Clinophilia (not Getting Out Of Bed): Characteristics Of The Symptom And Treatment
When we are sad and tired, such as when we are heartbroken in love or when we are fired from a job, making the slightest effort can go a long way. We may not feel like doing anything and even the only thing we do in the first moments is lie on the bed, whether we are sleeping or not, thinking or simply letting time pass.
Generally it is something occasional, but sometimes this type of attitude is much more frequent than usual and even becomes a trend. This tendency, typical of situations of high emotional discomfort and even medical or psychiatric disorders such as depression, has a specific name: we are talking about clinophilia
Clinophilia is understood as excessive tendency on the part of a subject to remain bedridden or lying down , often without the desire or strength to carry out any other activity beyond remaining in said position. This permanence is not justified by the presence of an organic cause: that is, the subject is not bedridden because he cannot, biologically speaking, get up from it. Therefore, behind it there is usually some type of psychological alteration or discomfort, the association with suffering being frequent.
Clinophilia is not a disorder in itself, but rather a behavioral manifestation that could be indicating the presence of one: that is, we are facing a symptom of the existence of a problem It is generally associated with emotional discomfort that is not known how to avoid.
Symptoms
In this sense and to a large extent, we can consider that clinophilia is associated with the feeling of learned helplessness: continued exposure to a situation from which we have not found a way out makes us consider that our resources are not sufficient to deal with the situation. aversive, inhibiting our actions and acquiring a position of passivity in this regard.
Remaining lying or recumbent prevents us from encountering the cause of our pain and allows us to be in a controlled and relatively safe place, so that exposure to the direct cause of the discomfort is prevented But on the other hand, it prevents us from solving it, which in the long run usually generates even greater discomfort.
Although clinophilia itself is only this tendency to remain practically immobile and passive in bed, it is usually accompanied by apathy, sadness, mental or physical fatigue, irritability and difficulties finding beauty and pleasure in everyday life.
Depending on the case, crying may appear , as well as a lack of sensitivity and emotion may appear, like emotional anesthesia. It is not uncommon for hypersomnia to also appear due to lack of activity, and/or to be accompanied by nocturnal insomnia with lack of restful sleep.
At the level of consequences, in addition to enhancing the above, it is common for those who express it to generate a certain feeling of guilt for the lack of action and a decrease in self-esteem.
At the social level, labor problems can occur (for example, lateness or absenteeism), and at a social level it can also generate conflicts with the environment (such as the partner or people who cohabit with the subject) and even isolation (both due to the lack of desire on the part of the subject to relate and due to a possible rejection of said attitude).
Causes and problems in which it usually appears
Clinophilia is a passive attitude that usually occurs as a reaction to a stressful, traumatic or painful situation for the subject. This behavior It does not have to be derived from suffering from a psychiatric disorder but it can appear due to the experience of phenomena such as those written in the introduction, the death of a loved one (it can appear in a grieving process), relationship problems or even due to the mere lack of vital goals and self-realization.
In any case, what is usually based is a high level of suffering and emotional discomfort that saps the subject’s energy.
Regarding its appearance in mental disorders, the disorders most linked to clinophilia are major depression and other depressive disorders, anxiety problems, bipolar disorder (in depressive phases) and psychosocial stress continued over time.
It is also possible to appear after experiencing trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (although in this case there is also hypervigilance and restlessness, making the stay in bed restless and tense), and in personality disorders such as depressive or borderline.
Another possibility with which it may appear associated is the abulia and alogia existing in patients with cognitive impairment, such as in psychotic patients with negative symptoms.
However, it must be taken into account that clinophilia can be both a symptom of a disorder and of a response to the diagnosis, course, prognosis or difficulties generated by it (that is, it is not the disorder that generates it but a reaction to some aspect of it). Likewise, it can also be a reaction to the diagnosis of medical illnesses such as cancer, HIV-AIDS, diabetes or heart disease.
Treatment of this behavioral symptom
Treating clinophilia can be much more complicated than it seems. Although the treatments may seem relatively simple, they must be take into account the great suffering and discomfort caused by the patient being in this state , understand it and respond. Likewise, it must be taken into account that in order to go to the consultation the patient (or her surroundings) has had to overcome her resistance to action, something that must be assessed and reinforced.
The first step would be to discover the reason why the person with clinophilia maintains this behavior, what they consider to be its cause, their emotions and thoughts regarding their lack of action and the interpretation they make of it (as well as the functionality that they can find in her). Likewise, it must be assessed whether there are disorders such as major depression or bipolarity in order to provide adequate treatment (remember that clinophilia is a symptom of something, whether or not it is a mental disorder, and not a disorder in itself).
Once this is done, the fundamental step is to promote the activation of the subject. Establishing psychoeducational guidelines is useful , as well as programs pleasant activities or small steps (more or less graduated depending on the problem, if a dramatic change is required the patient will probably not accept it) that the subject forces himself to do. For example, taking out the trash or taking a walk around the block. By promoting an activation contrary to emotional discomfort, little by little the subject will present a certain behavioral improvement, but this should not be the only thing that is carried out.
And it is also necessary to carry out work regarding the causes of your discomfort. An example in this sense can be found in Beck’s cognitive therapy or in the cognitive restructuring of the beliefs and biases that the patient has Work on self-esteem and self-concept is also necessary.
An important step is to promote the progressive empowerment of the person. To do this, they can try to remember similar moments that the subject has successfully overcome, explore their attitudes, actions and the consequences they had and analyze their applicability to the current case. Also favor the presence of activities in which the subject presents certain mastery and expertise in such a way that he sees himself as valid and capable.
Stress management training can help raise awareness of different ways of coping with difficulties, just as expressive therapies can help release the internalized discomfort of the person who suffers. In cases where there are sleep problems, appropriate treatment will also be required, as well as sleep hygiene.
