Let's set the scene. You were just living your best life, waking up naturally with the sun,

not to the screech of your 6 a.m. alarm, sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them,

posting selfies that radiated peace and filtered sunlight. You even forgot your email password for a minute.

And baby, that's what we call healing.

But now, you're back.

Your suitcase is still half unpacked.

Your inbox has 97 unread messages.

And your soul feels like it got left behind at the resort.

Suddenly you're crying in the Target checkout line because you saw a tropical-scented candle, and it reminded you of the beach.

What is that?

Let me tell you what it is.

It's post-vacation sadness, And yes, it's a real thing.

And with summer upon us, vacations are surely on the agenda. So let's be ready.

Welcome back to savvy psychologist. I'm your host, Dr. Monica Johnson. Every week on this show, I'll help you face life's challenges with evidence-based approaches, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

Let's get into why post-vacation sadness can happen. Number one is your brain is coming down from a dopamine high.

When you're on vacation, your brain gets a steady stream of dopamine.

That's the feel-good neurotransmitter that lights up when you experience new things.

According to research, novelty and pleasure activate the

reward system in your brain, and vacations are basically dopamine festivals. New sites, new foods,

new routines. That's like a rave for your neurons. Coming back home? Not so much. Your brain is like, where the sunsets and

beachside sangria's, ma'am. The sudden dip in stimulation leads to a drop in dopamine,

and that, my friend, can leave you feeling tired, irritable, and low-key questioning your whole entire life.

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