Post Concert Depression
Electric concert crowd amidst the night sky
Concerts are one of the most exciting experiences a teenager can have. The music, the energy, and the company of being surrounded by thousands of fans who love the same artist. All these factors create memories which can last a lifetime, but for many high schoolers in Atlanta, that excitement doesn't last forever. Once the show ends or even when the main lights reappear, an extremely strange feeling can settle, a phenomenon that many doctors are labeling as post-concert depression.
Post-concert depression is an emotional low that people experience a few minutes or hours after attending a live music event. Even though it's not an official medical condition, psychologists around the world are advocating for the phenomenon to be given more attention. It specifically occurs due to the brain’s release of chemicals such as dopamine and endorphins. Both make a person feel happy and energized, but once the event is over, those chemicals feel as if they drop from a hundred story tall skyscraper. The large drop makes one begin to feel sad, tired, and even deprived of the dopamine and endorphins that their body was about to explode with.
In a city like Atlanta, where concerts happen almost every weekend, the feeling is often discussed among teenagers. Huge venues like Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State-Farm Arena, and Ameris Bank Amphitheatre regularly host sold out shows from some of the hottest names in music. In the past year alone, fans have eagerly waited and packed stadiums to see Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Beyonce, The Weeknd, Tate McRae, Treaty Oak Revival, and so many many more. Additionally for teens, these events are never just “a single night.” To their minds, its months of planning, outfit shopping, crafting their playlists, and of course, counting the days.
While many say post concert depression is a feeling hard to describe, we can only empathize when people describe feeling lonely and bored right after an amazing energy-packed night. Most people immediately rush to their camera rolls and watch their videos of the show over and over again just to relive the moment, attempting to feel the dopamine and endorphins once again. The increased use of social media makes the feeling worse, as fans post clips and edits of the concert to keep it fresh in everyone’s mind.
It doesn’t matter what music genre one is interested in, the phenomenon can happen for any genre and for anyone. For teens in Atlanta, music will always be a major part of their lives. But it's also okay to admit that the silence after the show can be just as loud.