To be ridiculously tearful after a holiday?

[IHTC]

We were away last week and returned on Saturday just gone. I have felt so so sad since we've been back, I could burst into tears and have to distract myself to prevent it actually happening.

Everytime we have a holiday I end up going through this for weeks and I wonder if for some people, a holiday just isn't healthy? I get so caught up in all the fun and love being around all of my family. Then we get back, reality hits and I feel so low.

Is this a thing that nobody talks about? Or am I just being ridiculous as let's be honest, we're very lucky to have had a holiday in the first place!

God, yes, I've been in tears a few times whilst circling Manchester airport ready to descend. I wasn’t in a good place in my life at the time though. I would have happily stayed away.

Are you lonely on mat leave? You've gone from lots of adults around all having fun to being back at home with the baby and the pile of washing...?

I always get this after a holiday to some extent. Espeically if its one that ive built up a lot in my head that meant a lot to me

It's a thing: www.psycom.net/post-holiday-depression

No, I enjoy holidays but I'm always glad to get home.

Book another holiday pronto.

YANBU at all, I've been like this after holidays. A holiday can feel like a magical little oasis amidst all the stress of day-to-day life.

NRTFT but I agree with those who have asked whether you actually like your day-to-day life. Whenever I've felt like this it's been a barometer for how things are in my life generally.

The post-holiday blues / comedown is definitely a real thing. YANBU to feel like this, try not to be too hard on yourself.

However, I would also say that it could be a sign that you're not that happy in your day to day life. Are there any changes you could make to your lifestyle that might improve things?

I often feel a bit like this. I just book or start planning another holiday.

I'm happy with my life and I love my home. Holidays are just better.

It is normal to feel sad that a great experience has ended. It would be a bit tragic to stop doing nice things - and feeling the great emotions they bring - in order to avoid the bitter sweet sadness of it ending!

But equally your everyday life shouldn't be such a feat of endurance that any temporary time away from it causes you pain and distress that the break wasn't a permanent release from the usual misery of your life.

@DontLookEthel

No, I enjoy holidays but I'm always glad to get home.

I just don't get people who think like this

What's waiting for you at home that's better than being away from it all on holiday?
We holiday in the UK (camping) and I still never want to come home!

You had a lovely time and it came to an end. Sometimes there is a bit of a grieving process for the end of that experience, and that's OK.

It's been a mad couple of years and I think it's only fair to be sad that a time of happiness during the fairly relentless misery has ended. It doesn't mean that you won't have another one in the future though, and that will be good too.

I don't think you're being ridiculous. It's a fair thing to feel that way.

I always get the post holiday blues! I remember the 1st time was as a child coming back from Spain. I'd spent 2 weeks with my parents, sister, cousins etc and I just got this sinking feeling when we got back. As others have said maybe plan some day trips for when you get back next time and some meals out, something to look forward to.

I have felt like this before. Sometimes it's just a feeling of sadness other times yeah fighting back constant urges to cry.

I've never thought about how it could be something I don't like about normal life though but that kind of make sense!

I went on a work trip to India a few years back. I cried on the cab ride to the airport and when DH picked me up from airport I cried in the car.... we were going though a tough time then, going through infertility and trying to sell our unsellable flat and the trip had been a real distraction from it all. I honestly did not want to come home!

Then after a Disney trip when DD was 2... it took weeks to get over the come down. But I was in the middle of a bad depression after PND and was just generally struggling . The 2 weeks in the sun, with DD and DH around all the Disney magic.... it was hard to adjust back to normal life!!

I just always expect to get "the post holiday blues" now but I didn't get it after our last holiday in Dorset a few weeks back.

If you're on maternity leave presumably you've not long since had a baby. This could be a factor in how you're feeling, it necessarily PND but general emotional-ness and feeling a bit mixed up about your life is normal.

Last time I felt like that I quite my job, relocated and found a much better job!

Obviously book another holiday, but also think about the changes you could make that would mean coming home is not that depressing.

I get this, but it doesn’t last very long. I was the same as a child - melancholy about saying goodbye to our caravan or holiday home, down about going back to school.

It’s a combination of enjoying sunshine and the foreignness of being abroad (I’m not so bad after Uk breaks) and disliking the routine of work. I always find the first trip to the supermarket to stock up particularly depressing. No novelty, the realisation I have to cook sensible stuff for myself, the Great British public and walking out to whatever not especially lovely place the shop is in. A real downer.

Coming back from holiday when you are on maternity leave IS bloody hard.

You go from 2 adults sharing the childcare, a normally much lazier life, kids that have unlimited entertainment instead of feeling that you actually HAVE to do something to keep them occupied.

It's normal but you only have to go into a different routine on week days, there are ways to lighten the load when you are more relax.

I can't relate OP!

With very few exceptions I find holidays actually quite stressful and am always happy to come home! It's the planning, and the faff, and being a control freak I worry about missing flights, children getting lost etc, worry that the kids are enjoying themselves sufficiently...

Lockdown's been great insomuch as we've gone to a B&B in a pretty place two hours drive away for a few days instead of going abroad and that was a lot less stress.

It sounds like you savour your family time and it's lovely that you have great memories so that's a nice thing! It's normal to feel flat after a high I think.

What's waiting for you at home that's better than being away from it all on holiday?

My horses, my friends, I live in an area as lovely as any I go on holiday to. I love holidays, but I am always ready to come home because I really enjoy my day to day life.

Have never felt like that. I've travelled a lot before Covid and generally happy to be home.

I feel you OP.

Holidays are the one time I year I really see my family, my brother, SIL and nephew anyway. I also don’t have the best finances and save up for all my holidays so I can enjoy myself on meals out and treats, so I usually feel low the week afterwards once it’s all over.

Normally happier after my holidays
Great times & memories

I get like this to some extent too, always feel sad the last day and journey home but once I get home I’m fine. I so look forward to holidays and enjoy having family time so when it’s over and you’ve got to go back to the daily grind I feel sad!

My husband mocks me for it, I nearly cried when saying how much we’d enjoyed our stay to the cabin owner on our last trip 😂😂

Three things- I wonder if the time of year you have your main holiday may have an impact (what if it was later in the year?), secondly, would the time you travel or stopping somewhere on the way home make it easier, and finally, if your job makes you unhappy, you should be looking for a new one.