How to avoid and cope with quarantine fatigue

Months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of the disease and public safety precautions have been devastating — mental health and addiction issues have risen, jobs have been lost and, tragically, tens of thousands have lost their lives. Some have simply become weary of the monotony and loneliness of staying at home. These lonely and isolation can be more severe in laryngectomees and head and neck cancer survivors who have communication difficulties.

All of this has led to what experts are calling “COVID-19 quarantine fatigue,” a modern-day version of what is known as “caution fatigue.” This is a phenomenon when one’s body and mind tire of the persistent sense of danger and the constant stress it is causing, leading to becoming complacent or unable to make good decisions.

With quarantine fatigue, one might grow weary of — or actively ignore — the precautions that can slow the spread of COVID-19. The sense of urgency in managing the global health emergency may fade,  leading to impatient or tiredness of complying with the health and safety guidelines.

One may begin to feel hopeless, as if no amount of measures can keep one safe from exposure. This can result in decreasing the home sanitizing and forgetting to wear a face covering when going out. Some may expand the number of people they spend time with in person or forego all precautionary measures.

There is an understandable eagerness to ‘go back to normal.’ Since the virus is invisible,  it may seem that it does not really exist, even though there is evidence it is still spreading. There is a genuine desire to and interact and connect with others and deny or ignore the health risks associated with the virus.

It is important to resist quarantine fatigue and remember that we are all in this together and it takes cooperation from everyone in the community to decrease the spread of COVID-19. Yielding to isolation fatigue can cause an increase in COVID-19 cases as well as repeated lockdowns and further shuttering of businesses and schools. A rise in infection rates, can overwhelm the health care system, and increased deaths in those who are vulnerable.

Resisting quarantine fatigue is especially important in older adults, people who have severe underlying medical conditions and immunocompromised individuals who are at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

Enclosed are recommendations how to avoid quarantine fatigue and continue being diligent in the collective efforts to keep our community healthy and reduce the number of COVID-19 infections:

• Staying informed with trusted and reliable resources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
• Avoiding constant exposure to news, though it may be beneficial to check local news at occasional intervals to learn pertinent details about COVID-19 in your community.
• Taking care of oneself — eating a nutritionally balanced diet, exercising, getting appropriate amounts of sleep, practicing self-care, and taking care of one’s medical needs.
• Staying connected with loved ones, friend and support groups.
• Maintaining precautions to avoid catching or spreading the disease.