After the Applause

Understanding Post-Concert Blues

Have you ever been to a concert; one that made you feel joyous, crazy, and downright nauseated at the thought of sharing the same kilocube of oxygen with your favorite artist(s)? Well, then you’ve probably experienced the dreadful day after, and I’m not talking about the raging headache from the delicate cocktail of lack of sleep and eardrum damage. The phenomenon known as “post-concert depression” has been wracking the minds of music-enjoyers for decades. How can an experience so amazing make you feel so… not amazing? Some characterize the experience as a loss, and others describe it as a sense of numbness– but one thing is consistent throughout all of their devilishly uncomplimentary words: it freaking sucks. So what is post-concert depression? Is there a way to stop it from messing up the next time I see Harry Styles? I don’t want to have to clean glitter out of my hair and deal with dangerously low levels of happiness! Luckily, this area has been heavily researched, and I’m here to translate for you. 

Though the brain is heavily complex, one thing it's not, is patternless. Symptoms of post-concert depression arise in many other areas of life, and it's reflected in our neuroactivity. The most well-known (and well-researched) example of this is addiction. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that is known to stimulate positive emotions such as happiness, motivation, and satisfaction. Because of this, humans are intrinsically drawn to activities, or substances, that promote dopamine production due to our survival instincts (note: there is no way to externally get pure dopamine, the human body has to produce it internally). For example, finding food over 100,000 years ago was no easy task, so the brain produced dopamine to motivate our hungry ancestors to go to extreme lengths to hunt, thus decreasing the chance of starvation. Today, however, when dopamine production is more commonly available via social media usage (for example), problems have arisen with the rate at which these spikes in dopamine are occurring. 

To linearize this image, imagine a graph with both a positive and negative y-axis. Whenever you do something fun, say go to a concert or scroll through social media, your dopamine levels rise into the positive. For argument’s sake, let’s say your dopamine is at 5. Well, after some time, your dopamine levels have to drop just as much as they have risen. In this hypothetically quantified and wildly numerically inaccurate case, they are now at -5. Because your dopamine levels are now below 0, it would take more happiness, excitement, or satisfaction to get them back up to where they were initially. This is how addiction works. By consistently spiking your dopamine, and thus letting it drop drastically, cravings are induced along with many negative feelings commonly associated with depression and anxiety. However, when these spikes are not occurring close together, the body zeroes out dopamine levels naturally. 

Going to a concert, or listening to live music in general, is great for your brain– it causes bio-syncing with peers, dopamine and serotonin production, and overall good vibes. But, because of how our brains function in a digitalized world, these exhilarating experiences can create a stark contrast with our everyday lives. After an electrifying concert, the euphoric high of dancing, singing, and connecting with others often feels like a sudden drop back to reality. Returning home, the mundane tasks of daily life seem insipid in comparison, leading to post-concert depression. Moreover, the anticipation leading up to the concert adds another layer to this emotional rollercoaster. The weeks or even months of excitement build up to a single night of awesomeness, which can make the letdown afterward feel even more pronounced. When the show ends, and you step back into the quiet of your room, that adrenaline rush quickly fades, leaving you in a state of longing for the energy and joy you just experienced.

To combat this post-concert slump, consider a few strategies: first, allow yourself to savor the memories. Relive the highlights through videos, photos, or even sharing stories with friends who attended the concert with you. Creating a tangible connection to the experience can help mitigate feelings of loss..

Secondly, practice mindfulness and self-care. Acknowledge your feelings without judgment. Engaging in activities that bring you joy—like listening to your favorite songs, journaling, or going for a walk—can help you regain a sense of balance.

Post-concert depression is a reminder of the depth of our emotional experiences and the connections we forge through music. It highlights how integral these moments are to our well-being and serves as a cue to seek out joy in the everyday, ensuring that we don’t just wait for the next concert to feel alive.

Sincerely,

TeenPsychos