As the situation around the COVID-19 virus continues to subsist, governments around the world
are enforcing guidelines to decelerate the spread of the virus, namely by imposing social
distancing measures, which has been attributed to the success of many countries in slowing down
the spread. However, not many are discussing the underlying psychological implications of this,
and it is therefore vital that more become aware of the impacts of long-term isolation, which
many people are experiencing right now as a consequence.
The most common effect is boredom. When cut off from the outside world and left entirely to
our own devices, humans become restless and crave for physical contact. Taken to an extreme
extent, we may start experiencing cabin fever, a term used to describe a range of negative
emotions such as irritability and hopelessness that stem from a sense of claustrophobia.
However, more recognized mental disorders such as anxiety and depression have also been
spiking during these trying times as people struggle to cope with being alone without seeing an
end in sight. Not only do these mental illnesses harass their victims’ minds with suffocating
thoughts, science has shown that they may also bring about detrimental impacts to our physical
health as they increase our vulnerability to disease by triggering stress hormones and
inflammation, as well as higher blood pressure and heart rates. In the long run, prolonged
