It's completely normal to feel some sadness or even depression when you've returned home from a trip. A lot of our negative emotions in life are spurred on by change, and it can be a jarring change indeed to go from, say, a safari in Botswana to typing away at the office. Even worse, mental health continues to be a taboo topic in many households and societies, so you may feel unsafe in vocalizing your complex feelings. Although I'm pretty open with my friends and family, in this case, I often clam up--because surely I should be grateful for having gone on the trip? Surely I shouldn't feel sadness or depression at having to return to everyday life, as if I'm too good for it? But no, this is the kind of toxic approach to mental health that keeps people from seeking help. Mental health issues are always valid, no matter what might have triggered them. Let's dive into post-trip blues/depression--what it entails, and how you can help beat it.
First things first--there's a difference between sadness and depression. We don't want to conflate the two, because that risks drawing away from the severity of depression. It is an illness and should be treated with the same gravity; it's not something one can just "get over." We wouldn't say to that to someone who'd just broken a bone, would we? Anyway, sadness is a more mild and fleeting feeling, whereas depression can range from the mild to the severe. Its symptoms are diverse, and can include hopelessness, loss of motivation, changes in appetite and weight, sleeping too much or too little, crying jags, lethargy, cognitive impairment, and more. (Also, disclaimer! I'm not a mental health professional and this is not intended as medical advice.)
I've felt some post-trip depression a few times in my life--I have vivid memories of returning from study abroad, a three-week camping trip in Southern Africa, and more, in which I felt irritable, exhausted, lonely, purposeless, and hopeless. I had just left behind important friendships and had to readjust to new routines and expectations. I was grappling with questions on finding meaning, especially when I was working in corporate. How could I live a life more aligned with my values and passions? Would I ever feel wonderment and excitement again? How was the future ever going to live up to this incredibly unique travel experience in which I felt so connected to others, in which life felt authentic and purposeful?
Here are some tips that helped me to navigate these complex and difficult emotions:
Renew your at-home friendships: It can be easy to slide into complacency and not pay as much attention to our old friends while you're basking in the memories of new connections. But those solid, time-tested friendships aren't to be ignored! Go out of your way to schedule phone calls, or, if you don't have the bandwidth for that, watch a movie together via an extension like Teleparty. Confide in your friends about what you're feeling. The more open we are about our mental health, the more we will see commonalities among us all--making us feel less alone and more connected.
Write it out: As with speaking it aloud, to write down our emotions helps to organize them, make sense of them, and in some cases, to dispel them. Get a journal, or even create a note on your computer or phone if you're not the pen and paper type.
Make a vision board: Create a vision board of what you want your life to look like by a certain timeframe. This will help you to gain clarity on your goals and purpose, and to start putting ideas and desires into action. Include some travel-related goals, too...this will give you the confidence in that, yes, your future will be filled with adventure and novelty. Even if I don't have a concrete plan, writing down my travel wishlist helps me to envision a trip more clearly and start getting excited. For help on how best to create a vision board, check out Roxie Nafousi, blogger and author of Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life.
Go to therapy: Therapists can help train you in tools to deal with sadness, anxiety, depression, and more. Use this weird time as an opportunity to polish your brain, as your post-trip blues could be a signal that something deeper is off--maybe you're deeply unhappy with your career or a relationship, maybe some past trauma is bubbling to the surface, etc. If therapy is not affordable, consider an online service such as BetterHelp, which offers more cost-friendly therapy options--which you can access anytime, anywhere.
Get into a routine: Sometimes our mental health slides in the wake of a trip because we are readjusting to a routine, especially with regard to sleep. Ensure that you're getting enough shut-eye to properly recharge, and add in some gym/outdoors time to get those endorphins going.
Let me know in the comments what helps you in tackling post-trip sadness or depression.
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