Post-Taylor Swift Concert Blues: Tips to Prevent it & Get Through It
If you happen to get the chance to be a fan who scored tickets to the Seattle SOLD OUT Taylor Swift show this weekend you might fall into this post-concert depression that has been sweeping the nation.
Just like any big event in life that you build up in your head, anticipating every day until it’s finally here- once it is over there is a huge sense of loss. How couldn’t there be?? This big event that you have dreamed for, waited for, loved and live through is now a memory?! That is a hard reality hit.
A Note to Pre-show Prep
If you read this before the concert- is in a recent Times article they detailed that, “This response causes your amygdala—the part of the brain responsible for emotional processing—to release a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. It helps tag memories as having high emotional content, enhancing the likelihood that they’ll be saved vividly in your mind. But McNay describes the process as an inverted U: A little bit is good; too much is bad, he says. Plus, if you add caffeine or alcohol to the mix, you’ll likely push the curve even further to the right, which means your brain will have a tougher time creating and saving new memories.” If you are 21+ think about limiting your alcohol intake if your goal is to remember a lot of your experience seeing Taylor.
Tips for Concert Going to Focus on the Show:
Wear shoes you can dance in all night
Make sure to double check your bag has the essentials you need for the concert (and maybe bring an extra external charger if your stadium allows it).
Limit your caffeine and alcohol (21+) intake before and during the show as the article above details.
Stay hydrated and eat well to keep from any nausea or dehydration getting in the way of your experience.
Try to BREATHE- this may seem silly, but many fans are reporting that the concert felt like an out of body experience, or that they have “concert amnesia”. Doing some breathing between songs can help reground you to be in the moment.
So What can Help You Feel Supported after the Taylor Swift post concert blues?
Here are Some of Our Grief Support Tips:
Create memory filled items and mementos to your experience. There is a trend where people across the nation are taking their tickets, pictures, and even merch shop bags and framing them with confetti. Creating a piece of art like this can be helpful to honor the memories you made at the concert.
Recognize How You Feel. It is OKAY to feel some type of way after a big event is over. It doesn’t mean you are being “dramatic” or “overboard” to be upset that it is over.
Journal About It. Whether you write about it, or have video footage of your time at the concert- having a log to look back at of your time can be a great way to never forget your experience (as if you could forget seeing Tswift… yeah right).
Make a Playlist of Your Favorite Songs. Think about making a “live concert” playlist of the songs you remember her performing. This could potentially help your brain slowly remember specific moments from the show & you will have a great playlist to keep in your music rotation.
Talk to The People You Went With. Another great way to process the grief of the concert being over is by talking about it with friends you went to the concert with. They might have a different perspective about what they saw, or what they noticed during the show. You can reflect on your time together, and how hard it is that it is over.
Grief Sucks. But Tswift is Forever. This will not be her last concert. If it was I think the nation would be grieving… arguably forever. There could be a chance in the future you can see her again! Reflecting that this is not the end of your connection to her, and her music is part of your day to day life- just in a different way than seeing her live. Of course, this event was special to you! Processing that and recognizing how she is connected to your life after is a great way to reflect on how her artistry impacts your life.
Hang in there! As a fellow Swiftie who is not going to the show- I hope that anyone reading this has a beautiful and powerful experience seeing her live! If you feel that your symptoms progress after a few days/weeks after the concert, make sure to check in with your mental health professional.
