People between the ages of 30 and 50 years and women are more likely to suffer from post-holiday depression. Living in urban areas also has an influence.
Summer is over, and with it the vacations. The return to work, to housework, to the gym or to English classes, are routines that can provoke the so-called “post-holiday depression”. This disorder affects a large number of people every year. In fact, up to 70% of Spaniards claim to suffer or to have suffered at some point in their lives from this disorder, even experiencing some kind of physical or emotional discomfort during the first weeks after returning from vacation.
The experts of Top Doctors®, the leading digital company in the identification of top doctors and medical centers, analyze the social profiles most vulnerable to suffer from this disorder and give some guidelines to work on emotional intelligence and thus overcome or even block the feeling of depression or stress before the return to routine.
What is the profile of the person suffering from post-holiday stress symptoms?
The level of responsibility at work, together with more complex personal situations, make people between 30 and 50 years of age the ones who suffer most from these symptoms, similar to those of depression, and composed of anxiety, low mood, decay, lack of energy, feeling bored or not being able to adapt to the work environment again.
“There is a feeling of not being able to achieve everything,” says Dr. Silvia Saskyn, specialist psychologist and member of Top Doctors. “It is the case that it is women who suffer the most stress, since in most cases when they return to work they have to take on the responsibilities of daily life at home and with their children, as these continue to fall mainly on them, thus bearing both physical and psychological consequences,” she adds.
The area of residence also has an influence when it comes to overcoming the return to routine, with those who live in urban areas suffering a higher percentage of this uneasiness than those who live in rural areas. “On the other hand, contrary to what one might think, there is hardly any distinction between the self-employed or managers and employees since, to the corresponding extent, all roles assume to achieve effectively and productively the work that corresponds to them regardless of the level at which they are”, says David Núñez Palomo, a specialist in Psychology at the Complutense-Madrid and Alcalá de Henares Psychotherapy Clinic, and a member of Top Doctors.
How to train our emotional intelligence by following these 4 tips
“People with a high level of emotional intelligence (EI) understand and manage their emotions effectively,” Dr. Connie Capdevila Brophy, specialist in Psychology and member of Top Doctors. “Therefore, EI is a great ally against depression or post-holiday stress”. This Top Doctors’ expert advises to work and strengthen emotional intelligence in order not to suffer the return to routine. The following aspects should be taken into account:
- Gain self-knowledge: the way in which people interpret the situations they live, largely determines their emotional response. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the “automatic” thoughts we have at every moment.
- Connect with emotions: It is advisable to recognize how different emotions manifest themselves on a bodily level, without resisting them when they are not pleasant.
- Understand emotions: Emotions should not be classified as good or bad. Each emotion provides useful information to understand your needs. Trying to eliminate them can generate anxiety and stress.
- Work on empathy: After identifying your emotions, thoughts and needs, the next step is to work on empathy: if you understand how the other person feels in the same situation, you will be able to find solutions to conflicts with which you both feel satisfied.
If, even with these tips, the person is subject to a high level of psychological and somatic discomfort in their readaptation to active life, having an intense symptomatology or not remitting the symptoms in 2 or 3 days, Top Doctor experts agree on the importance of seeking professional help.