End Note - September 2011

Are You Suffering from PVS?

September 30, 2011

Author: Louise M. Tarantino| Catherine M. Callery (Kate)

Labor Day has come and gone, the summer is officially over and everything seems to be back in full-swing again.  For some, the beginning of Fall is an invigorating time.  Others, however, dread the end of vacations or more relaxed summer schedules.  It is a time of year, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, when therapists report an increase in people seeking help.  Although there are few studies or statistics about this, researchers have dubbed it “Post Vacation Syndrome” – or PVS.

PVS, while probably not a disability, can manifest itself with irritability, anxiety, lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, and a feeling of emptiness.  These emotions can last up to a few weeks post vacation.  (Experts warn that if these symptoms last longer or become more severe, they may actually be signs of serious depression rather than end of summer melancholy.)

Some people experience a minor version at the end of the weekend. Between 39-75% of Spanish workers experience it when returning to work after what is typically a month long vacation in August in Spain.

While several studies find that vacations do lift our spirits, those effects are usually short-lived.  As the WSJ article notes, “[e]ven the best jobs don’t compare well to carefree days at the beach.” The transition may be hardest for those of us who made long to-do lists but did not quite get through them during the summer. And for some, the problem is compounded Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can begin to set in as the hours of daylight wane in early autumn. 

What to do?  Experts recommend getting fit.  Those who added exercise to a regime of anti-depressants fared better, according to a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.  Exercising outdoors, especially in the morning, can also help combat SAD. Savor the highlights of your summer and your vacation, and plan some long weekends or other fun “mini-vacations” to look forward to. Avoid “retail-therapy,” but do shop for foods high in omega 3, fatty acids, vitamin B-12 and vitamin D to lift your mood.  And remember, next summer is only nine months away…