What Postconcert Sadness Means For People With Depression And The Healthy Ways To Cope

So you've spent months planning your next concert, saving up for unique outfits, planning transportation, and memorizing the lyrics to every song if your favorite artist is performing.

You've blown your budget, but that doesn't matter because you've personally seen Taylor Swift or Beyonce doing the same thing surrounded by fans. The show is everything you want it to be and more until it comes to an abrupt end. Do you want to continue?

People use the term post-concert depression to describe the horrible feeling they get the morning after their dream concert. The motivation, focus and enthusiasm were gone and yesterday was begging to go back.

Although the mindset of many people is gloomy, the sadness after a concert can be much more disturbing and lasting for those who suffer from depression. Dr. Douglas Menin, professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University, says that the end of a long-awaited event can affect many aspects of functioning.

See photos. Extravagant dresses from Beyoncé's Renaissance world tour

"It's hard for them to see that the good ones will come again," Menin said. "There's a feeling of 'it won't happen again'. I won't be able to go back there."

The time after a long-awaited concert can be emotionally brutal because of the intense changes during and after the concert. Regardless of whether a person has major depressive disorder or not, the relative difference between a high and the next day's high is remarkably low, says Dr. Seth Feuerstein, professor of psychiatry at Yale University.

He added that he has worked with athletes who have similar difficulties when an important sporting event ends.

"I could be an Olympic athlete or in the Super Bowl. When you talk to people who have lived through extreme experiences, they are incredibly resilient people. But often after the lights go out, they describe the event as the hardest for them." said Feuerstein.

How waiting can bring joy to a depressed person

The idea that depression prevents people from experiencing happiness is wrong. Menin says that mood swings can be different when a person has mild depression or chronic anhedonia.

She added that the excitement of anticipating an event can be different for people with certain types of depression, such as difficulty being happy due to anxiety or a quick return to negativity after the event is over.

Mental and physical health. Air pollution increases the risk of anxiety or depression. What can you do?

The sheer excitement associated with a concert can give people a high dose of dopamine that keeps them craving it long after the performance is over, says Dr. Crystal Burwell, who practices in Atlanta.

"If it's not there, it doesn't matter what the stimulus is in our brain, it doesn't matter what it is, it could be a concert or something, our brain doesn't discriminate. It gives us the same symptom: "I feel sad, I feel depressed," says Burwell.

Going to more concerts is not the answer

Feuerstein says that if a depressed person can find the energy and opportunity to do something that makes them happy, even to a lesser degree than before, they should do it.

However, counting on a concert or vacation just weeks away is not a safe way to live life, Burwell shared. She talks about caring for a client who has difficulty leaving the house and socializing with depression. In such cases, Burwell recommends working on smaller, simpler tasks, such as coffee.

"I wouldn't say the answer is going to more gigs, maybe putting yourself in a situation where you have to get out of the house and socialize," says Burwell. "Getting your nails done or doing your hair is a bit trivial. But the part of self-care that we focus on is the part that gets out of the house and socializes.

Mennin says that grieving the end of a long-awaited event isn't just about losing a loved one, it can both lead to grief and the feeling that happiness isn't as attainable as it once was. It's important to deal with losses without giving in to the false belief that you'll never get that high again.

"Living is important, despite the challenges. And health is the ability to ride this wave. So enjoy the experience while you have it and cherish the happy memories,” said Menin.

Initiative vs. Preventive forecasting

There are healthy ways to look forward to something pleasant. We can actively anticipate the event with excitement, but also live in the present, says Menin.

Anticipation is when a person expects future events to keep their emotions stable and raises the stakes to make it perfect, Menin added.

"It's hard to do. Make sure the show is good! It has to be the best. You see it in wedding planning or things like that, where people feel there's no room for bad things. said Menins. Keeping the fun and scary aspects of an event at the same time is very important for our health.

Dr. Kelly Greco, a clinical psychologist at the University of Southern California, says that when people with depression believe they can become anything or anything, an event like a concert will change their lives, that can lead to problems.

"Even though we want to see it like that, I'm grateful for this opportunity, it's positive, and I can still make memories, and still be part of the fans and the music, and still have good feelings. Even without being in the hall, at the concert," said Greco .

How to deal with the post-concert blues?

Here's what experts recommend for a healthier approach moving forward after the big show.

• Find a way to remember the night fondly. Listening to your favorite artist's discography or going to a show can create healthy memories, says Feuerstein. Greco says seeing all the photos and videos from the night can bring joy.
• Plan more consistent fun activities. Waiting weeks or months to enjoy life is not a healthy response. Greco recommends organizing pleasant moments often to make everyday life easier. Going to a concert is just one of those activities where a person has a meaningful experience, "you can't put all your eggs in one basket," Burwell shares.
• Avoid isolation. Isolation from others, such as feelings of sadness after a concert, can increase negative emotions, Feuerstein says. Surrounding yourself with other people is a great way to cope.
• Don't rely on social media to get ahead. "Seeing other people at concerts makes me feel more connected," says Greco. While it's tempting to spend hours watching other people's concerts on Instagram or Twitter, Greco says seeing other people watch your favorite artists perform without feeling isolated.
• Other activities were less interesting. Menin says it's helpful to accept that the upcoming classes may not be as exciting as the weeks you've been waiting for. You should try to find what is "half or a quarter fun" instead of believing that anything else is fun. "If I say that. 'OK, well, it's not going to be great, I'm going anyway'. In fact, they'll find that they feel much more positive than they expected. So it's a special feeling at a concert or something. Maybe it's not as real as you think. .

Taylor Swift gave her fans a HUGE SNAP