Psychologist Sonia Rigol, on post-vacation depression: "Women suffer the most, they carry more burden in the domestic sphere"

"When we have to return to something that does not satisfy us, the syndrome can become very complicated," says the psychologist

Eider Pascual

Journalist

September 1 2023 (15:44 WEST)
Updated in September 1 2023 (15:44 WEST)
Clinical psychologist Sonia Rigol in her office in Arrecife
Clinical psychologist Sonia Rigol in her office in Arrecife

With the arrival of September and the end of the holidays, comes the return to work, that abrupt change that for many is uphill. That's when post-vacation depression arrives. A syndrome not classified as a disease, which represents a set of symptoms that a worker suffers when returning to work after vacation.

Clinical psychologist Sonia Rigol, who has been practicing for eleven years in Lanzarote, delves deeper into this syndrome. "Anyone can suffer from post-vacation depression," she tells La Voz. "Although there is a certain profile of people who may be more vulnerable," she acknowledges. "People who have a more stressful job or a greater family burden are going to be more predisposed," adds the psychologist.

"People who have a more stressful job or a greater family burden are going to be more predisposed."

This syndrome manifests itself through identifiable symptoms mostly at a physical and mental level. Generalized fatigue, muscle pain, altered sleep and appetite, lack of motivation and energy, sadness, difficulty concentrating and apathy are some of them.

"It usually lasts between two or three days, reaching its peak at 21 days," says Rigol. "The period in which the body takes to adapt to the change," she explains. "When you have to reacquire habits and routine, after that time of relaxation when we are on vacation," she says.

When the syndrome passes those twenty days, leaving aside what is considered "normal" and "lengthens over time", at that moment, "you should seek psychological help," recommends the psychologist. "It is advisable to seek help," since that problem "is masking others that condition daily life and you have to look further," she advises.

If it is maintained over time and the "body fails to adapt to the new situation", "generalized anxiety may appear", she reveals.

"If it is maintained over time, generalized anxiety may appear."

The mental health professional details some of the tricks that help to better overcome this depression after the holidays. "Do not join the job one day after returning from vacation, return a few days before to get the body used to it," she says. "Normalize the schedule gradually, start to establish the routine earlier and respect sleep schedules," she adds.

"Recover eating habits and physical exercise," and also, "start with the smallest tasks that are pending," she points out. In jobs where there is an excessive workload, "learn to prioritize, make a plan to achieve the objectives, so that we are not overwhelmed," she advises.

Regarding the reasons why it may appear, age, gender and profession stand out. "The older we are, the more burdens we have, both family and work," she highlights. "From the age of thirty, this syndrome increases," she says.

The most striking fact is that "women are the ones who suffer the most." The main reason is that "they carry more burden in the domestic sphere," she confesses. As for professions, there are some that "generate more stress than others", which will cause some professionals "to suffer from it more often".

"Women are the ones who suffer the most, since they carry more burden in the domestic sphere."

"A bad work environment and the impossibility of reconciling professional and personal life is a major trigger," she confirms. "When we have to return to something that does not satisfy us, the syndrome can become very complicated," she adds.

Vacation Syndrome

The opposite syndrome can also appear during the holiday period. Called the 'Vacation Syndrome', a mental state in which we cannot disconnect from work even during the holidays. "It forces us to be super productive, without being able to lower that high demand that we have," says Rigol.

It manifests itself with small details, "feeling unable to disconnect, not stopping checking emails, the phone, etc.," she says. "A state of restlessness can also turn into anxiety," she adds.

"Feeling unable to disconnect, not stopping checking emails, the phone, etc."

It is important "not to forget about mental health and give it importance", but "not only when it gets complicated", she says. "I have had cases of patients who, as a result of the work environment, suffer from this syndrome, which is then aggravated by anxiety and stress," she concludes.

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