The holiday that didn't work

Specialist CBT therapy for anxiety, OCD, depression and more in West London

A break can be welcome and still not solve the difficulty that made it necessary. Some people return from a holiday feeling rested for a few days, then find the same exhaustion, dread or sense of pressure reappearing as soon as ordinary routines begin again. That experience can be disappointing, but it does not mean they have failed at resting. “Burnout” is often used to describe many different experiences. Persistent tiredness, reduced concentration, sleep changes, low mood, anxiety, pain, hormonal changes, physical illness, medication effects, grief and workplace strain can overlap. A blog cannot identify the cause. New, severe or persistent symptoms, or any concerning physical changes, deserve appropriate medical advice. If someone is at immediate risk of harming themselves or cannot stay safe, they should call 999, attend A&E or contact urgent crisis support. In a first assessment, I would be interested in what the break changed and what it did not. Was there a particular workload, conflict, caring responsibility or uncertainty waiting at home? Were the person’s boundaries already difficult to maintain before they travelled? Was rest possible on holiday but not in daily life? Were there physical symptoms that need medical assessment? These questions help avoid a simple explanation and make room for a plan that reflects the person’s circumstances. A holiday may offer distance from routines, but it cannot automatically alter a workplace, a financial pressure, a relationship dynamic or a pattern of self criticism. Nor does this mean that a person must leave their job, say no to every request or follow a generic self care programme. The next useful step may be practical, relational, medical or therapeutic, and the right sequence will differ. If CBT is appropriate, the work is collaborative. We may map the links between demands, thoughts, emotion, rest, avoidance and the rules a person feels they must obey. We may explore what pace is sustainable and where small changes are possible. Any behavioural experiment is agreed within therapy with consent and context. It is not a demand to confront a workplace problem alone or to make sudden changes without considering consequences. It can help to treat the disappointing holiday as information rather than evidence of failure. What did feel easier while away? Which difficulties returned first? What support was missing? A careful answer may point towards a more realistic next step, whether that is medical advice, a conversation, a workplace discussion, time for recovery or therapy. For related information, read about <a href="/therapy/burnout/">CBT for burnout and chronic stress</a> and the <a href="/guides/burnout comprehensive guide/">burnout clinical guide</a>. The Lyceum Clinic offers assessment led CBT online and in West London. A first conversation can help clarify whether this support is appropriate and what other care may be useful.