John E. Brasch lives in Creswell, Ore. He sustained a T11 complete spinal-cord injury after a passing automobile hit him while he was changing a tire on his car. Brasch holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from Northwest Christian College (Eugene, Ore.). He is a professional therapist who volunteers as a crisis counselor at his local juvenile detention center.

So, what is cabin fever? The best answer I could find is that it's associated with being confined in a manner from which you feel there is no escape. (Okay, so that sounds like my entire life!) Do you feel trapped and unable to get out? Do you sense there are no escape routes from your situation? Well, my friend, you may be suffering from cabin fever.

I know when my cabin fever is beginning. I find myself rolling aimlessly throughout my home. I also start feeling apprehensive and jittery.

What are some of the symptoms of cabin fever? Some people (including me) report wanting to sleep more than normal, while others say they can't sleep. Many (including me) want to eat more; others don't have the energy to eat.

Cabin fever can create hallucinations and deliria much like a high fever does. It's a real situation and affects millions of people from all walks of life.

So, what do you do when you feel "trapped"? How can you ease the sensations of being "confined"?

Don't become discouraged if something doesn't work. You may need to try several things. You may find you like more than you realize. It might take a while and many tries to decide what you like best. Keep trying.

Perhaps you like to knit or do needlepoint. I tried this once (only once), but I am too fumble-fingered. Needlepoint wasn't my thing, either. I have the wounds to prove it!

Do you like to play card games? Enjoy music or perhaps just like to sing? Do you write?

My friend likes to read and paint. He is talented, using his mouth to control the brush. He is resourceful, and this, I feel, is the key.

I don't know you, but perhaps you have this pressure of feeling homebound, caught up in the sense you might never get out again. What can you do right now to stop this feeling? Can you talk to someone? How about talking to yourself out loud? I do it! (Too much, some say; but hey, it works.) Can you call someone? Or pick up a piece of paper and just draw a few images that describe what you feel?

Close your eyes for a moment and take a deep cleansing breath. What will make you feel better and take your mind off the situation?

Look around you. What do you see? Does your environment make you feel comfortable and cozy? If not, why?

A picture titled "Dolphin Journey" hangs above my computer. It helps me take a quick escape from my cabin fever. Just looking at it gives me a sense of peace inside. When I add up all the times I do this escape, I start to realize just how much my minivacations mean to me.

What will you do when you need a quick escape or a minivacation? Perhaps you'll relive a wonderful experience or picture an exotic paradise.

Remaining active helps me. I listen to music and wave my arms around like a raving lunatic, but this makes me feel good. Isn't that what it's all about?feeling good about ourselves? Not just making it through the day or the next few hours, but about what we do for us.

I give you this moment to feel free. It's up to you to make it work for a lifetime.

Club, schools, and the American Red Cross and other agencies. "In the last 5 years, I've grown more than in the preceding 42," Brasch says. "I look at life two different ways: I have good wheelchair days—and not so good ones."