Cabin Fever?

[Gratefuled]

Do any of you expats ever get "cabin fever"?

 

I do, frequently. Our home is around 10 km from downtown. Even in a taxi, it takes time to get there thru the traffic and ongoing street construction. If I am home for more than 2 days I want to climb the walls. I gotta get out and about. I have my little conveniences here at home, still it is not enough. 

My wife likes her Philippine television in one room.; I have my sports and English programs in bedroom. She is in and out all day. Her parents and relatives live nearby but they cannot speak English. Our son, (stepson) is now 14 and he is in and out all day. Sometimes my Brit neighbor wanders by and we discuss the latest curent events. My Filipino neighbors are all very nice but I hate to impose on them. We play dominoes or Rummy occasionally. Still, I get "cabin fever". I need more. 

My visits to the malls is my escape. My wife is a very good companion and she sympathizes with me. We engage in conversations about anything that comes to mind. She is very supportive of my condition. I think it comes down to "loneliness". While I have everything I need here , still it is not enough. I miss the US and my friends, relatives and everything about it. Maybe that is why I complain so much about little things. 

[Old55]

I have never lived in Philippines only visited. I think I would have the same problem just too few things of interest to keep occupied compared to the West.

[i am bob]

I actually have the opposite problem...  As I mentioned numerous times before, I want to try and spend 8 hours a day  writing...  That is until my Special Someone comes home...  (soon...  soon...!)  But my Filipino friend likes to take me with him when he goes out for stock for his store, when he goes downtown for his other business (family business is mining), when there is a birthday in the family (he never tells me it's a birthday party, just going to see somebody's house or to see the family mine - which I still haven't seen...  hehe), if he needs to get work done on one of the vehicles...  You name it!  Lately, I'm never home!!!

 

He's going to be in for a shock once Av comes home!!!

 

:mocking:  :rolleyes:  :attention:

[scott h]

I think it comes down to "loneliness".

 

I hear what your saying Grate, one of the first things I tell folks back home if they express an interest in retiring here is that they really need to be comfortable in their own skin. Not saying your not, typing sometimes doesn't lend itself to proper expressions.

 

But if a guy is the type, IMO, that looks forward to Sunday mornings in front of the telly watching the game with his friends, or the type that always stops by on the way home from work at his favorite watering hole for a brew and a talk, in other words a real sociable type, he might not be really, really happy here. Most of the reasons you list apply, lack of conversational English, lack of shared cultural experiences etc, really limit the topics at times that can be discussed, add in the fact that we are usually on our guard not to offend anybody by criticizing things we see that could be improved. 

 

That is one of the reasons that I am glad that I live in a city, I pretty much step out my door and there is always something going on to chuckle about or just plain shake my head in amazement. I tip my cap to those who live in the sticks, I know I would go bonkers out there.

[Old55]

If you have any interests like learning guitar or studying some academic subject you could have a tutor come into your home and teach you one on one for a modest fee. 

[Dave Hounddriver]

I get cabin fever on occasion.

 

I used to get it back in northern Canada when there were no people around at all.  It shows its ugly head when an old friend or a new acquaintance happens by.  I talk their freakin' ear off.  Not intentionally though.  When I am running on normal I am often a good conversationalist but when I am starved for interaction in my peer group I may not even realize it until the opportunity comes along to unload on an unsuspecting ear.

 

It is worthwhile to introspect if you even suspect cabin fever or you will find yourself losing friends needlessly.  The cure is to do as Gratefuled does and seek our your peers, whether they be in coffee shops bars or on the golf course.

 

I have noticed some of our members posting drivel from time to time. indeed I am sure I have been guilty also, This is another sign of cabin fever.  I suspect another synonym for it would be "run-off-at-the-mouth" disease and it calls no country home.  You could be way up north, way down south, or near the equator and suffer from it.  Just be aware when it happens to you.

 

EDIT:  It may be beneficial to know the symptoms of cabin fever as everyone reacts different to it.  I think the following sums it up:

The American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association characterize the symptoms of cabin fever as:

 

• A lack of patience

• Always feeling tired

• Feeling unproductive and unmotivated

• Feeling sad or depressed

• Lethargy

• Difficulty concentrating

• Craving carbohydrates or sugar

• Difficulty waking in the morning

• Sleep disturbance

• Social withdrawal

• Irritability

 

Other symptoms of cabin fever are hopelessness, losing interest in the activities one used to enjoy earlier, weight gain/weight loss, difficulty concentrating and/or processing information and change in the sex drive.

 

 

Edited May 7, 2015 by Dave Hounddriver

[Jack Peterson]

This what I did to relieve  my Cabin Fever. Bought a Bike. :thumbsup:

Two fold story. Exercise ( and we all need that) +  I cycle the Barangay Roads and try and use the main roads seldom.

 I am lucky that I live in an Area of 5 pretty large Barangays so I am never bored of a Route, I can usually find a new one every other day or So. 

 

Works for me! and my Goodness, the amount of People I meet and have them Look out for me.

 

Just a Thought.

 

JP :tiphat:

Morning All late on, cos just come in from a Ride. :morning1:

[mogo51]

I am a sufferer also, I call it 'stir crazy'. It is worse for me when my gf is at work. TV just does not

cut it as it is constant repeats.

My lifeline is a couple of days a week, meet up with fellow expats for breakfast, now and again to a bar and a few

beers with the boys to talk some b.s.

I have times when I miss my friends back in Oz (I live in Thailand) but would not change my mind and go back to

Oz, too bloody expensive.

The next change will be when we head for Phils,but are looking at other possible locations such as Cambodia and Vietnam.

Just for another interim adventure.

[mogo51]

mountain bike.jpg This what I did to relieve  my Cabin Fever. Bought a Bike. :thumbsup:

Two fold story. Exercise ( and we all need that) +  I cycle the Barangay Roads and try and use the main roads seldom.

 I am lucky that I live in an Area of 5 pretty large Barangays so I am never bored of a Route, I can usually find a new one every other day or So. 

 

Works for me! and my Goodness, the amount of People I meet and have them Look out for me.

 

Just a Thought.

 

JP :tiphat:

Morning All late on, cos just come in from a Ride. :morning1:

I have been giving bike riding some though also Jack, But where I am now, the Thais would rather run over ou than

go around you. One of the things I noticed whilst there recently that Filipinos basically obey the road rules

just riding on the other side of the road is my concern. But no doubt after a few head ons, would get the hang of

it!

Can you give me the details of your bike Jack, dont have much of an idea about them.

[jon1]

I have weekly meetups with other expats, and plenty of hobbies to keep me busy. Then there are the minor emergencies (vehicle repairs, house repairs, etc.). You have to get some kind of transportation. Sometimes we just go out for a drive to get out of the house. Usually we don't have to deal with cabin fever until the monsoons start.