Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Post Travel Depression

Search

Post Travel Depression

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 05:43 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Post Travel Depression

How do you get over your "I am back home and completely depressed" moping?

I spent 47 days in Paris. I returned six days ago and I am still depressed at having to return.

I want to shut the shades, make the apartment completely dark, put on some mood lighting, arm myself with some red wine, postcards, a baguette, bree cheese and listen to "la vie en rose" again and again and again....or watch an old "french" movie (black and white) without english subtitles.
losangeleseurope is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 05:46 PM
  #2  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
...oh i forgot...yes..i am in the midst of a pity party.
losangeleseurope is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 05:48 PM
  #3  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 911
Likes: 0
I really suffer from post holiday blues so I have to start planning my next trip even before I have taken the current one so that when I return I have another trip to look forward to!
Lily is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 07:04 PM
  #4  
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,470
Likes: 0
Well,I spent a month in India this fall,and came back to a wicked case of the blues.So ,of course,I booked a trip to Venice,the only cure.I will be there for a week in March.
massagediva is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 07:08 PM
  #5  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 0
Okay, so we can't all book another trip right away, but you can day dream about your next trip..Look at your pictures, your souveniers.. and with a glass of wine by your side think of all the wonderful memories you have..
ParrotMom is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 07:28 PM
  #7  
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 0
Oh how I relate to this. We returned from France and Paris in October and I am still morose and depressed. I feel exactly as you do.This week, I rented a movie called The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob on Netflix, just so I could see the streets of Paris. I rent all the French dvds.

I find myself visualizing myself at a small table sipping wine or a kir...then my husband reminds me how bad the Paris weather is now.( I'm in San Diego)

I'm lucky in that we have two trips planned this year, both of which will end in Paris.

loisco is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 07:46 PM
  #8  
cmt
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,793
Likes: 0
I think if travel causes you to be unhappy after you return for a longer period than the trip itself, you should take that as a clue that maybe travel is not so good for you. It's not for everyone. It should enrich your life and give you lasting benefits. But if travel causes you to be miserable for the 5% of the year when you're not away on a trip, then maybe you're one of those people who shouldn't travel.
cmt is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 07:54 PM
  #9  
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Much as I love traveling, I am always glad to be home and in my own bed, eating my own food--sometimes both at the same time.

I am always planning/daydreaming about other possible trips, though--thinking about what expenses I can forego so that I can take an extra trip somewhere.
Pegontheroad is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 08:01 PM
  #10  
cmt
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,793
Likes: 0
Correction: I meant to refer to the 95% of the year when you're not traveling (not 5%). so post should read as follows:

think if travel causes you to be unhappy after you return for a longer period than the trip itself, you should take that as a clue that maybe travel is not so good for you. It's not for everyone. It should enrich your life and give you lasting benefits. But if travel causes you to be miserable for the 95% of the year when you're not away on a trip, then maybe you're one of those people who shouldn't travel.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
cmt is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 08:56 PM
  #11  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,238
Likes: 12
disagreeing with the above, maybe the time traveling, getting outside your day to day life, allows you to see changes that could be made, to make you happier.
suze is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 09:17 PM
  #12  
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 13,323
Likes: 0
I'm always glad to get back home and never feel depressed. I've got too much to catch up on, and there is always the next trip to plan and dream about.
degas is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 09:26 PM
  #13  
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
I found this board about a year ago in the midst of a black-dog depression after returning home from Italy.

Reading about other people's travels and learning about where they go, how they do it and other ways of traveling didn't really <i>help</i> per se, but it did serve as a happy distraction.

Don't stop traveling. Happy 5% of the time (and I doubt it's as little as that) is better than happy 0% of the time, certainly.
Worktowander is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2006 | 09:26 PM
  #14  
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
THere is actually research on the different phases of &quot;acclimation&quot; for people who've been away for a year or more on assignment abroad. I know this isn;t what you're talking about, but I'm sure it's the same idea. THe graph does eventually point in a position direction, so take heart.

When I get really nostalgic for Europe I become a bit obsessive about reading the posts on this board. It helps a lot.
drempel is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
joey365_000
Asia
7
Jul 8th, 2011 09:14 PM
colern
Asia
19
Dec 20th, 2009 05:30 PM
jtgarland
Asia
19
Jun 14th, 2009 01:27 PM
Lahi
Asia
10
Jan 3rd, 2007 07:48 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -