Being cooped up

[MidnightPanic]

I've been home all week and barely left the house except occasionally to get food. Sometimes being stuck in the house all day can make me feel anxious. I know i should go outside to get some fresh air, but the weather has been pretty miserable lately. What do you guys do to break up the monotony when you're stuck at home? I've been watching TV all day but that's given me a headache.

[rookfire95]

that's really tough i start to get anxious if i stay at home too long too. i usually try to do things that actively engage me so i don't have to dwell on how cooped up and bad i feel. i write, try to learn something new, try some kind of arts and craft... hope that helps? what shows have you been watching lately?

[MidnightPanic in reply to rookfire95]

I forced myself to walk around in the backyard for about 5-10 minutes. It took a bit, but the headache is starting to go away. I've been binging The Expanse and Smallville lately.

[rookfire95 in reply to MidnightPanic]

Glad to hear you got up! It's tough to make yourself move but being outside helps. And oh I have those shows on my to-watch list!

[Dilaw808]

I try reading, listening to music, do some stretching or maybe even some lite exercises with the medicine ball, but I haven’t done that at all lately, cook, bake, clean house, organize areas of my house that are disorganized. Go through my clothes and make a bag to donate of stuff I haven’t or no longer wear. Even with all of that I still get anxiety. But sometimes the above things I mentioned can make my mind drift away from the anxiety. And it seems like as soon as I sit down it comes rushing back. Anxiety sucks. I also live in a place where it’s too cold to go outside. I like distractions. But sometimes I don’t have any or those even don’t work. I hope some of my suggestions work for you. But I feel you. I feel like a hermit.

[MidnightPanic in reply to Dilaw808]

I just realized, on days where I do house chores usually are the days where I don't have that bad of anxiety. Guess I'll make tomorrow a laundry day to break up sitting on the couch watching tv all day.

[HikerBunny]

I am in the same boat with you. Sometimes I will stay in the house for days to weeks at a time since I work online. I try to read and keep my mind busy. I have recently started playing with the app; Duo Lingo to learn the basic of Spanish. It's free and is actually kind of fun!

[Beneks]

You are not alone!! I am in the same situation as you. Watching Tv all day and every night promise to myself to get myself out the next day but after drinking my coffee, I always find some excuses since I feel like sick and tired even for walking around. If I am not watching TV, I am looking for a job but not hearing anything at all. I got my MBA degree just recently and I was hoping to find a good job but not even finding anything to jump out of my depression. Feel helpless. At past, exercising helped me a lot but nowadays I don't have any energy even walking. I know life is just like a cycle with ups and downs and we are having the downside now. Keep pushing yourself for exercising and going out. Happy days are coming soon!

[Hello_Vivi]

I'm in the same boat and dealing with cabin fever because of this crappy winter weather. I will sometimes force myself to take a long bath or shower and use any nice creams or face masks I have. It helps me feel like I did something and I'm kind of pampering myself. It helps to distract me and also makes me feel as though I didn't completely waste the day.