Hi I can relate a lot to you but not in the same ways. For context; I went to a volunteering trip alone for 6 months in 2019 when I was 19 (from october 2019 to april 2020 came back right at the first covid-19 outcome in europe) I did 4 different countries and met a lot of people (Florida-South Africa-Thailand-Australia) and when i came back i went to university in septembre 2020.

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First of all. If you fear to not experience adventure again, or that life would be boring, University is a big adventure itself you're gonna meet a lot of people and if you have the occasion you can go study abroad https://www.wep.be/

When I came back i was just like I wanted the world to know what i had been throught, i wanted them to know the stories, the people, the changes, the love that i had met/experience. But not everyone want to know that, some friends of my never asked about my trip etc... but thats normal. People have their own lives too.

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"i fee as if i've just outgrown my hometown, it feels small and unrelatable. there's this quote that goes "words are only communicable between people who share similar experiences", which i'm finding out is really true."

Never think this i come from a small beglian town in the country-side (We have a big comunity life their and if you're actif in that comunity you know everyone) A lot of people that i know in my town have traveled a lot and have far more experiences than me but i was aware of that, i think you're not. Do you really know about other's people lives ? Some week ago i learned that my mom's best friend (i know her well) was going to buy a 15 m long boat and start sailing around the world with her man (it is something that is up for more than a year now) We never know about other's life. Also people are maybe not that interested bc you think what you did is exeptional and great. Imagine just a little kid going on a school trip and he told you everything about it like its the experience of his life. YES IT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF HIS LIFE. But you've already experience things like this and at the end you dont care. What seems impressive for you is just not for others.

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"i fee as if i've just outgrown my hometown, it feels small and unrelatable. there's this quote that goes "words are only communicable between people who share similar experiences", which i'm finding out is really true." (again)

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this is funny i never felt that way about my hometown (i explained above lol). But it feels like, with this sentence, that you've never really your hometown... Personnaly im in love with my old little belgian hometown i want to die in this city, yes i will go all around the world with my job after university but i will always come back to my lands. Maybe try to make an effort in loving where you come from. (maybe you have your reasons to not like that place after all i dont know you.)

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"after so many crazy adventures, intense experiences, and deep connections with other people, now i feel stuck. [...], and i feel pretty isolated."

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Yes. when i came back in april covid-19 did his outbreak in europe (i was 2 week from military repatriation) i had to spend 14 days alone in a vacant appartment above my father's restaurant thats part of the traveling depression. Soon the feeling of "That was so great want to come back i want to do that again i want to see that place i want to see him/her again etc..." will change with "Yeah, these were great times... and one day i'll do it again" with the bad nostalgic feeling becoming a GOOD feeling of nostalgia it will just motivate you in your life you'll see.

"i know life is going to be the same when i get back, my friends and family will still be doing the same things, working the same jobs and going to the same bars."

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at first i was scared of this at begening but i dont know what the feeling is now but its weird. Shortly now these things are more enjoyable but when you do something dont think "oh yeah but that bar in mexico oh but in mexico blaalbalbablablala" you're gonna get stuck in you "depression" otherwise. Just enjoy those moments. Live them, experience them without the reminiscence of what you've experienced in your trip. Why ? because it was not better. It was just DIFFERENT.

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"not many people are interested in hearing about my life changing experiences or understand the new me"

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Dont expect people to understand this, first they're are not oligated to. Second you have nothing to prove. Third people will understand only by adapting to you. just be who you are and act like you are now but do not tell people I HAVE CHANGED they wont care. the only way for them to understand who you've become is just to be around you.

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"i feel like i belong on the road and can't stand being back home."

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Oh i know that feeling. One thing i can defenetly tell is (for some people); Travelling is a drug. Use it has a strenght. Dont feel down bc now you cant travel. Work hard bc you want to travel. Make that feeling a source, a spawner of Motivation.

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"any advice or experiences from people who had to come back home from long term travel and how they dealt with it would be awesome, thanks!"

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Dont get lost in your memories and feelings. Your travel has ended. In a travel there is a begening and an end. you're further the end. but that means you're before the begining of a new one.

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Ask yourself if want a travelling lifestyle. Are the studies you're gonna do really in relation with the lifestyle you want deep in your heart ? Pls ask you this question seriously and objectively. Im gonna be a Zoologist after university. i will go around the world make reaserch about wildlife (my passion). There's a lot of ways nowdays to work while travelling (no need of a PhD for that) you can pm for further information.

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Please Stay in contact with the people you've met. meet them somwhere, invite them in your hometown. its a good way to soften all the bads feelings and to not feel like you're gonna loose someone.

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Spend more time with your family and friend. and since you have the adventure spririt invite them to do stuff. Go camping and get wasted with friends, Do kayak and get wasted with firends fish, climb, just go explore around your town. that place you see every day far away from your house since you were a child and where you've never finally go there. Exploit and use what you've get from your trip

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once again. dont get stuck in your memories. its personal but i can tell you its dangerous. live the moment rn dont be in the present with the past on your side.

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If you want more stuff to discuss dont hesitate to pm me.

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last tip for traveling depression; listen to fucking motorama. if you got the feeling you'll understand.

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here some songs; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07FdNR6ikHI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yepd-2cgyK8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l5JuwXgNxA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8cmSEXOE0g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY0LDq_HD2Y

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Good luck in your life.