The physical and/or emotional exhaustion that takes within a few hours to a few days after an intense physical and/or emotional experience (such as a BDSM scene or a weekend long convention).
Drop looks different for everyone. Physical symptoms include exhaustion/fatigue, or changes in body temperature, but for many folks, symptoms are primarily mental, and can include:
- Anxiety
- Sadness/depression
- Self-doubt
- Heightened emotions
- Increased sensory needs
Preventing drop is what aftercare is all about! Experience will tell you what you can personally expect from drop, and that will also inform what steps you should take to prevent drop. Common practices for care during drop include, but aren't limited to:
- Breakdown the scene with your scene partner, give and receive feedback and praise
- Affirm self worth and value with your partner/scene partner
- Physical connection like cuddling and soft rubbing
- Planning self care rituals to reestablish normalcy
