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Writer's pictureKathy Carter

Heartstopper Syndrome – the blissful oxytocin rush of being held, followed by the post-watch slump – and how Charlie Spring’s heartbeat aids the process

Many Heartstopper fans describe the warm contentment of watching the Netflix TV show, followed by very real melancholy afterwards.


The good news is, 1. You’re not alone if you experience this, and 2. IT’S A THING! Writing in the International Journal of Arts Management, Kottasz and Bennett describe a phenomenon called Post-Series Depression (PSD).


They describe:


“Some fans [when their favourite screen experience is over], feel so distraught, they start exhibiting a passion and enthusiasm that goes beyond rational and normal levels of behaviour, i.e. obsessively re-watching the show, and searching for content-fueled interactions across a diversity of media.”


Ohhhhhhhhhh.


(Interestingly, Netflix has reportedly identified a subset of viewers called ‘binge racers’, individuals who aim to finish a season within 24 hours of its release.)


Double Ohhhhhhhhhh.


PSD and melancholic euphoria


So if you’re reading this, you’re likely in good company. PSD is described as encapsulating loss and emptiness, and also, in the words of Feldman (2001, 51), a “yearning, longing and desire to experience an emotional state suffused with a melancholic euphoria.” I think this is something Heartstopper fans will attest to.


According to the aforementioned article, we often seek out entertainment experiences for one or all of the following reasons - compensation (because our needs may not be met in the same way as the characters’ lives); gratification (e.g. satisfaction of social or emotional needs, which could include that the programme simply makes us feel happy); and self-realisation, when we try to enhance our self-identity. It seems clear that Heartstopper gives us all three aspects, and the many viewers for whom the programme has helped explore their sexual and gender identity are testimony to that.


Let’s explore how Heartstopper weaves its magic spell


I have spoken before about the fact that whilst the TV show Heartstopper holds and cossets us as it explores the deep themes within the show (and of course, preceding webcomics and books), it also brings up a lot for people, around marginalisation, loss, missed opportunities, and nostalgia. This can leave us feeling discombobulated as we reflect on our own experiences after we’ve finished watching. Having held us closely and contained our emotions whilst the show was being watched, creator Alice Oseman and the team must now leave us to our own devices to unravel everything, post-watch.


Satisfaction of emotional needs via the characters’ heartbeats

I think one of the reasons we feel so connected to the amazing characters, and especially Nick and Charlie, when watching Heartstopper, is the judicious use of heartbeats in the score by composer Adiescar Chase. Sometimes it is used as what I am terming a heartbeat track; it’s barely noticeable when watching on TV. (Headphones reveal the timing of the heartbeat track in more detail.)


Additionally, for a lot of the time, a heartbeat is simply embedded into the music score. (No surprise, given the show is called Heartstopper).


But why would Chase and the producers have considered this tool? Hearing a heartbeat can provide a comforting effect, one that’s often attributed to a biological and psychological connection involving oxytocin, a hormone related to bonding and feelings of closeness.


It makes sense that TV producers and composers would utilise this beautiful, simple rhythm - from early life, we are attuned to the sounds of a heartbeat, especially via our mothers’ womb. This rhythmic sound becomes associated with safety, warmth, and protection, forming an early sensory link between the heartbeat, and feelings of comfort. When we hear a heartbeat later in life, it can unconsciously evoke these feelings of security.


Furthermore, the slow, rhythmic sound of a heartbeat can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps enhance feelings of safety and calm, further priming the body to release oxytocin, also a social bonding hormone. The many fan-groups for Heartstopper continue the sense of social bonding and connection, as we share our experiences, post-show.


WHOSE is the Heartstopper heartbeat?

My feeling is that the heartbeat track we hear in the show’s score is Charlie’s heartbeat. The ‘heartbeat track’ as I hear it, if that’s even a thing, is used very cautiously and carefully in all three series. My feeling is that it is used when Charlie is feeling trepidation, or that he’s not sure if he was right to trust his instincts.


Its first and most effective use is in the couple’s first kiss in series 1 ep3, as Adiescar Chase’s ‘Kiss’, which arguably utilises the sound of a heartbeat in its score the most throughout the series, plays. The heartbeat track starts as the couple’s lips touch for the first time; seems to fade and become uneven, possibly reflecting two heartbeats – and then returns audibly as they finally pull apart. (The heartbeat perhaps recognising that Charlie’s feeling surprised and excited by his own bravery, and delighted and lovestruck that Nick has reciprocated – and then possibly concerned whether or not Nick is feeling ok, post kiss. Maybe it’s also foreshadowing the fact Nick will imminently get up and run when he hears Harry, and Charlie feels like he must have somehow coerced Nick to kiss him.)


Very soon afterwards in ep4, Nick has kissed Charlie in Charlie’s bedroom, after Charlie apologises for what happened at Harry’s party. ‘Kiss’ is playing once more, and the heartbeat track seemingly starts again as they pull apart. (The heartbeat perhaps recognising that Charlie is pleased with Nick’s response but also conflicted, as he can see Nick is upset, and perhaps senses Nick’s own raised heartrate caused by his ‘gay crisis’. And frankly Charlie’s waited 12 hours for this conclusion, so has been undoubtedly feeling low and trepidatious.)


Music that utilises the ‘beat’ of a heartbeat


There’s judicious, fantastic use of background sounds or music that utilise the ‘beat’ of a heartbeat throughout the show, like at the start of the corridor scene in ep8 on sports day. And once we’re into series 2, most notably, in all of the montage scenes in ep1, the background music is very heartbeat-esque. In the changing room when Charlie gives Nick the chocolate bar, the heartbeat aspect is more musical and changeable, but still noticeable with its double beat.


Back to Charlie’s inner trepidation, and in ep4 in the hotel room, take 1, a similar (but less soft?) track to Kiss is playing, and the heartbeat starts as Nick kisses Charlie’s neck. (The heartbeat potentially showing new feelings for Charlie – bliss and arousal on one hand, and a growing sense of their relationship shifting and changing gears; and maybe also trepidation of being caught, on the other.) Later in the hotel room take 2, the heartbeat track starts as Nick pulls away as Charlie’s kissing his neck. (The heartbeat maybe recognising some aspect of concern from Charlie – have I coerced him? Is he rejecting me? Did I misread the situation?)


In series 3 ep4 in the hospital gardens, the heartbeat track starts as the boys kiss, with the familiar ‘Kiss’ score playing. (The heartbeat perhaps recognising that Charlie is desperately needing to know he’s still wanted and desired, and not fragile and broken).


In Ep6 for the music room kiss, there’s a slight musical-based heartbeat as Nick goes in for the kiss, before the score overpowers it. Later when Charlie’s preoccupied about removing his jumper after the book signing, we hear the heartbeat again, after Charlie decides to carry on making out, despite his reservations. (The heartbeat perhaps recognising Charlie’s internal conflict; a lack of body confidence, versus his love for Nick and desire to be intimate.)


What are we feeling?


My feeling is that these targeted scenes of heightened emotion for both characters make us feel (subconsciously) tredpidatious too, as we hear the heartbeat; but that thanks to the writing, acting, production and careful story arcs, we are left feeling that warm and fuzzy feeling as we get the pay-off of the characters’ being OK. (Most shows don’t do this – they manipulate our emotions in the same way, but leave us without a safe pay-off, with characters suffering dreadfully).


Post series melancholy

But as we finish watching the show, the Heartstopper theme-tune fades away and we return to the daily grind of our life, that oxytocin fades away too, and we are left with the prospect of the aforementioned processing of our own experiences. Did we have what Nick and Charlie (mostly) had – consent, respect, honesty, safety to be ourselves – or did we experience more ostracisation and less social connection? This gaping whole between the heartbeat-induced warm and fuzzies, and the more isolated self-reflective moments, especially as we process any loss or grief for our own teen (or current) experiences, is perhaps one explanation for ‘Heartstopper Syndrome’?


I feel that this where some aspect of grief and loss comes in, as the safely the show offers in our nervous system drifts away, and we now have to process our own experiences. Despite being a youth LGBTQ+ show, the viewership is by no means made up solely of this demographic, with very many viewers considerably older than the Gen Z category, and a mix of sexualities and genders. The ‘processing’ doesn’t have to relate to what the characters are going through – it can be anything around loss, not fitting in, relationship woes, losing loved ones, mental health challenges, feeling that we don’t have a community, or being ostracised and bullied. And it doesn’t have to relate to the era when we were Nick and Charlie’s age. All of those challenges continue through life for many folk, so Heartstopper, and its rose-tinted version of relationships and friendships, can shine an uncomfortable light on our own experiences.


So what can we do about post Heartstopper melancholy?


1.Check what we really need


I would definitely advise that we notice WHY we are using the show, especially if we’re feeling low when we start watching. Is it a mood modulator? For example, if we notionally replaced the watching on a given day with copious amounts of unhealthy food (i.e. binge eating), the use of recreational drugs or alcohol to change the way we feel (i.e. numb our existing feelings), or something else like gambling or shopping, would this still feel OK and a healthy passion? Let’s ask ourselves what we REALLY need right now. In all likelihood this could be as simple as human connection, to feel wanted, to feel deserving and to feel connected to a community, for example. Are there ways we can seek out these things first, before watching? Or maybe instead of?


2.Work out what’s triggering us to feel melancholy This can be a hard one to process, but we do usually have the answers within us. Did society not accept us for who we are in the same way Nick and Charlie (albeit with their Eurocentric, white, middle-class privilege) are accepted? Do we have unprocessed trauma around marginalisation for our own sexuality, gender, neurotype or difference? Maybe our culture still doesn’t have this level of acceptance, and Heartstopper is a safe way to explore our identity? Or maybe a plotline (for example, Darcy’s emotionally abusive mother, or Charlie’s disordered eating) are hitting close to home for us?


3.Talk to someone!


We all need our own Mr Ajai or Geoff, two characters in Heartstopper who have showed Charlie he is resilient and strong. Talk therapy is a great place to start if there’s difficulties in our past that need processing. If Heartstopper has brought up issues in your life that you’d like to address, there’s no time like the present to find a professional to assist. Or maybe there’s a teacher, friend, family member, mentor, or pastoral / guidance worker within your community that you could speak to? Sometimes just witnessing those feelings around loss, grief of what we didn’t have, and a longing for what we feel is missing, can help with the stuck feelings. And if you do feel that your favourite show has genuinely taken you to a place of depression or poor mental health, please do talk to your healthcare practitioner or doctor about what supports and services are available to you.


4.Use other (or additional) tools to help with regulation

Music, exercise, mindfulness, nature, human connections, pets, hobbies, self-care, self-development – there are many ways that we can help heal our inner-wounds and upregulate our nervous systems. Sometimes, using these after we have watched a show and are feeling low, can help us regulate back to homeostasis, and perhaps get some new brain chemicals like endorphins (i.e. via exercising, laughing and listening to music) and serotonin (i.e. via nature, pets, mindfulness and music) flowing. Like anything, our passions light us up, help solidify (and sometimes, discover) our identities, give us pleasure and a great deal of comfort – providing we use them healthily!


Concluding, if you’re experiencing Heartstopper Syndrome, you’re not alone, you’re perfectly human, and are a person who feels things deeply. (And please don’t let anyone make you disappear.)


 

 

 

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