignites at the slightest provocation. Raw nerves and frustrated tension tightened until that they are primed to snap. You become annoyed at the slightest hint of sound from one of your family members and reclusive to the point that you are as wary as a wild animal. (Odd as it is, I admit to hiding in the bush at times when I see a car coming.)

Now, none of these feelings are anyone's fault. In the spring and summer you can get outside, get your dose of vitamin D, and greatly reduce the effects of cabin fever.

In the winter, cabin fever builds up silently, the sky clouds over, you get far less sunshine, and most of your time is spent cooped up like a chicken that spent her summer running around the farmyard.

Yes. It's hard to adjust.

Coping

Since cabin fever is an annual problem, I have had time to devise ways of coping with an otherwise impossible feeling issue.

1. Get outside anyway. I'm not saying I don't fight the idea sometimes, it can be very hard to force myself to get outside, but I do know that one long walk a day does wonders for my mood. The temperature is irrelevant, as I layer up and go anyway.

2. Find ways to get through really cloudy weeks. Personally, I find citrus, juice, a calming tea with honey, or a steaming mug of hot chocolate can help get my senses going. I keep a candle lit and find the flickering flame soothing when the levels of light are low.

3. Lose yourself in an engaging book.

4. Lose yourself in your imagination.

5. Knit. It sounds weird, but the repetition helps me organize my thoughts (I imagine crochet works just as well). Besides, wearing out your irritations from cabin fever by doing this kind of activity results in great projects that also make great gifts.

6. Write. Maybe it's just because I like writing that I find this option effective. However, keeping a journal of your thoughts, dreams, and contemplations does seem to make the days go by faster.

7. Watch a movie with your family. When I'm really struggling with cabin fever, I choose war or action. Recently, I found Band of Brothers particularly effective as there are also a few comedic moments.

8. Any other hobby that you find soothing. I do find that engaging my creative side over my more analytic side is better where cabin fever is concerned.

9. Write letters (yes, I mean snail-mail style) to those you love. For example, I write family, honorary family, and friends just because I can, and hope to make them smile as they sift the bills from the flyers.

10. Try something new. Expand your reading list from your standard fare -- I once did Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove books, several of Terry Pratchett's Discworld Series, and all the Jules Verne books I could find in a six month time period -- pick up a new hobby or ask family members to teach you more about one of their hobbies (you may be surprised at what they know).

11. Bake bread the pioneer way, using no bread makers or mixers. Kneading is a great way for getting rid of your wintertime frustrations and the smell of the bread will help perk you up too! I love this one!

12. Above all, start your day off as positively as possible. It can be hard, of course, but if you train your mind, it gets much easier.

13. Avoid eating out of boredom. I did this one winter an can testify that it left me more miserable than when I started.

14. Get in touch with your spiritual side. Momma strongly recommends prayer.

15. Music. Whether it's listening to the radio, CDs, MP3s, or making music of your own, it helps.

16. Take time to laugh at yourself. If you're too far gone, try finding a comedy station on the radio because that helps too.

17. Do something random for others. On the back of every personal envelope I send, you will find, "Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty." I think it sums it up.

Along with techniques of your own, I hope you are able to get through cabin fever, as you experience it, until you can get outside in the spring. Though cabin fever isn't fun, at least it can be made bearable. Knowing and accepting it as part of my life has made all the difference because now I can focus on all the things that really matter.

When you think about it, cabin fever amounts to the kind of diversity that, if overcome, makes for times to remember in years to come.

Life couldn't be better.

Love,
Jenny

P.S. If any of you who read this post have gone through cabin fever, or something like it, I would love to hear your ideas and stories of how you get through the winter doldrums. ~MUL