It turns out the “post-travel crash” is common enough that therapists and travel writers have a name for it: post-vacation blues—that mood drop when you go from high-stimulation adventure back to routine. And if you’ve ever felt it, you know it doesn’t feel like “blues.” It feels like your happiness got used up. It’s 6:43 AM on a Wednesday and Emily’s alarm has gone off three times… but her brain is still in Barcelona. What this episode is about The emotional dip after an amazing trip or big event Why “back to normal” can feel gray, flat, and pointless How to rebuild that alive feeling without buying another plane ticket Meet Emily 21-year-old college junior (University of Oregon) Returns from a two-week Europe backpacking trip with her best friends Comes home to: work shifts, roommate chaos, relationship routine, and a heavy “now what?” The problem The trip wasn’t just fun—it was newness, freedom, and real connection Back home, everything feels smaller by comparison She starts spiraling: comparing her apartment, her relationship, and her life to the trip