A young man sits by the pool with a blanket wrapped around him and blows his nose
Psyche
10.07.2026 Kerstin Altrock 56562

Post-Vacation Syndrome: Feeling Sick as Soon as Vacation Starts

The summer vacations are just around the corner and then this: migraines, infections, stomach problems. As soon as you've packed your suitcase, you're already lying flat and your vacation is over before it's even begun. Post-stress syndrome - also known as leisure sickness syndrome - strikes stressed people whenever they switch into recovery mode.

In this article you will learn:

At a Glance: What Is Post-Stress Syndrome?

Post-stress syndrome often occurs when people under stress go on vacation and suddenly fall ill. Researchers at the University of Trier have found that people with high stress levels are particularly affected, which manifests itself in symptoms such as migraines, infections or stomach problems. The lack of noradrenaline during recovery is one possible cause.

According to a recent study by IU University, it can be directly linked to stress in everyday working life.

Strategies for coping include good stress management and regular exercise before going on vacation. A test called "Neuropattern" can help to determine the individual risk and take appropriate measures.

 

While others are well rested and tanned and talking about their vacation adventures, have you spent most of your time in bed? "Why does this always happen to me?" you ask yourself. In fact, it's usually the same people who regularly fall ill when their vacation is just around the corner.

This was discovered by a group of researchers from the University of Trier. They surveyed around 1,500 healthy test subjects and patients with acute physical or mental illnesses. The result: healthy people with little stress only very rarely suffer from post-stress symptoms (2.3 percent). In the mentally ill test subjects, the symptoms occurred in 20 to 35 percent.

Leisure sickness: high work pressure puts a strain on many

The phenomenon known as “leisure sickness” or post-stress syndrome is not a recognized illness, but it is more than just a figment of the imagination. According to Prof. Dr. Stefanie André, an expert in health management at IU International University, it can be directly linked to stress in everyday work life.

In the representative study "Leisure Sickness: Exhausted instead of recovered" (2025), 1.9 percent of employees report so-called leisure sickness - i.e. physical complaints such as exhaustion or symptoms of illness that occur on days off or on vacation.

The results of the IU study clearly show what is bothering many employees:

  • High work pressure (33.7%)
  • Lack of support from superiors and colleagues (30.0%)
  • Unclear distribution of tasks (23.4 %)
  • Unbalanced work-life balance (20.8 %)
  • Imprecise tasks (20.8 %)

In addition, long working hours (17.3%) increase the risk of the body rebelling at precisely the time when rest is actually needed - for example at the weekend or on vacation.

Stressed people fall ill four times as often

The most common complaints include tiredness or exhaustion, sleep problems, irritability, headaches and cold symptoms.

The test subjects who most urgently needed a vacation and rest were most likely to suffer from post-stress symptoms, say the Trier scientists. The risk of falling ill on vacation has been four times higher for people under a lot of stress than for people who are not stressed.

Why are you always sick when you go on vacation?

The scientists also investigated why these symptoms break out during the recovery phases.

Professor Dirk Hellhammer from the University of Trier explains:

"Stress mobilizes the neurotransmitter noradrenaline particularly strongly in our central and autonomic nervous system. If the demands are particularly intense and long-lasting, the consumption of noradrenaline exceeds the synthesis of new noradrenaline. During periods of rest, too little noradrenaline is then released, leading to a disturbance in the balance of functions in the nervous and immune systems, which causes post-stress symptoms."

What helps with post-stress syndrome?

95.5 percent of respondents say that leisure time is a useful break from the stress of work (IU study). Only 4 out of 10 employees in Germany stated that they are unable to find the necessary relaxation in their free time . 

Employers are also in demand here: according to the IU study, 63.6 percent of those surveyed would like more support from their company - for example through health offers or flexible break arrangements.

Well thought-out stress and break management can also help.

Relaxation exercises provide support, as do avoiding stress factors and good time management.

Plan small exercise sessions before your vacation

However, the best stress killer is still exercise. However, it's too late to start relaxing on vacation. It's best to incorporate small units of exercise into your daily routine weeks in advance and, for example, walk around the block during your lunch break. Exercising for 30 minutes three times a week should noticeably reduce our stress levels.

Test: Am I affected by post-stress syndrome?

Anyone who wants to know exactly whether they are suffering from post-stress symptoms can have this reliably measured using a diagnostic procedure ("neuropattern") developed by the Trier scientists. If such symptoms and complaints are detectable, a combination of medication and dietary supplements with stress and break management can be helpful.
 

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More info: Online yoga on YouTube

 

FAQ: Questions and Answers About Post-Stress Syndrome (Leisure Sickness)

What is Post-Stress Syndrome (Leisure Sickness)?  

A phenomenon in which people develop physical symptoms (fatigue, headaches, infections, stomach problems) shortly before or during days off or vacations, often following a prolonged period of stress.

Who is particularly at risk?  

People who are under a great deal of stress—particularly those with high work-related stress or a history of mental health conditions—are at a significantly higher risk.

Why do people tend to get sick during the recovery phase?  

Chronic stress increases the consumption of norepinephrine; during periods of rest, an imbalance develops in the nervous and immune systems, which can trigger symptoms.

What are the typical symptoms?  

Fatigue/exhaustion, sleep disturbances, irritability, headaches, cold symptoms, stomach problems, and migraines.

How can I reduce the risk?  

Specific measures: better stress and break management, regular exercise (e.g., 3×30 minutes per week), relaxation exercises, time management, and reducing stress well in advance of vacation; employers can provide support through wellness programs and flexible policies.

Are there any tests or treatment options?  

Yes—diagnostic methods such as “Neuropattern” can measure the risk. If necessary, a combination of medications, dietary supplements, therapeutic interventions, and structured stress management can help.

zero Wie die ILB Mitarbeitende krisenfest macht

The ILB building in Potsdam
Leadership & HR
04.11.2024 Isabel Hempel 8019

Strengthening team resilience: How ILB makes employees crisis-proof

In this interview, Kathleen Wiesener, HR Development Officer at the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), sheds light on the importance of a strong team spirit and how targeted measures such as coaching, feedback culture and external moderation help to strengthen employees. She explains which strategies ILB uses to create a resilient working environment in which employees receive the support they need to be successful in crisis situations.

What does ILB mean by team resilience and why is it particularly important for the company?

For us, team resilience means the ability of a team to overcome challenges, crises or stressful situations together and emerge stronger. This includes cohesion, mutual support, good communication and trust within the group. A resilient team can adapt quickly to new circumstances and remains productive even in difficult times.

What specific challenges do you face in strengthening the resilience of your teams?

Digitalization presents our employees with considerable adjustment requirements. In addition, there are frequent reorganizations, for example due to new guidelines or efficiency measures. There is also a high workload in many areas due to sickness absences or unfilled expert positions as a result of the shortage of specialists.

How have you anchored the topic of team resilience in your organization?

ILB recognized team cohesion and resilience as key issues many years ago. We offer our employees systematic support from coaches and trainers from the pme Academy. We have succeeded in raising awareness among managers that good team dynamics promote well-being. This leads to fewer conflicts and less sickness-related absences and strengthens the team's performance.

How does the cooperation with the pme Academy work?

The pme Academy supports us in the organization of team meetings and the moderation of larger workshops - ranging from small teams of 4 people to entire areas with 80 participants. We also work together with their conflict moderators. Managers are part of the system and therefore cannot mediate neutrally, which is why external support is very valuable. There are also preventative offers that enable managers and employees to address conflicts and provide feedback.

Unleash the full potential of your managers and teams now.

Our trainers and coaches at the pme Academy support you in difficult transformation and change processes or analyze together how you can make even better use of your team's strengths. 

More information on the seminars and training courses: pme Academy

What effect do these offers have on your employees?

Our employees find these offers very helpful. They appreciate being able to talk about team spirit away from the daily work routine. Since the coronavirus pandemic, many have been working from home, which has led to fewer informal meetings and more social distancing. Hybrid or digital meetings are often very business-oriented, but personal interaction is crucial to strengthen bonds and a sense of community.

How do managers specifically support their teams in difficult times and ensure a resilient working environment?

We promote a sense of unity in a variety of ways in order to strengthen cooperation. Together with the workforce, we have developed guidelines for transparent, constructive communication, a lively feedback culture and cross-divisional collaboration.
Not only managers but also employees are responsible for regularly discussing and reflecting on these values. Regular team events offer the opportunity to maintain personal connections despite hybrid working models and to discuss common interests beyond work content.

What measures do you take to ensure that employees dare to speak openly about challenges or mistakes?

Dealing constructively with mistakes and challenges is firmly anchored in our vision of a learning organization. We promote transparency and encourage our managers to support their employees and adopt a solution-oriented approach instead of looking for someone to blame.

How does this work in practice? Are there tools and techniques for systematically talking about setbacks and mistakes?

We systematically integrate the topic of feedback into our annual appraisals and thus repeatedly raise awareness of its importance. There have also been campaigns on how to give constructive feedback, with newsletters, postcard campaigns and training measures.

What programs, training or resources do you offer to continuously promote the resilience of teams and individuals?

In addition to various communication training courses, such as conflict management, we offer teams the opportunity to call in external mediators or moderators for team building in times of crisis. The pme Familienservice is an important partner here.
In addition, all managers have the opportunity to choose a coach to support them in challenging situations. In day-to-day work, it's often all about the "what" and less about the "how". When a team is reassembled or a new manager is appointed, we support the process with targeted guidance.

How do you ensure that employees are not overwhelmed in stressful phases and remain productive?

Stress management is a key issue that we support through training for both our employees and managers. It is an essential part of management development so that they can protect themselves and their teams from overload and manage crises in a targeted manner. We also offer social counseling and practical support in difficult private and professional situations via an external partner.

We are currently experiencing a very strong polarization in society. Is this also noticeable in your teams? Are the conflicts growing?

My perception is that we are very reluctant to talk about politics, possibly to avoid conflict. I can only speak for my team here: It is very important to us to treat each other with respect, and that includes respecting different opinions. One example was the vaccination debate during the coronavirus pandemic, where there were both supporters and opponents. I experienced a lot of tolerance. Good cooperation is important to us and helps us to overcome crises together.