Storage fever: where it comes from and what helps against it

Carola Felchner is a freelance writer in the medical department and a certified training and nutrition advisor. She worked for various specialist magazines and online portals before becoming a freelance journalist in 2015. Before starting her internship, she studied translation and interpreting in Kempten and Munich.

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As much as you love your family, sitting together in the apartment day in and day out is a strain on your nerves - and can even become a real psychological burden.

The corona-related domestic isolation through exit restrictions and contact bans presents families, couples and singles with very different challenges. "It is a stress test for many relationships and families," says the professor for clinical psychology and psychotherapy at Chemnitz University of Technology, Stephan Mühlig.

Isolation and tightness create stress

The most important thing is: keep calm. Otherwise there is a risk of psychological stress that is known as "camp fever". "It is an unprecedented and for most of them completely unfamiliar exceptional situation. Long-term isolation threatens psychological damage," says the scientist, referring to earlier epidemics or recent experiences in China. "There it has been shown that months last Curfew leads to social stress when people are locked in their apartment for a long time. "The consequences: restlessness, trauma, depression, sleep disorders or panic attacks.

"It's probably in our genes, we defend ourselves against being too tight." How severe the stress becomes depends on the type and quality of relationships between people as well as tolerance and handling of such situations. Mühlig is very concerned about many elderly people living alone or single parents who cannot cope with the double burden of home office and childcare.

Structure in the daily routine and movement

In general, Mühlig advises maintaining the usual daily rhythm, creating structure and creating emotional stability. Walks and other exercise in the fresh air strengthened the immune system and improved blood flow to the organs, including the lungs. Indoor training for 15 to 30 minutes a day can also help the immune system and reduce stress: from squats to tai chi. And rules for living together and doing the household are needed - time together and the opportunity to withdraw.

"The most important thing is not to drive yourself crazy," warns Mühlig. Rather, it should be remembered that the situation is of a finite duration and that society and individuals will face the challenges. (caf / dpa)

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