You’ve just returned from what feels like your first vacation in forever. Maybe it was the trip of a lifetime. Maybe it was a weekend escape. Either way, chances are you found some time to get away this summer – and probably for the first time in almost 18 months.
Regardless of the destination, you may be feeling a persistent sense of sadness or uneasiness. Post-vacation depression or post-vacation blues are real and occur in up to 57% of travelers. The juxtaposition between the joy and excitement experienced on vacation compared to the hum drum monotony of every day life can exacerbate these feelings of sadness. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, feelings of nostalgia, disappointment and boredom. Jet lag in addition to an abrupt return to normalcy may exacerbate the post-vacation blues.