What is Post-holiday Syndrome
Post-holiday syndrome refers to the various physiological manifestations people experience after a long holiday. For instance, in the two to three days following the holiday, one might feel listless, lethargic, have low work efficiency, and even experience unexplained nausea, dizziness, gastrointestinal reactions, psychogenic anorexia, anxiety, neurasthenia, and so on. The elderly may find it difficult to adapt to the sudden return to quiet days, and children may be unable to settle down and prepare for the upcoming school term. These are the typical manifestations of "post-holiday syndrome."
For some people who usually work in a high-stress environment, a few days off from work during a holiday may not be a pleasant experience. This is especially true for grassroots police officers who often work night shifts, leaders who work overtime, or "pen pushers" responsible for written materials. Suddenly having nothing to do can easily lead to negative emotional reactions such as a sense of loss, restlessness, and depression. From a psychological perspective, when a person works in a high-stress state, their brain's central nervous system establishes a highly tense mode of thinking. If they suddenly stop from this high-stress state, the psychological model adapted to the tense rhythm loses its object. At this time, people who are always working overtime and feel they have no personal time may feel不适 (uncomfortable) in a relaxed environment.
This psychological imbalance is actually a signal that one's usual work and lifestyle are not conducive to physical and mental health. If this continues, it is likely to lead to various physical and mental illnesses due to work stress and excessive pressure, and even adverse psychological reactions such as "job burnout." The long holiday is an opportunity to filter existing work methods and try a new mindset for life. Experiencing a lifestyle of "tension and relaxation" firsthand, learning to reasonably arrange work and life, and giving the tired brain and body fresh stimulation different from usual will make the over-consumed spirit and mind have a real vacation. Possible situations
Some psychologically fragile or physically and mentally exhausted individuals may also experience the following: insomnia, chest tightness, and mental stress while traveling; or suddenly having hallucinations after long hours of乘坐 (riding) airplanes, trains, cars, ships, etc. (This is more likely to occur in crowded, noisy, enclosed environments). This is an acute, transient psychotic disorder that occurs during travel. Its main clinical manifestations are disturbance of consciousness, fragmented delusions, hallucinations, or behavioral disorders. After returning home, these feelings may reappear. To avoid this phenomenon, travelers should pay attention to self-protection, such as not arranging the itinerary too tightly, taking timely breaks to replenish energy, and walking around, stretching, and doing deep breathing every one to two hours when using a single mode of transportation for a long time.
Post-holiday Depression
Corresponding to the aforementioned post-holiday psychological imbalance is post-holiday depression. Some people may experience insomnia, chest tightness, a feeling of emptiness, loss, and depression when suddenly returning to a state of calm after the holiday's festivities. In layman's terms, this is because people cannot "switch back" and fail to learn to self-regulate to adapt to the original calm state. To prevent this, one should pay attention to a smooth psychological transition, "find things to do" promptly after the holiday, and avoid a sudden "hard stop." If conditions permit, using imagination and relaxation techniques can also achieve good adjustment effects.
After several days of a long holiday, many people might experience one or two of the following: the night or two before the holiday ends, suddenly feeling uneasy at the thought of going back to work the next day, or experiencing insomnia and racing thoughts that prevent sleep; the mind is still replaying the scenes of joyfully gathering with friends and family during the holiday, and the indulgent mood just won't subside; in the two to three days after the holiday, always feeling listless, lethargic, and having low work efficiency; experiencing negative emotions such as depression, loss, and irritability; having unexplained reactions such as nausea, dizziness, gastrointestinal discomfort, skin allergies, psychogenic anorexia, and neurasthenia... Perhaps it's not just you who has these adjustments; family members around you may also have various reactions different from usual: the elderly may find it difficult to adapt to the sudden return to quiet days, and children may be unable to settle down and prepare for the upcoming school term. These are the so-called "holiday syndrome" typical manifestations. After every long holiday or "Golden Week," many people experience psychological imbalances similar to "holiday syndrome" because their lifestyle during the holiday differs greatly from their usual routine, and they neglect psychological health and self-regulation after the holiday.
Post-holiday Lethargy
It's supposed to be a holiday for rest and recuperation, yet many people experience symptoms like general weakness, drowsiness, and an inability to concentrate. This is actually the "post-holiday sub-health syndrome" at work. Experts state that the period after the National Day holiday is a peak time for this syndrome. The fundamental reason for this syndrome is that during the holiday, people engage in entertainment, travel, or visiting relatives and friends, resulting in even less rest time than when they were working. Their regular sleep schedule is disrupted, disturbing their biological clock. Coupled with irregular eating during the holiday, many people also indulge in smoking and drinking, overeat, leading to an unbalanced nutritional intake and overloading of various body organs, causing functional disorders. Although not yet reaching the point of illness, the body already feels uncomfortable. When the long holiday ends and they return to a stressful work environment, it's easy for them to experience physical and mental imbalance, various sub-health symptoms, and even trigger various diseases.