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aliljaded 53F
23952 posts
5/24/2017 9:30 am
Subdrop and Aftercare...

Subdrop and Aftercare...

I thought I would write a little and provide some useful information about sub drop and aftercare, since I have just had to help a close friend deal with her first experience of sub drop and although she knew what it was, she did not realise that is what she was going through and did not know how to deal with it.

What Is Subdrop?

Subdrop is the emotional and physical symptoms felt by a submissive that is caused by tiring out the body and the release of adrenalin, endorphins, hormones and other chemicals that create a natural high during a scene, leading to a subsequent ‘come down’ afterward, similar to the effects of illicit drugs. It can leave a sub feeling exhausted, depressed, sad and very emotional. This can include feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment and other negative thoughts, but you should realize that this is simply your body’s natural response to a very intense experience, it is not your fault, you have done nothing wrong and you are not to blame.

Subs will often experience sub drop in different ways, some may feel the effects of it more intensely than others and it can last for varying periods of time, anywhere from an hour up to a few weeks afterward, but it is only temporary and will eventually pass. It is important that you learn to recognize sub drop because once you understand that you are feeling the effects of it, you can begin to address it and simply knowing why you are feeling that way will also help, especially when it comes to your emotions and feelings. Try to communicate, interact and stay in contact with your Dom or others, who can help you cope with your emotions and how you are feeling, by offering you support and talking you through it. Following the other advice, I have included below will also help you recover from the effects of sub drop.

For the all the Doms, Dommes, Masters and Mistresses out there, this is just as crucial for You, as it is for Your sub. Subdrop is very real and not some myth, so aftercare and helping Your sub deal with the effects of it should be just as important as what You might do during a scene, especially as You are essentially responsible for Your sub feeling the effects of it and caring for Your sub is part of the responsibility that comes with being a Dominant. Aftercare should not be neglected and staying in contact with Your sub, offering them reassurance, validation and support will help during this vulnerable time and they should not have to go through this alone. Although some subs do prefer time to themselves, You should at least offer and ask what You can do to help, as everyone is different and their needs will vary.

If You do neglect aftercare and ignore sub drop, then the effects can begin to outweigh the benefits and enjoyment that Your sub may feel during a scene with You, which can cause problems for Your relationship with them and even end it. It is also worth pointing out that Dominants and switches can also feel a form of ‘drop’ after a scene, which I won’t address, but You can read more about it in the links I have provided at the end of this article.

So What Is Aftercare?

Aftercare is the name given to the process of being there with a partner for a sufficient amount of time, so they can feel safe, regain their emotional equilibrium and recover from the effects of a scene. It is equally important to recognize that aftercare is for both the Top and bottom, Dominant and submissive. If either person leaves too soon, then their partner may feel abandoned or a loss far exceeding the pleasure they might have felt during the scene.

Aftercare can include practical things such as making sure a sub is physically taken care of, treating any injuries, keeping them warm, allowing them to rest and making sure they have enough to eat or drink. Aftercare should also include attending to the emotional needs of a sub by offering them support, reassurance, and validation. This can include showing them affection by cuddling or holding them, even gentle and loving sex, as well as asking how they are feeling, talking through the scene with them and their experience, answering any questions they might have and giving them a lot of positive reinforcement, such as saying how proud You are of them. This can continue after you have parted ways and for several days afterward, by staying in contact and checking on their recovery.

Although like sub drop, everyone has a different experience and needs when it comes to aftercare, some, for instance, may want to be left alone to process this on their own and there is no right or wrong way, it simply involves doing whatever is necessary to help them recover.

How To Cope With Subdrop

A few ways you can help your body recover and deal with the effects of sub drop include:

ACE which stands for aftercare, contact with your Dominant and expression of positive reinforcement by the Dominant.
Drink plenty of water or a sports drink like Gatorade, which help replace fluids, salts, and potassium in the body that you have lost during a scene.
Eat foods to replenish the nutrients in your body, while you might crave comfort foods and sugary treats, which will not only replace the sugar and energy you have lost, but obviously give you some sense of comfort, the effects will be only temporary and will only leave you craving more, which is not ideal. Instead try to eat whole grain bread, meat, cheese, and vegetables, while avoiding any foods that are white in color, although milk is also very helpful.
Take some vitamins, especially the B-complex group that includes folic acid, vitamin B6, and B12.
Be active and interact with others, even if you do not feel like doing so, as sub drop often leaves a sub feeling ashamed, depressed, isolated, confused and alone, so being by yourself and trying to cope on your own will only make those feelings worse. Even spending time with your pet can be helpful. Most importantly stay in contact with your Dominant and try to talk to them about how you are feeling, so They can help you cope.
Exercise will help release more endorphins, lessening the effects of sub drop, which is partly caused by the release of endorphins during a scene and the subsequent ‘come down’ that occurs afterward.
Try keeping yourself occupied, with a hobby or other activity which will allow you to clear your head or express your feelings.
Aromatherapy, warm baths, meditation and listening to soothing music is also helpful.
Try to stay warm.
Treat and care for any injuries you might have sustained during the scene, such as scratches, bites, welts or sore bottoms. I am not a doctor and I could not possibly hope to cover every potential scenario in this article, but generally applying basic first aid techniques and vitamin E cream will help your skin recover more quickly.
Rest and get plenty of sleep.
Try to get yourself ready for a scene, by getting plenty of sleep, trying to stay focused and preparing yourself before the experience.
Additional Reading

You can find a useful article on the subject of sub drop here. While these are an excellent series of very extensive articles on aftercare and sub drop for submissives, Dominants, switches and also emergency self-administered aftercare.

–-Dominant Life


"Men need to hunt. She obviously understands this. She’s offering herself as prey. Not easy prey. But willing.”


slaveforyou365 63M  
4488 posts
5/24/2017 2:05 pm



Slave rick


JamesLord 78M

5/24/2017 12:01 pm

Good article, well written. Thank you. This will probably help a lot of subs and probably some Doms who might not be as aware.


DaskaMan 60M  
34 posts
5/24/2017 11:12 am

Great post


aliljaded 53F
8847 posts
5/24/2017 9:35 am

I was with my Dom for the past few days and feel a tremendous drop in my mood and attitude since He left. Along with my body recovering from our time together, this is a serious thing that a lot, if not all submissives experience.

"Men need to hunt. She obviously understands this. She’s offering herself as prey. Not easy prey. But willing.”



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