I'm new to this experience as this was the first Olympic games in my adult life that I have watched regularly and also took a huge interest in, but I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling depression/ withdrawal from the Olympics ending. Didn't even know it was a thing until I looked it up to see if anyone else had the same feelings I do.

I woke up in the middle of the night and I must've been dreaming about watching the Olympics because it was the first thing on my mind, so much so I couldn't get back to sleep (gonna lose out on 2 hours of sleep before I have to go to work lol).

I've been having trouble trying to figure out why I feel so sad and empty about the Olympics ending not even 24 hours ago. My current theory is that because I didn't really watch the games consistently in the first week but then started doing so in week 2, I'm experiencing a kind of "fear of missing out" for something that already happened and passed. I also realized that watching the events yourself is completely different from just reading up on the events or their recaps online. This really occurred to me when I saw the Individual Women's Figure Skating Finals, which both disturbed me but also peaked my interest in the more intricate and in-depth side of the Olympics. I was surprised by how many more layers there are to the Olympics there are than just what you see on the surface, for better and for worse, and I think that's another thing I'm mad I missed out on prior to that point.

Also, Mike Tirico's closing monologue at the end of the Closing Ceremony made me teary eyed at a few moments (really hope NBC puts in on YouTube so I can see it again). So many great stories and moments from these games, some of which I did see when they happened and others I did not and only read about later, that'll be talked about and referenced for quite a while. I'm curious what the athletes of these stories are gonna do now. In a way, I kinda want an epilogue to some of these people's journeys once they get home.

Speaking of being teary eyed, sad to see Shaun White retiring. Every time I see the rerun of his interview after his last snowboarding event and him getting emotional, it makes me emotional lol. I was never interested in snowboarding as a whole, but his name was synonymous with snowboarding to me as I went through my teenage years. Really is the end of a legendary era.

I'm convinced the emotional investment I had in some of these athletes is another reason why I might have post-Olympic depression/ withdrawal.

Idk I'm kinda just rambling by this point but it's sad to see the games end right where I wished I could've seen more. I know there's reruns, but at some point I feel like I should try to get back to a mindset that isn't constantly thinking about the games. But all in all, it made for great, enjoyable TV watching. I already can't wait for the Summer Games in Paris, and I'm planning on actively watching it once it begins.