Anxious about reentering society? It may be 'cave syndrome'

A few weeks ago I wrote a column in which I briefly referred to the concept of "cave syndrome." The term was coined by a psychiatrist in Florida to describe people who are feeling scared or unwilling to reenter post-pandemic society — even after being vaccinated — because they have grown too accustomed to isolation.

I mentioned it only in passing, having heard something about it on a local news broadcast. But when the column appeared, I was surprised by how many people wrote or spoke to me about it, saying it was something they were experiencing