Kansas City has a World Cup hangover
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Crews tearing down Fan Fest on Friday. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
KC is coming off the high of hosting the World Cup, and now that the tournament is officially over, the World Cup blues are here.
Why it matters: Emotional letdowns after major life events are common — and the World Cup was exactly the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience that can trigger one.
The big picture: Hosting the World Cup was "like doing ecstasy," Dallas Gipson, a licensed counselor with Mended Life Counseling, tells Axios. "It releases all of your good stuff, and then the next day you're hungover."
- Four years of buildup following KC's designation as a host city culminated in a month of parties, experiences, attention and local pride.
- Gipson says people sometimes crash after their wedding, a big vacation or even a major promotion: "You have not planned for what it feels like to be on the other side of the mountain."
What they're saying: A survey of our readers found that nearly 9 in 10 respondents who had a positive World Cup experience reported feeling sad it was over.
- "We worked SO hard for this moment," one writes. "Like Christmas, it was over before we knew it!"
- Another says they attended Fan Fest, matches at the stadium and the Dutch march: "The best part was how you felt."
Context: Gipson says pleasure triggers a rush of endorphins, the body's "internal opioid," and dopamine makes you want more.
- Dan England, an ultramarathon runner and coach from Kansas City who lives in Colorado, says achieving a big goal is "intoxicating and addicting."
- "There aren't many situations in our adult lives that make us feel really special and unique," whether that be finishing a big race or hosting the World Cup, he says.
- When the pleasant experiences are suddenly gone, people experience an emotional letdown, known in the running world as the marathon blues.
What to do: England creates recovery plans for his clients, identifying ways to ramp down after a big race, like doing smaller races.
- Gipson says taking care of your body — eating healthy foods, hydrating and getting good sleep — helps reset faster, and cataloging your memories can reframe your brain.
- England also tells clients it's OK to feel grief because that means something beautiful happened.
- And finding communities around common interests can help boost your mood.
- Seek help if sadness lingers or intensifies.
What we're watching: More soccer, with the return of the MLS and NWSL regular seasons.
- Sporting KC hosts Minnesota this Wednesday at 7:30pm.