Re-entry Syndrome: Post-holiday Symptoms
Re-entry syndrome is defined as a set of symptoms or emotions that appear after holidays or a long period without working. In other words, when you return to work and face the usual responsibilities.
This temporary emotional imbalance causes apathy, sadness, and both physical and psychological exhaustion. Precisely because these symptoms appear immediately after a vacation, they are referred to as re-entry syndrome. Have you ever suffered from it? We talk about it in today’s article.
Can re-entry syndrome be classified as a real psychological disorder?
None of the psychiatry or psychology textbooks – such as DSM-5 or CIE-11 – mention reentry syndrome, so it cannot be considered a type of depression. This does not mean that it cannot be a source of discomfort for people returning from holidays or a rest period.
It is not a real psychological disorder, but a temporary imbalance experienced by the person who has to get used to his routine after a period of detachment.
The scientific community has not yet found a consensus regarding this syndrome, but it is believed to be the product of a conception of work for which it is experienced by many people as a negative, mandatory and sacrificing activity.
If work were considered a place to enhance creativity and personal development, the return syndrome would not exist. Resuming an activity that we don’t like after a phase that we consider enjoyable is always problematic.
Re-entry syndrome: the problem of adaptation
Professor Michael Baigent assures that the re-entry syndrome is triggered by an adaptation problem. Because of this, he says it’s perfectly normal to feel sad, down in the dumps, or homesick when you return from vacation.
During the holidays, in general, we practice pleasant and unusual activities, which are not part of our daily routine. When these activities are interrupted by the end of the holidays, and other less fun ones begin, it is normal to feel nostalgia and upset.
Since it is a problem of adaptation to work and involves a satisfaction different from that which is generally received during the holidays, the return syndrome usually lasts between 10 and 15 days, which is the time it takes for the person to fit back into the routine, mentally, behaviorally and emotionally.
Symptoms of re-entry syndrome
This syndrome is not well defined, therefore its symptoms can be variable. However, people suffering from post-vacation stress can have both physical and psychological symptoms.
Physical symptoms
- Exhaustion or tiredness
- Dizziness
- Lack of concentration
- Lack of attention
Other symptoms such as:
- Tachycardia
- Headache
- Lack of appetite
- Insomnia
- Digestive problems
Emotional symptoms
- Apathy
- Melancholy
- Nostalgia
- Irritability
- Sadness
If the symptoms do not disappear within a maximum of two weeks, it is considered a picture of acute stress, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, etc., depending on the symptoms shown by the person.
In this case, there are certainly other variables that have not been taken into consideration, or environmental or dispositional risk factors that have favored the development of this disorder. In these cases, it is important to ask for psychological support, because it could affect all areas of the person’s life.
Live dreaming of the holidays
The consultant Shannah Kennedy, in an interview for Traveler magazine, identifies the most common way of life in European and American cultures as the trigger for the re-entry syndrome .
Most people live dreaming of the holidays, expecting them as the big event of the year. They do not live and do not fully appreciate the working period. It seems that holidays are the only time in life that makes them happy, satisfied and worth living.
This way of life causes a very widespread attitude in people, who wait a whole year for the summer or Christmas holidays. After waiting a long time, it is normal to feel nostalgia, sadness and apathy when they end. Why? Because we will have to wait another year or several months before experiencing that long-awaited moment of rest again.
The ideal would, therefore, be to include small periods of rest and vacation throughout the year, even just a weekend or a day off every now and then. Go for a walk in the mountains, spend a day at the beach if you live in a coastal town or prepare a small project that interrupts this very long wait and is pleasant.
The causes of the re-entry syndrome
Although, as we have just explained, the re-entry syndrome is mainly due to a problem of adapting to the work routine, there are some variables in particular that can trigger it. This imbalance, or difficulty adjusting to the post-vacation routine, can be favored by:
- Physical Appearance: During the holidays, people tend to eat more than usual and, at times, be more sedentary. Because of this, the body can change and we can notice ourselves heavier upon reentry. This can cause you to lose your physical appearance, making the post-vacation period even more “depressing”.
- Tiredness : the sleep-wake rhythm is also often changed during the holidays, we go out more in the evening and sleep less. Accumulated fatigue can cause a feeling of sleepiness and fatigue at work.
- Increased alcohol consumption : Increased alcohol consumption can also contribute to the feeling of tiredness we experience when returning from vacation.
- Schedule too many activities: during the holidays, we schedule every single moment to make the most of our free time; in most cases, we don’t get enough rest. For this, and in order not to get exhausted, it would be better to leave some time to rest and laze.
Tips to overcome the re-entry syndrome
Since there are few cases in which reentry stress requires psychological intervention – and these few cases refer to the presence of a defined disorder, with different characteristics – it is up to us to regulate ourselves in such a way as to make the adaptation to the routine the as quick and painless as possible. Here are some tips that may help you:
- Respect proper sleep hygiene, then sleep at least 8 hours a night. Neither one more nor one less.
- Setting new goals and enjoyable programs throughout the year, and not just focusing on summer holidays.
- Taking care of your body, staying hydrated and eating right. Physical activity is also recommended, which can be of great help to brighten the mood after the holidays.
- Organize a gradual return to work. Don’t start at the top, but try to readjust to the pace little by little.
- Returning from vacation a few days before having to go back to work is a good habit to avoid the post-vacation shock.
- Beware of alcohol and caffeine. In the first case, it can increase the feeling of apathy and nostalgia, while caffeine can have an amplifying effect on stress and anxiety.
- Reconsider your approach to working life. What is work? Why do I consider it a burden? Try to see your work as a satisfying activity that fosters personal development.
For all the reasons we have just mentioned, the main advice for all those suffering from a return crisis is calm and patience. Apathy and nostalgia will disappear on their own within a few days.
As soon as we notice the symptoms, we can change our attitude so that when we return from the next vacation we will not find ourselves overwhelmed by stress again.
