Do people get island fever living on an island?

[susanlea]

I hear about this island fever. Is it real? Or just small town itis?

[RSD1]

Try it and let us know. 

[Hummin]

As every place in Thailand, do not get stuck.

Islands is better to visit, than living, but if I had to choose one place to live only in Thailand, it would had been an Island.

[susanlea]

https://www.surfertoday.com/environment/what-is-island-fever

 

See here

[CharlieH]

People in UK seem to manage OK.

 

Depends on the size of the island I suppose.🤔

[scubascuba3]

Yes i was on Koh Tao for a while and needed a break to Koh Samui, small islands are really limited 

[Gottfrid]

Psychological distress, dysfunction, or disorder

Island fever, also known as rock fever or cabin fever, is a psychological distress, dysfunction, or disorder that causes significant stress, abnormal thoughts, and feelings in people that are temporarily or permanently staying or living on islands123. It is characterized by feelings of claustrophobia, isolation, and disconnection from the outside world23. Island fever is a phenomenon that can affect individuals living on small islands, such as Hawaii3. It is not a medical term or classification and has not been the focus of any serious research4.

[susanlea]

12 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Yes i was on Koh Tao for a while and needed a break to Koh Samui, small islands are really limited 

How do people live in the same town there whole life? Some people do that.

[scubascuba3]

10 minutes ago, susanlea said:

How do people live in the same town there whole life? Some people do that.

They have cabin fever in town if they don't go anywhere. Also people who don't have social interaction will have similar feelings

[Hummin]

16 minutes ago, susanlea said:

How do people live in the same town there whole life? Some people do that.

If you have something to wake up to, and also need to do something useful and being diciplined helps alot wherever you are. 

 

Living on an Island back in the days, it was climbing, kayaking, diving, freediving and being social with equally minded people. We did activities together and had dinner together in the evening. At most we where more than 20 people showing up to the same restaurants. Of course before internet hit the Islands and ruined everything. 

 

Reading books and exchange books was the entertainment if not a movie night (pirate movie dvd) down at the beach on a white bedsheet and horrible speakers ,with the sound of waves in the background. 

 

People who had stayed for years, and people who came and went, and came back. 

 

That was the good old beach/Island days. 

 

And of course the bars with live music every Saturday, or any day someone felt for doing so.  

 

Today, I would choose an Island with a decent hospital and possibilities to be airlifted to Bangkok or a larger city.

[Yagoda]

Try living in Alaska

[Hummin]

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

Try living in Alaska

I would liked to do that when younger. 

 

Hunting and fishing but still connected to the society. 

 

 

 

 

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

Try living in Alaska

 

[AnotherOneHere]

As I see it: Thai people living on islands are getting compensated for very high local prices by selling their work/products for inflated price. Farangs don't. They just pay high local prices.

[nobodysfriend]

I live on an island with few inhabitants .

I built my little paradise here .

Whenever I have to go to the mainland by ferry , ( only 800 meters away ) ,

I can't wait to return .

No fever at all , but too many people on the mainland .

[EVENKEEL]

It's fun to visit the big city, but always....always I'm so happy to escape and get back to a simple slow paced lifestyle.

[CharlieH]

I worked in the Maldives many moons ago.Now that's a small island, you could walk around it in 15 minutes!

 

Was there for 6 months! As beautiful as it was, never again. No Internet then,  no TV. You could tell what day it was by the food you were eating.Only way off was by boat or sea plane.Bonus, saved nearly all my salary for 6 months.

[GinBoy2]

When I met my wife we were working in Singapore.

 

Not a tiny Island but we both got to the point where our monthly weekend escapes to KL or Langkawi kept us sane

[cobra]

As others have mentioned, at some point one may miss social interaction, be it a small island or a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere.

Then again, others enjoy the isolation. The key is not residing on a island so small you become friends with a soccer ball.

[Presnock]

17 hours ago, susanlea said:

I hear about this island fever. Is it real? Or just small town itis?

Live on one for a while, depending of course on size - I lived in Malta for a while - definitely got "island fever"...recall there was only 1 stoplight on the whole place.  Scenery on the Med though was fantastic.

[norfolkandchance]

21 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

I worked in the Maldives many moons ago.Now that's a small island, you could walk around it in 15 minutes!

 

Was there for 6 months! As beautiful as it was, never again. No Internet then,  no TV. You could tell what day it was by the food you were eating.Only way off was by boat or sea plane.Bonus, saved nearly all my salary for 6 months.

I used to stage though Gan in the early 70s.

[Wrwest]

10 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

 

Here, here!

[LALes]

We called it Rock Fever in Hawaii, where I lived on and off for 30 years.

The longest I stayed in Honolulu without leaving the island was 2 1/2 years.

I couldn't wait to get away but after 6 months, I couldn't wait to get back.

After I got back, I made provisions for leaving every year so I wouldn't get 

Rock Fever again.  If you have enough money, you can accomplish most 

anything in regards to lifestyle.

I have a similar situation now in Pattaya.  I need to get out after about 3 months

so I get on a bus and go to BKK for a few days.

What can you call that?  Slob Fever?

[SAFETY FIRST]

17 hours ago, susanlea said:

Do people get island fever living on an island? 

I hear about this island fever. Is it real? Or just small town itis?

I get too far away from the coast fever if I live inland. 

 

Grew up in Sydney, a few kilometres from the beach, lived near the sea all my life. 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

17 hours ago, susanlea said:

How do people live in the same town there whole life? Some people do that.

I'm sad for these people, I've got friends who live in the same city that they grew up in, it's not normal to me. These people never travel, no passport just stay in the same city. 

 

How BORING 

 

[Nemises]

Yes of course you get island fever. Variety is the spice of life, hence rent never buy - makes it easier to change location. 
 

 

[fondue zoo]

Is Island fever the same as Jungle Fever?   how many fevers are there?

 

Cabin fever

Gold fever

Election fever

Bieber fever

 

and my personal favorite

 

 

 

[ronster]

Some people get it but I think it's caused by seeing and doing the same things over and over without any new interactions in daily life. 

I stayed in samui for 15 years and found if I left for a few days every 6 months or so it didn't bother me.

[Prubangboy]

I lived on a mountain top for 13 years. It was fine because I really love the woods.

 

Nothing is more popular than the beach (which I can take or leave). So for me, it would have to be Samui or Phuket. I'd need non-beach distraction and a little bit of town life.

 

Put me on Phagnan and I'd be gone in a month. Prob the best beach, tho.

[Dexxter]

18 hours ago, CharlieH said:

People in UK seem to manage OK.

 

Depends on the size of the island I suppose.🤔

 

Sometimes I feel a little claustrophobic in the island of Australia