Couples around the world are being impacted by this challenging time. According to surveys we conducted recently, here are just a few examples of how people are reacting to sheltering in place:

1. Some love it. They enjoy having more time together and a slower pace. “We are really getting to know each other better.”
2. New couples decided to quarantine together and moved in hardly knowing each other. They’re finding out quickly whether they’re compatible or not.
3. Divorce filings increased in Wuhan and New York.
4. Domestic Violence hotlines are busier than ever. The rate of calls to the suicide and help hotline in Los Angeles went up more than 8,000%.
5. In our own informal research therapists report couples struggling with too much time with their spouses and kids.

In the surveys we conducted, we found that cabin fever creates increased challenges for couples.

So what is cabin fever?

There’s no official definition, but we define it in this case as the tension and anxiety that results from being trapped in confined quarters daily with your soulmate turned work-chore-parenting-schooling-health-mate.

There are many more interdependencies and fewer distractions than usual, a higher need for good routines, and fewer opportunities for social connections with others.

The internet is full of jokes about overeating and excess drinking. Some partners report feelings of dread, loss, grief, or anxiety. Overall the ability to cope with stress is lower.

What does this look like?

Many couples report that they feel restless, lethargic, and have low motivation to do projects. Others are sad, depressed, or crabby. It’s not unusual to cry unexpectedly or erupt because of a small upset.

What Contributes to these Symptoms?

We’ve seen 5 categories that create major irritants and difficulties for couples.

1. Messes

• Dinner not cleaned up until midnight
• Laundry on the floor for days
• Kids’ toys not picked up
• Chores left for whoever gets sick of it first

2. Boundary invasions

• Loud music, talking, “will I ever get some quiet?!”
• Chewing gum or loud mouth noises
• Constant interruptions of work time and space
• Kids’ needs increasing

3. Health and Safety Disagreements

• Disparate standards of cleanliness and safety protection
• Very different levels of caution
• Who can go out, come in, where is okay to go
• Complexity of these issues not discussed well

4. Economic Concerns

• Loss of jobs and income
• Business future uncertain

5. Facing Real Losses

• Death of a friend or family member
• Postponed or even cancelled graduations, weddings, funerals, family reunions

For many couples this is a traumatic time. The more time a couple spends together without agreements, boundaries, or routines, and the smaller the space, the more possibility there is for conflict.

The more fear and anxiety is left unprocessed, the more this will contribute to fights, explosions, or shutdown and withdrawal – and a decline in mental health.

For a long time, many psychologists embraced a victim narrative about trauma, believing that severe stress causes long-lasting and perhaps irreparable damage to one’s psyche and health.

But when researchers and clinicians looked at those who coped well in crisis, they found that it’s possible to grow from it by cultivating an attitude of tragic optimism.

The term was coined by Viktor Frankl, the Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist from Vienna. Tragic optimism is the ability to maintain hope and find meaning in life despite inescapable pain, loss, and suffering.

This time provides an opportunity for couples to find meaning, whether it’s new ways to collaborate, building their connection, or becoming a stronger team.

If you’d like to help your couples grow from adversity, consider helping them find meaning in this time.

Recently, my husband Dr. Peter Pearson did a demonstration with a couple and helped them consider themselves as a team for the first time. They hadn’t thought of teamwork as a form of meaning. But by the time Pete was done working with them, they felt connected, collaborative, and were able to find the silver lining in the situation.