Cabin fever is the distressing irritability or restlessness felt by a person or a group who are stuck in an isolated place or in confined quarters for an extended time. A person in that state may be called stir-crazy, a phrase derived from stir, meaning prison. Typical settings include a vacation cottage in the countryside, a submarine spending long periods underwater, or a stay-at-home order or martial law. Described experiences include sleepiness or sleeplessness, distrust of the people one is with, and an urge to go outside even in bad weather or poor visibility. The term is also used humorously for simple boredom from being home alone for a long time. Cabin fever is not itself a disease and there is no diagnosis, but related symptoms can lead to irrational decisions, such as suicide, paranoia or leaving shelter during a snowstorm, that may endanger life.
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