Post Performance Blues : 5 Things You Should Know.

Post Performance Blues are a collection of bad feelings which happen once an event is over. They affect everyone differently depending on their personalities and attitudes toward their craft. You can take steps to mitigate their impact - but because of their physiological & psychological roots - PPB's are difficult to eradicate completely.

Who Gets Post Performance Blues ?

Singers, Actors, Poets, Musicians, Dancers, Models, Public Speakers, Sportsmen and Women. Anyone involved in a 'time critical' performance which can be seen and judged by other human beings. And it's not limited to the entertainment or sport industries.

Anywhere or anytime things can go wrong in public, or in private, our bodies produce chemicals which help us cope with the stress, and improve our reactions and performance.

And there's the rub - once the need for the performance is over - our bodies need to rest and recalibrate. It's the rest which causes the low mood. This explains why a day at the office, or driving a truck leaves us feeling emotionally and physically drained.

So if you are in a situation where mistakes are costly and approval and validation are likely, then you'll probably get PPB's.

What Is Post Performance Blues ?

• A sense of overwhelming tiredness and irritability.
• A feeling of not being able to feel anything at all.
• As if there is nothing worth taking an interest in.
• A sense of loss and emptiness.
• Anxiety and panic attacks.
• Outbursts of tears and anger.
• No motivation - for anything.
• Negative self talk.
• Destructive comparisons, conversations & behaviour.
• Becoming withdrawn.
• Self doubt, internal incompetence debates.
• Vicious self inquiry - 'what's the point ? Who am I ?'
• Loss of purpose.

What Causes Post Performance Blues ?

1. The chemical soup which our bodies produce for the performance runs out. This causes a sudden and dramatic change in our mood, and our perception of ourselves and the world.

2. Our mindset won't allow us to accept and process feedback in a positive and healthy way, even when feedback and revues are positive.

3. We're unable to value ourselves or our performance or what we've achieved positively.

4. We over-identify with the role. As if that's all we are. And once the role is ended or suspended, then our sense of self ceases to exist.

5. Perfectionism.

6. Childhood trauma which polarises our need for validation and approval.

7. No other form of self validation or approval in our lives.

Are Post Performance Blues Unavoidable ?

Avoiding PPB's is not easy.

Even seasoned performers who don't suffer greatly from performance anxiety often feel down once a performance is over.

Many performers resort to drugs, many are unbearable to be around, many just find another gig or another performance to plan for.

Having a balanced life with a few friends who will recognise and tell you when your thinking and behaviour is self defeating are invaluable. But this only works if you make it their job to stop you going off on one.

So tell a friend that you'll need them after the show. Plan a trip or event unrelated to your performance. Be sure to look ahead with the sole intention of distracting you from your low mood and helping to stop it developing to unmanageable levels. Build it into your event routine.

Most importantly, lay it out plain and simple just how bad you will feel. Because if they are not performers, they will not understand. They will think you're acting like a spoiled princess. Show them this article so that they appreciate the highs and lows of performance.

How To Avoid Post Performance Blues ?

1. Plenty of sleep

2. Good Diet

3. Regular Exercise

4. Avoid drugs, caffeine and alcohol.

5. Don't allow negative thinking to make it worse - accept that it happens.

6. Make plans for the next day or days afterward to do something you enjoy outside performing.

7. Meditation.

8. Counselling.

9. Invest a risk free source of self validation and approval, such as a friend, a pet or pointless hobby.

10. Prepare a friend for the inevitable.

Summary.

Post Performance Blues are almost unavoidable. Anyone can get them and will most likely always get them. Accept that this will happen and make plans to lessen the impact.

Having risk free self validation outside the sphere of the craft is most important, so set about finding some.