Comments on: The “post-tropical vacation blues” hypothesis

By: just me

just me — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:12:14 +0000

I don't agree with your theory. The only reason being because 2 friends that were married while we were in Mexico stayed there when the rest of the group left. They are supposed to be there for 3 more weeks for truer honeymoon, but both have been so upset since the big group left that they are coming home early. I think the camaraderie and lack of responsibility are the biggest culprit of post vacay depression. All parties involved gave looked forward to this gateway for so long, then you come back with no fun goal. Just a thought. I am going through this now.

By: Estrella

Estrella — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:26:43 +0000

OMG, I have found my people! I’m a secretary who gets a 2 week vacation per year. Every year I go to the tropics because its what I love and where I long to be, and every year, I suffer emotionally from the moment I return. This year has been the worst yet. Everything I love about life is somehow not found here in the land where I was born “New England”. You can swim in the ocean in June, July & August here. THATS IT without a wetsuit. I work f/t so now cut that to after 6pm or weekends. Approximately 12 of them (and theres not always perfect weather). So maybe 6 weekends per year I can get in the dirty, mucky long island sound, assuming I have no prior commitments to attend to like weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, etc., I’d be lucky if I got in the ocean 5 days a year!You’ll can’t snorkel as you can’t see your hand in front of your face. The seaweed is grose, I once came very close to stepping on a hypodermic needle on the beach but my friend stopped me just in time. I’m sorry to say but I hate where I’m from. I’m a beach person & long badly for an island lifestyle. I’m grateful to find this blog but there is no way a humidifier, air purifier & dietary supplements can fix this (with all due respect). I live 365 days waiting for 14 days of “happy”. My life is on constant hold. I hold off on getting married, having kids, starting a business, buying a condo. I’m scared sh*tless of getting “stuck” here but financially, I live check to check. I’ll be 37 this year. My mom is pissed because she wants me to marry & have kids. Meanwhile, I want nothing more than to live on an island but cannot afford to and every time I mention it, get handed guilt trips handed about how could I possibly choose to abandon my family? I’m sorry for the rant but like others mentioned, its at least a mild comfort to know I’m not alone.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:59:17 +0000

I just returned from a lovely island vacation and I’m DEPRESSED… switched off my phone, haven’t talked to any of my friends, haven’t laughed (forget laugh I’m finding it difficult to smile) which is so unlike me coz Im this happy-go-lucky person who usually is in high spirits no matter what… I was just googling when i hit this site so here goes… I guess the depression is coz you just ask yourself How much really do you need outta life? Whats better? to live in a pathetic environment and have the best of material things or to scrape through and live in paradise ….. almost convinced myself to buy a boat,hunt for an uninhabited island and live the hermit life… think about it …its easy…. you need a pond for fresh water supply… a boat in case you need to go to the mainland for whatever reason… you can buy a huge stash of alcohol, cigs, books…. for the rest you could grow stuf to eat, snorkel all day, sleep on the beach while you gaze at the starry skies… hmmn I think I’m gonna cry… am blogging from work… Moving on the point I was trying to make is if you could attribute a price to varying degrees of happiness… I think I’d be richer living the island life…

By: sandandsky

sandandsky — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:35:26 +0000

I thought I was so weird today. Just got back from the caribbean yesterday and today I can’t stop crying for no reason. I’m so sad it’s over and that I have to go back to work tomorrow. I’ve even thought about getting a job at a resort, which is crazy because I have a great job here. It made me question what I do for a living and what is it all about. It’s freezing cold and snowing here which makes it that much worse. I think about dropping everything and moving there. Usually I love coming home to my place. It’s my sanctuary but not today. Even though my hotel was a dump compared to my place I can’t even enjoy being home. Before this vacation I thought I lead a very happy life but in my current state, it’s making me question it. It’s kinda crazy and I know I will snap out of it, but I’m glad I”m not the only one that feels this way.

By: MonikaA

MonikaA — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:41:42 +0000

Oh, I just came back from a tropical Carribean vacation that was my best ever and have a serious condition of blues. I question everything, why we live the way we do, isn’t there a better way. It just seems everyone on vacation was smiling, and everything here in the continent is sooo serious… and way too much trafic… We don’t need that many cars. Carpool people!

By: joanna

joanna — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:09:33 +0000

i got home yesterday from a three week holiday in bangkok, phuket and singapore. it was so much fun and now that i’m home i just cant stop being really sad – it’s like i don’t want to do anything… i don’t want to catch up with friends but i dont want to stay home, i dont want to watch tv or listen to music or read or eat or anything or do any exercise… i’ve started doing a big cleanout of my room but i’m not sure if its helping much. i just keep crying randomly and i can’t help it.

i just really want to go back and the last thing i want is to have to go back to school and do exams in 4 weeks :(
…(reality’s hit, holidays are such a fantasy land… no stress, no responsibility, it’s the best!)

i’ve been on holidays like this before and i’m usually a bit sad when we get home but also excited at the same time to see friends and look at all the photos and stuff i’ve bought, but this time i just feel like absolute crap! the rest of my family was sorta sad but they’re over it now so i can’t really say anything. everytime i think about the holiday or about being home i just start crying.

i guess i’m glad to hear it’s not that uncommon for people to get upset once returning…

anyway, hopefully i’ll be fine within a day or two more and i can just get back to being as happy as i usually am.

thanks, j

By: Donna Wesley

Donna Wesley — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 02:54:23 +0000

Just got back from a 5 day Cancun vacation. Depression can’t begin to describe how sad I feel. I partied, relaxed and spent time with a handsome stranger. I return to work next week. Oh well, I have my memories and the necklace the handsome stranger gave me from around his neck. Sigh.

By: Diana

Diana — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:13:32 +0000

i am so glad to find that i am not the only one who feels like this. i just returned from a lovely trip to mexico only to come back to the corporate hell that i left. my friend who went on the trip with me is feeling it as well and we have yet to put our fingers on exactly why we feel this way. all i know is that this sucks, there needs to be a cure, which i have the suspicion is a permanent trip back.

By: Deb G

Deb G — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 14:15:28 +0000

I just got back from a week in Cabo and all I want to do is sleep. It was the best vaca ever and it is hard to face the gray skies here. But it is comforting to know it’s not just me. Thanks.

By: Moo

Moo — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:13:47 +0000

Snap I too thought it was just me! Just returned from 3 weeks in the Far East and only been back at work 2 days and I seem to have lost interest and instead just full of new ambitions and wanting to be back out there or to do some other job. Everything/one seems to be getting on my nerves here. Similar to what the person in No. 1 said. Anyone else out there the same ??