Post Vacation Depression...

Hi Beachgrl7,

Welcome to the HealingWell Depression forum. We are so glad that you have joined us.

I am sorry that you suffer from post vacation depression. I have never had this myself. But I am glad to know that it doesn't last that long for you. And that it does go away.

I think you have a good idea about starting counseling again. I would be interested in knowing what the counselor suggests to you to do to avoid having the depression set in.

I am sure that part of it is because you are sad that the vacation is over, but to get depressed to that much of an extreme that you do, I just don't know why. Like I say, I am just happy to know that it does go away. Do you think that something physical is going on due to travel or something? Just a thought. Though it does sound more like an emotional situation than physical.

I hope some other members come on with some ideas for you. Just being prepared for it I think helps, and trying to relax during the duration of it would help. Stay in the moment and take things one day at a time. I guess that is my advice for most everything these days. But I really do believe in staying in the moment.

Best wishes to you for a wonderful evening.

Hugs, Karen

Hello again, when I read your post the first time I knew exactly what you were talking about because I have gone through, and still do to some degree, the very same thing. I realized this a few years ago and began to try to find why and exactly what I was feeling. For me I found that it is unavoidable at some level, but I have learned to lessen it a few ways.

Firstly, realizing that the sadness is not needed at all, especially when you just had a great time...at least for me, has a bit of logical sense and also makes you think of the enjoyment of the trip. Another idea that helped me is somewhat related to the first, being that when I notice the sadness coming on as the occasion comes to an end...I realize what it is and begin to focus on only the good parts, the people, family, friends...and you can begin to sculpt the appropriate mood for the happy occasion. As you even said, "there will be more vacations and I will spend time with those friends again", so each time you work at correcting your mood you will get better at realizing that fact sooner and sooner. Also you can, instead of falling into the sadness (feeling of encompassing loss from leaving the great situation), you can start thinking about and planning the next great occasion. This is an awesome way to pull your thoughts in a positive, happy direction and also it is constructive in that you are already planning the next fun time :). Now these are just the things that worked for me, and everyone is different, so I just hope that you can use some bit of them to create your own personal coping method. It IS possible for sure, I know that from my own experience with exactly this problem, you can do it for sure ;-). Eventually you will have so much more control over your feelings in the situations (being that even I still feel a bit of sadness on the same occasions) and be able to handle them much better. Keep on posting and let us know how you are. I read new posts and reply at least every two days so if you ever post I will definitely read and reply with my two cents on the situation if I have it. I also have my email available on my profile, so feel free to hit me up anytime if you want to talk. For that matter anyone that wants, feel free, hehe I know that sometimes its easier in a one on one situation...but for the grand majority I'd say you found the right place :)


Christian

Hi All... thanks for the great advice. So its been two days and I definatly still have some degree of sadness but not as bad as it was when I last posted. Thinking of the next one and planning it in my head does help, but my feelings of sadness eventually creep up on that. Getting back into my normal work routine has helped, otherwise all I would do would be to sleep and look at the pics (which I have started to do, but only in small doses). Tomorrow will be hard because it is the one week mark that I arrived and my great time began. I will keep you all posted though

Hi Beachgirl,

I was glad to read your post because I go  through the same thing you described. I had a wonderful vacation with my wonderful husband and come home to being sad. I have nothing to be sad about at all but I'm like you ,the luggage, the pictures I just get a sick feeling when I think about it. I do this everytime so I know it eventually ends and I"m left with good memories of the trip but the first week or so is Bad..I'm glad you are on the upswing!!Good luck to you!!

I'm kinda in the same boat right now. Just got back off a weeklong vacation with my son. I seem to always have the blues after a vacation and know it will go away but I was hoping this time would be better. I am a basket case with crying and deep sadness.  My son is 15 and this might be the last time he'll want to go with me and I will have to go back to work tomorrow which doesn't help. We had a very good time and I've had a few days to rest but the thought of going back to work and maybe not having this chance again with my son is tough. My husband and daughter were not able to go and wouldn't have gone  on this particular trip anyway. Help.