This holiday, don't fall victim to 'Leisure Sickness'

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Yes, the holiday season is here. After many months of hard work, the time has come for you to have a well-deserved break, to relax, unwind and recharge the batteries. However, for a group of people, the start of the holidays isn’t always as relaxing as they hope.

Maybe you’ve experienced it yourself you’re finally off work and on your first day at your ideal holiday destination a severe headache, a cold, fever and flu-like symptoms start. Worse, just then a shooting pain in your back that has you in its grip and you’re bedridden for days.

This phenomenon is generally known as ‘leisure sickness’ and overcomes more often within the first days of being off work to those with high levels of stress.

Although not much is known about this phenomenon, most people attributed their condition to difficulties with the transition from work to non-work, stress associated with travel and vacation, as well as work-related stress and personality characteristics.

One of the many explanations researchers have suggested is that physiological processes play a key role in the development of these health problems.

One study demonstrated that in workers with a high workload, the production of adrenaline was not only increased during working hours but also in the evening hours and the rest periods after finishing work. In other words, when the relaxation response had to set in for the body to unwind, recuperate and regenerate it didn’t.

When this goes on for a day or two, there isn’t a problem. However, when this is weeks or even months on end and your immune system is chronically inhibited because of the increased production of the stress hormone cortisol, your heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension are permanently increased due to excess adrenaline production, and well yes illness will eventually set in.

But it could also be that last minute acute stress has just given you that extra boost you needed and then when the external demands suddenly stop the body fails to inhibit the counter-pressure in time, then this might result in a situation of being physiologically off balance, accompanied by an increased susceptibility to illness.

Whatever the reason 'Leisure Sickness' can be avoided by minding your body before it reminds you. Regular breaks at work, breathing exercises, taking enough 'YOU' time, having enough sleep, and so many other practices can help you.

When all of that is not enough and you feel your body, mind and soul needs a helping hand than don't hesitate to make an Body-centred Stress Coaching appointment.

Be good to you, always.

Tom
Osteopath & Body-centred Stress Coach, Brussels
Author of "Futurize Yourself"

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References:

• Wikipedia: Leisure Sickness
  
• Leisure sickness: a pilot study on its prevalence, phenomenology, and background.
  
• Leisure Sickness: A Biopsychosocial Perspective