Seven months into the pandemic and living in the new normal continues to be an adjustment for many.
While most of us may have been uber cautious at the onset, with no clear end to the ongoing situation in sight, some may notice that they are no longer as vigilant as they used to be when it comes to practicing the recommended safety precautions – like washing hands, disinfecting groceries, and such.
So, does this mean the danger has passed? Well, not really. However, this is likely a case of the unintentional phenomenon called quarantine fatigue.
Quarantine fatigue is a mental state that occurs when our brains adjust the perception of threat to lower the stress levels, thereby inducing a decreased sensitivity to warnings. Add to that the isolation from a social setting where people can observe safety measures practiced by others as well as being overloaded with conflicting and ambiguous information.
According to Dr. Luana Marques, PhD., director of Community Psychiatry PRIDE and a Mass General Research Scholar 2020-2025, “Quarantine fatigue may look different from person to person, but overall, it’s defined as exhaustion associated with the new restrictive lifestyle that’s been adopted to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Dr. Jacqueline Gollan, a professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine who teaches psychiatry and behavioral sciences as well as obstetrics and gynecology, explains, “It’s reflected when we become impatient with warnings, or we don’t believe the warnings to be real or relevant, or we de-emphasize the actual risk,” she added. “And in doing that, we then bend rules or stop safety behaviors like washing hands, wearing masks and social distancing.”
The exhaustion from all the restrictive practices put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 can take a toll on our mental health and manifest as increased tension, irritability or anxiousness, a drastic shift in eating or sleeping habits, feeling unmotivated or reduced productivity, racing thoughts, interpersonal conflicts, or social withdrawal. Chronic stress, decreased sensitivity to warnings, and the inability to process new information with others may also contribute to quarantine fatigue.
However, this is not a comprehensive list. “There is no ’right’ way to feel right now and however you may be feeling is valid in its own right,” Dr. Marques said.
But, while quarantine fatigue is an actual thing, it’s not an excuse to throw caution to the wind. Instead, figuring out how to safely do some part of our normal routines could help give us a semblance of normalcy in this new normal.
There are also ways to combat quarantine fatigue, such as practicing self-care – including getting enough rest, nutrition and exercise; strengthening connections with others – engage in virtual conversations with friends and loved ones; and practicing mindfulness – like shifting your mindset to turn fear into inspiration, allowing for a more positive outlook.
“The key here is to figure out what we can put into place at home so that our mental health feels manageable without putting others at risk of contracting the virus,” Dr. Marques says.
