It’s one of the biggest events in the music calendar, where 105,000 people will descend upon the borough over August Bank Holiday weekend to watch the brightest names in Rock and Roll at Reading Festival, now in its 53rd year.
But did you know that the post-festival blues is a real thing? Google Trends data shows that UK searches for ‘post-concert depression’ have soared by over 500% since the start of June.
These results came in the aftermath of Taylor Swift’s UK-leg of The Eras Tour, but have also spiked around the mornings following gigs by The Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon, both of whom have trod the boards of Reading Festival in past years.
A men’s mental health expert explained why post-gig blues are a real phenomenon.
“Although not clinically recognized yet, post-concert depression occurs because fans experience a rush of endorphins, which cause happiness during the show but drop after the concert ends,” he said. “This can result in feelings of sadness and emptiness, and a loss of interest in usual activities.
“This is a temporary feeling, but it can feel overwhelming and intense. This is especially true if the festival you attended felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity or was something you looked forward to for a while in advance.
“Feelings to look out for that may indicate PCD include mood fluctuations, feeling worthless, feeling sad or ‘empty,’ struggling to enjoy your day-to-day life, and physical symptoms like fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and appetite changes.
“It is important to lessen the impact of post-concert depression before symptoms worsen, as the feelings of low mood shouldn’t persist for longer than a month – if so, it may be time to seek professional support.”
So if you’re heading to Reading Festival – or any other hotly-anticipated gigs this year – here’s some advice on negating the feelings of post-gig blues.
1. Engage with a new hobby
In the build-up to a festival, many fans find themselves participating in arts and crafts projects, such as sewing their outfits or making friendship bracelets. Post-concert depression can also create a sense of purposelessness, so engaging with a hobby can give you something new to focus on.
2. Reach out to people
Another benefit of the festival experience is the sense of community. Fans often chat online about their excitement for the event, and then spend a weekend among likeminded people. It is important to keep in touch with your friends, particularly others who might have been to the same festival, for support and to maintain the social element that you enjoyed.
3. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
If the pre-festival excitement kept you awake, your campsite was noisy, or the event resulted in a late night, this can have a knock-on effect on your sleep schedule. A lack of sleep can disrupt your circadian rhythms and leave you feeling disorientated, adding to the post-concert melancholy. Reverting to the sleep schedule you had before the show is key.
4. Talk about your experiences
Whether you’re excitedly recounting the events of the night to your gig buddies, writing in a diary or even taking to social media, it’s important to share the happiness you felt during the festival, as a way of reliving it. It is equally important to talk about how you’re feeling now, both to connect with others and to understand your own emotions.
5. Listen to the music.
Sometimes listening to songs you’ve recently heard live can feel a little flat, but it can also be a great way to reconnect with the love and enthusiasm you held for the music before the festival. Listening to support acts or smaller artists in more depth, if you didn’t know them well, can also be a good way of prolonging the experience, and getting excited about new music.
