Chasing that Feeling: How to deal with Post-Concert Depression (PCD)

Are you still chasing that high feeling you experienced from the recent K-Pop concert you attended? If yes, we don’t blame you. It happens to the rest of us.

K-Pop concerts, unlike any other Western shows, usually last for two to three hours. This means three hours of non-stop fun which consists of bopping to your favorite K-pop performances, singing along to your favorite songs, seeing your favorite idol go up close and personal in front of you (or maybe grind or do a sexy pose in front of you; I would have fainted), and above all, having the ultimate fun with your friends and newfound family.

Post-Concert Depression, PCD as we call it, is usually triggered after experiencing an intense or euphoric feeling such as attending a concert. For us entangled in the Hallyu wave, this usually happens after seeing our favorite group perform. Usually lasting for days up to weeks, PCD is that feeling of yearning and longing that gets built up over time until it becomes a huge ball of loneliness surrounding and consuming us.

Yes, it is real and we experience it. However, no one really addresses the elephant in the room—how do we deal with it? While there is no exact format, I discovered some ways that have personally worked like magic. So worry not as here’s a guide on how to effectively deal with PCD.

Acceptance is Key

While “delulu is the solulu” (being delusional is the solution), this is not exactly what can help us in dealing with PCD. I believe that the first step in effectively dealing with PCD is accepting that the curtains have closed, the K-pop concert is done, your favorite idols have bowed their heads, and the confetti is on the ground. However, I am not saying that you should move on immediately. Rather, it is important to establish a healthy relationship and maintain that boundary between that high feeling we felt during the concert and understand that it is not permanent and something we can hold on to forever.

Take your time

While it may feel sad, I am here to reassure you that it is totally okay! I, too, feel the blues when I come to realize that my bias is not in front of me dancing and singing their hearts out. There is no timeline on how to deal with these things, so it is important that you allow yourself to leave some room to feel the yearning. In short, take your time! Let it run its course and do not tell yourself that you should stop thinking about it. Accepting that it is over and at the same time basking in that longing feeling is completely normal. Even if it takes you three days or two weeks (or even more), there is really no better way to deal with PCD than letting yourself feel all the emotions there are in the dictionary.

Rewatch your concert videos

“Did my bias really say hi to me?” “Did they really just perform my favorite song of all time?” These are some of the questions that run through our minds after watching an exhilarating performance. Sometimes, the concert high is so real that we tend to forget and gaslight ourselves into thinking whether or not certain things did happen during the concert. That’s why, one of my favorite ways to effectively deal with this is by re-watching all the media content I have taken during that day. Whether it is a video of me singing out of tune alongside my favorite idols, a video of my bias-wrecker running around, capturing a memorable moment between the members of the group, or even just jumping along with fellow fans, watching these help ease the rising PCD blues. After watching more than five K-pop acts now, I learned that time really does make us sentimental, and sometimes there is nothing we can do but look fondly over the nostalgic videos and pictures and re-watch them over and over again.

Binge your favorite idols’ content or shows

When I first experienced my PCD after watching SEVENTEEN’s Be The Sun in Manila last 2022, I definitely had a hard time coping. To make matters worse, I had to study and take my midterm examinations just a few days after the concert. During that time, there was an itch I could not shake off and that is the constant longing to see them. I knew I couldn’t see them in person anymore, so I had no choice but to turn to the internet. Here, I have learned that binge-watching all their online videos, including their own variety shows, interviews, and even documentaries helps a lot.

Fortunately, we K-pop fans have not been deprived of this opportunity. For CARATs, you can definitely check out SEVENTEEN’s Going Seventeen (GOSE) episodes, NANA Tour, One Fine Day, and even SVT Club. For ENGENES, you can check out Enhypen’s EN-O’CLOCK episodes and even reminisce about how the group was formed by watching I-LAND. For ATINYs, you can check out ATEEZ’s WANTEEZ episodes. For ARMYs, you can even have a long-running marathon of watching BTS’ Run BTS and Bon Voyage episodes over the years. Not to mention Suga’s variety show “SUCHWITA” which features different K-pop idols. For our HYBE enthusiasts, worry no more as you can now binge Game Caterers by Na PD on YouTube. However, take note that these are just the tips of the iceberg. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of content online, all accessible at the touch of your fingertips. Korean variety shows like Running Man, Weekly Idol, Knowing Brother, and many more also feature some of your favorite idols. So if you find yourself randomly feeling the blues, now is your chance to have a marathon and binge them all. Even if you and your bias are a thousand miles apart, it won’t feel like it once you see them on your screen that’s less than ten inches away from you. Trust me.

Immerse yourself in the online K-POP Community

Gone were the days when fans could only meet in person during concert days. We are lucky to have been born during the rise of the digital age as it helps us easily connect and bond over our shared interests. Two of the best things about attending a K-pop concert are the camaraderie and friendships built over the simplest things. Stanning the same group? We are now friends! Have the same bias? Call us besties. Truly, who should you surround yourself with during your PCD blues? None other than your fellow K-pop fans, of course. Luckily for us, we are everywhere online! Whether it be on TikTok, Facebook, X, or Instagram, a community filled with K-pop enthusiasts is waiting for you. Who knows, maybe you could even reconnect with the person beside you during the concert. The possibilities are endless.

Buy buy buy!

Last but not the least, I believe that the best way to deal with PCD is by buying merch. Albums, hoodies, shirts, lightsticks, you name it all. If you are a person who loves tangible things, this one's for you. But take note, this is not required! I still highly suggest doing this only if it is within your means. K-pop albums and other merch are expensive, but we all know deep down that sometimes, one album would not hurt, especially if they are currently on sale. It’s a win-win situation!

If you are still hesitating, go visit CNA’s website right now and see for yourself some exciting deals: https://cnakpop.com/pages/shop 

The journey to fangirling over K-pop idols is definitely not for the weak. While dealing with PCD may be different for everybody, I hope these steps have helped you and hopefully will come in handy for the next K-pop acts to come. What about you, are there any other ways you deal with PCD?