# Do you think extended periods indoors has any negative psychological effect? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 27, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458 "2020-03-27T21:03:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/21 "2020-03-28T15:55:20Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s not them actually needing to go out as some requirement for good mental health. From things I’ve heard/read (including, for example, the post directly above yours) I think exposure to “nature” has a significant effect on the mental or emotional health of some people. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/22 "2020-03-28T20:49:27Z")
There has been research over the years that shows being out in nature does have some positive mental benefits. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/23 "2020-03-28T21:07:46Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Back in the day I spent a considerable amount of time on offshore drilling rigs. While maybe a bit less confining than what we’re talking about here, those rig could seem pretty small by the end of one’s tour of duty. Although the nominal hitch was supposed to be 28 days, it could be occasionally be much more than that. Most people could handle it; a few couldn’t. A few times guys had to be taken off because they went, for lack of a better term, **stir crazy**. Re: the bolded. I never thought about it before, but did that term refer to people going nuts in prison? Because ‘stir’ is slang for prison? Huh. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/24 "2020-03-29T01:42:07Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > With so many people talking about it, I assumed it depended on the population density. In particular, if you live in an apartment without a yard, where would you go? No one is being asked to “stay inside your home”. We are simply being asked to stay close to home and avoid getting too close to groups of people. No one is being not permitted to take their dog out for a walk in whatever kind of neighborhood you live in. Even if you live in a city high rise, there is plenty of space down on the city sidewalks to stroll around on and still not get too close to others. Grocery shopping, banking, etc. are all allowed. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/25 "2020-03-29T02:34:27Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > If everyone had to stay indoors for the entire time of this crisis, not go outside at all except for necessity, would that have any negative effect on the average, mentally healthy person? Socializing and being with other people is important. Variety in life is important. I love staying at home in my track pants playing video games as much as the next guy, and I’m really no social butterfly, but this genuinely bothers me, and it’s been two weeks. I find I’m sad a lot. And I have a kid to spend time with, a job during the days, and all the video games I care to play. I take walks, but not being able to do social things is getting to me. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/26 "2020-03-29T03:10:44Z")
I’d say the one thing for many people is the economic uncertainty. This isn’t like working from home for a week because of a polar vortex. Even if you know your job is secure, you probably know someone who’s laid off. And, most people understand that a global cessation of economic activity is unprecedented. This won’t be like resuming a movie that you paused for a bathroom break. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/27 "2020-03-29T03:42:58Z")
It’s hard to isolate the effects of being indoors from other things. I’m not indoors all that much more than I was before. I’m an essential state employee so I still have to work. So nothing has changed for me from the time I get up in the morning till the time I get home from work. On the weekends, I usually went to my daughter’s one day, so I was outside the house driving for about 45 minutes each way and then inside her house. Maybe did some shopping or went out to eat, but most of that time was indoors as well. But that doesn’t mean life isn’t a lot different - my husband is now home every.single.night and I haven’t seen my daughter’s family ( which includes a 6 month old granddaughter) in three weeks. My son usually came by a couple of times a week but he’s been here once in the last two weeks. I literally haven’t been anywhere except work and home in three weeks. My work-related stress is far worse than usual and as much as I’d like to take a mental health day, the truth is that taking an extra day or two off right now might have a negative impact on my mental health. But it’s not because I’m spending more time indoors. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/28 "2020-03-29T16:41:56Z")
I am accustomed to not going out much in the winter. I am waiting for spring when I can at least sit on my balcony or walk over to a nearby park. Without my wife, though, I would be going nuts. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/29 "2020-03-30T18:48:51Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Socializing and being with other people is important. Variety in life is important. > > I love staying at home in my track pants playing video games as much as the next guy, and I’m really no social butterfly, but this genuinely bothers me, and it’s been two weeks. I find I’m sad a lot. And I have a kid to spend time with, a job during the days, and all the video games I care to play. I take walks, but not being able to do social things is getting to me. I find being cooped up with my wife 24/7 and kids to be torturous. Like the season finale of Walking Dead where someone gets hit in the head with Negan’s bat. Except that someone is me and I keep getting smacked with it all day until next season…and I have no idea when that will be. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/30 "2020-03-30T19:24:52Z")
Reached my limit in the third week of having never been out except on the deck. Had to go for a run before I went bonkers. It sucked. I feel great! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/31 "2020-03-30T20:08:39Z")
This is getting old fast. Can’t have dinner parties, can’t go see movies, can’t go over to people’s houses, can’t go to church, can’t go to the gym. I can walk the dog, but I need conversation. The SDMB is nice, but (no offense) not real life. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/32 "2020-03-30T20:25:42Z")
I do think going outside has a lot of benefits and not doing it can be negative. For this situation I have been taking 1-2 walks every day, and sometimes a brief bike ride. Weekends I have been on my bike as long as the weather is nice. With “outdoor exercise” one of the permitted activities under “shelter in place,” the recreation trails around here have been just packed. With no school, no restaurants, no travel, no nuthin, people and families have nothing better to do than go outside. Granted, most people are taking the 6 foot rule seriously. The rest of my family has been staying inside. I don’t think my son has been out of the house more than once in the last week+, and his demeanor is getting meaner. My wife and daughter have ventured out for food but no one has accompanied me on my daily outdoor excursions. We all get along OK and generally stay out of each other’s hair, and we have a decent size suburban house. There have been a few verbal scuffles so far but that’s about it. However, I am concerned for those with different circumstances, and who are not taking a break from one another, or at least creating some space between one another. If you are getting irritated with someone in your house or apartment, I urge you to take a breather and go outside for a walk. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/33 "2020-04-01T10:36:48Z")
I don’t know about the average person, but I know it does for me. I can’t include myself as average or mentally healthy since I’ve struggled with severe social anxiety most of my life and pretty much just found myself “cured” around the day before all this started. Social isolation is about the most harmful thing I am likely to personally experience from this, but I feel prepared for it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458/34 "2020-04-06T18:53:41Z")
I haven’t actually had any extended physical isolation yet. I’ve been reporting to my Post Office job every day (the fact that I can’t hit a grocery store on my way home from work lately has been an annoyance, but nothing more). The true test is going to begin this Saturday, when I take two weeks of advanced leave. Kayla is around the apartment, logging into her university lectures on Zoom (the ones I’ve been able to “audit” have been mostly quite engrossing), so that’ll help some. The truth is, being Lorita’s ( **kaylasmom** ) caregiver for the past several years has sharply limited my interactions with the world outside my home and work contexts, so I’m probably pretty much acclimated to what I’ll be experiencing. Some events that I had been looking forward to have been canceled, unfortunately, but this leave will likely resemble the “staycations” I’ve grown accustomed to for quite some time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-extended-periods-indoors-has-any-negative-psychological-effect/850458.md?page=1)