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Sub Drop - 6/28/2008 9:45:09 AM   
ftmyersartist


Posts: 107
Joined: 9/14/2007
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This is an post I wrote for my blog on another site. Thought I'd repost it here if anyone wants to read it.

Sub Drop
(By FtMyersArtist)
(David Williams)

Sub drop comes in two forms: Physical sub drop which is a reaction by the submissives body to the strains of a scene, and mental sub drop which is an emotional response that can take place much after the scene is done. Neither type should be taken as a weakness of the submissive, on the contrary, the occurrence of either usually indicates that the sub has been pushing them self in the scene to go as far as they can.

It is the duty of the dominant to understand and look out for signs of either type of sub drop and cut off the possible bad effects when possible or at least minimize them.

Physical Sub Drop:

Physical sub drop is a result of the body's reaction to the trauma of a scene. This is not meaning the scene must be overly traumatic to cause it, regular play such as flogging and spanking is taken as trauma by the body and it reacts to protect the internal organs accordingly. When the body feels threatened it centralizes the blood flow, drawing as much of the blood flow into the main trunk to protect the vital organs. Even though the play is not causing any damage per se, the body can react as though it was really having the shit beat out of it.

The first result of this can be a noticeable paleness to the limbs as the blood flow is limited. This can be hard to see especially with hose/gloves or ropes etc. The second symptom is a cooling of the skin and a clammy feel to the limb. When the blood flow is centralized the limbs receive less blood and thus less oxygen. Also the blood does not sweep away and clean the muscles as effectively due to the lower flow.

The body expends a great deal of energy doing all of this as well as any orgasms, movement, endurance, standing, kneeling, etc during the scene. This can cause a rapid drop in the blood sugar level for the submissive. The blood sugar drop can result in headache, crankiness, irritability, depression, nausea, and actually becoming angry and aggressive.

All of these things are easily remedied.

First, upon taking the submissive down, feel their limbs. If they are cool to the touch do not flex and stretch them. Rub and massage them gently and lower them so they are below the heart as you rub and the blood flow will return in just a few minutes. As they heat up and feeling returns as pins and needles sensation, then they can flex and stretch the limbs. Doing so before can cause very quick painful cramps as the blood flow has not been able to remove waste material from the muscles. Also, submissives often feel very cold when they come out of sub space, have something to wrap them in until blood flow is normalized again.

To combat possible blood sugar drops, I keep apple juice boxes in my play bag usually. Apple juice is a good source of fructose, an easily metabolized sugar. Don't use soda or alcohol to raise the blood sugar of a submissive as the complex sugars take a long time and they will get the stimulants into their system before the sugar and that will intensify any problems. Keep the juice at room temp as well, very cold liquids into a heavily worked body can cause immediate and painful cramping. The body will give the submissive the craving to drink the juice until it feels the sugar levels rising again so you don't need to worry about dosage or how much . . .just have a few juice boxes and the submissive will know when they have enough.

After that have water on hand as the water will help the system cleanse itself after hard play and restore vigor to the body. Don't push the sub and submissives don't push yourself to recover before you are ready. The body will need a varying amount of time after a scene and it changes not only from sub to sub but also each person and each scene will be different. Don't be in a hurry to jump up. . .especially with numb limbs, you can fracture an ankle that way easily. Give time for recovery and realize, it is not a sign of weakness to need a few minutes to get back on your feet.

Type 2, Emotional sub drop

While it is fairly easy to define physical sub drop by symptoms, emotional sub drop is far more nebulous in form. It varies to a great degree person to person. Emotional sub drop manifests itself first as a feeling of detachment and then progresses further from there. The main cause of this is a lack of contact with the dominant of the scene. Unlike physical sub drop, emotional can happen immediately or days later, I have even seen weeks after the scene.

The main problem is that while it is easy to say "Oh you are shaky, you need blood sugar" it is hard to see the emotional aspects without very good communication. The problem lies when a submissive (especially someone new or who has been pushed beyond soft limits) is scened by a dominant and then the two do not have contact afterwords. Sometimes another dominant who is the submissives friend can take the place but when the submissive starts to feel a lack of contact it can start a feeling of guilt. Once that starts further lack of contact can bring on feelings of remorse, more guilt, embarrassment, and even in extreme cases self loathing.

What goes on is really quite simple. The submissive and dominant share a very intense scene. A bond is created there. It doesn't matter if you are just friends or if you are just playing. The bond it creates is very real in the subs emotions. When there is no contact the submissive feels rejected like they did something wrong. Even if their conscious mind says "It was just play" the subconscious says "But they would have contacted me unless I did something wrong". This feeling eventually becomes the pervading emotion about the play and often creates a feeling that the sub has done something stupid or wrong or is not good enough to be contacted.

Whatever contact a dominant has with a submissive before a scene (a few emails a week, calls etc) they should continue after the scene for several weeks at least. Positive reinforcement, telling the submissive you enjoyed it, earnest compliments, these things help the submissive process the emotions. Having contact you can also head off any doubts or questions the submissive may have and make the scene a positive memory and experience. Don't blow sunshine up their ass. . . false praise and flattery will be scene as over compensating. . .be honest, keep in contact and be available if they have any questions or worries.

It goes without saying of course that when a scene is done, you don't just leave the sub standing there alone or laying there. Take the time after the scene to nurture them and look for aspects of physical and mental sub drop. Take the time to give the sub the reinforcement and after care they need and make sure the submissive is ok and feels good about the experience. The amount they need is different for every submissive. I have seen "dominants" just leave a sub on the floor to make their own way. . .it is my sincere hope that they may one day experience things from the subs point of view to understand what they do to others by not taking the time to finish what they started.

Feel free to copy and post it to other groups if you think they might find it useful.
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RE: Sub Drop - 6/28/2008 10:13:49 AM   
LuckyAlbatross


Posts: 19224
Joined: 10/25/2005
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quote:

ORIGINAL: ftmyersartist
It goes without saying of course that when a scene is done, you don't just leave the sub standing there alone or laying there.

No it doesn't.  Right now at this very moment at Leather Retreat I can tell you there are probably a hundred scenes going on at this very moment, and approximately half of them will have no further contact with their scene partners other than a hug and a wave at dinner later tonight.  A quarter of them have never met those play partners before this weekend, even in email.  And just about everyone will cry when it's over and can't wait for the next time to do it again.

And this is nice, but what about top drop?  And what about aftercare for the top?  And what about discussing all this BEFORE you get into the scene?  And what about subs who refuse or dislike aftercare?

_____________________________

Find stable partners, not a stable of partners.

"Sometimes my whore logic gets all fuzzy"- Californication

(in reply to ftmyersartist)
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RE: Sub Drop - 6/28/2008 10:54:19 AM   
ftmyersartist


Posts: 107
Joined: 9/14/2007
Status: offline
There are a lot of other topics and play styles that don't fit the parameters of the post. The post was a basic discussion of sub drop which a lot of people don't really know about. It was not meant as the end all of discussion. Top drop, top aftercare, scene negotiation are all different topics and all very valuable to discuss. . .this was a simple statement of sub drop effects and causes.

(in reply to LuckyAlbatross)
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RE: Sub Drop - 6/28/2008 11:08:46 AM   
ProtagonistLily


Posts: 1222
Joined: 12/27/2004
Status: offline
quote:

quote:

ORIGINAL: ftmyersartist
It goes without saying of course that when a scene is done, you don't just leave the sub standing there alone or laying there.


No it doesn't. Right now at this very moment at Leather Retreat I can tell you there are probably a hundred scenes going on at this very moment, and approximately half of them will have no further contact with their scene partners other than a hug and a wave at dinner later tonight. A quarter of them have never met those play partners before this weekend, even in email. And just about everyone will cry when it's over and can't wait for the next time to do it again.


Ahh..the great aftercare debate. First off, I didn't take the OP's remarks the same way LA did - I took it to mean that aftercare is somehow required, i.e. "A good Top always offers some kind of aftercare".

LuckyAlbatross,  I see where you are coming from, and I agree with you on your point. I would halt the idea that aftercare is always 'right' and 'necessary' as well. I think I was looking at the comment from a micro perspective, while you took it on a macro level. I think many of us have been to events, watched someone Top, approached them and negotiated a scene, played, and probably will never even see that person again. This is just the nature of how things go sometimes.

I had a long time play partmer that never gave aftercare . He would finish, make sure I was ok, and then go for a smoke. Friends would either bring me something to eat/drink or I'd take care of myself. I think the important part here is, I knew he wasn't going to aftercare me, and therefore I never expected him to.

I think, more often than not, bad communication and expectations are what fuck people around here.

PL


_____________________________

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"
~Dr. Seuss~

(in reply to LuckyAlbatross)
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RE: Sub Drop - 6/28/2008 12:24:42 PM   
NeedingMore220


Posts: 615
Joined: 6/5/2008
Status: offline
Thanks for sharing your thoughts , ftmyersartist.  While I know that not everything will apply to every situation, I did find myself relating to the emotional subdrop part - I've been in a situation where I was with someone for the first time, and then didn't have contact beyond a very quick IM or two for awhile, and it put me in a bad place.  I was clear ahead of time what my needs were, and we talked about it, but circumstances somehow prevented his being available to me ... which is a huge red flag. 

It left me feeling withdrawn, confused and disappointed - just sad overall.  One thing it didn't lead to, as your article said, was guilt feelings.  I don't feel guilty for having submitted to this man - I feel disappointment that what I thought was going to be a great thing isn't going to be. 

Anyway .. just my 2 cents!

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RE: Sub Drop - 6/28/2008 2:34:35 PM   
Lumus


Posts: 5968
Joined: 9/16/2007
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There is love...

There is tenderness, the soothing touch of mercy and understanding...

But really, to me, sub drop is about gravity.

[Hey Rain!  Let's go up to the roof!]



_____________________________

<Talk to educate; listen to learn.>

~ the other half of "L&L" ~

I have been dubbed the Rainmaker. Do not make me take your water for my tribe.

(in reply to NeedingMore220)
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RE: Sub Drop - 6/28/2008 3:05:50 PM   
lally3


Posts: 595
Joined: 3/4/2008
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... sub drop doesnt have to happen after play.

i know that i will go into sub drop just from waving him goodbye - all of those emotional things you describe go through me and im trying really hard to handle it - makes me feel pathetic and needy too, which i hate.

lumus, can i have some of what youre smoking, please...

(in reply to Lumus)
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RE: Sub Drop - 6/28/2008 3:07:51 PM   
NeedingMore220


Posts: 615
Joined: 6/5/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: lally3

... sub drop doesnt have to happen after play.

i know that i will go into sub drop just from waving him goodbye - all of those emotional things you describe go through me and im trying really hard to handle it - makes me feel pathetic and needy too, which i hate.

lumus, can i have some of what youre smoking, please...



YES!  I hate the pathetic and needy thing too...

and pass whatever it is Lumus has to me next, please. 

(in reply to lally3)
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RE: Sub Drop - 6/28/2008 3:41:28 PM   
laura2161


Posts: 254
Joined: 3/8/2008
From: Duluth, GA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NeedingMore220

quote:

ORIGINAL: lally3

... sub drop doesnt have to happen after play.

i know that i will go into sub drop just from waving him goodbye - all of those emotional things you describe go through me and im trying really hard to handle it - makes me feel pathetic and needy too, which i hate.

lumus, can i have some of what youre smoking, please...



YES!  I hate the pathetic and needy thing too...

and pass whatever it is Lumus has to me next, please. 


Me too regarding what Lumas has... :-)

Seriously tho, I have been in a few long term relationships and a couple short term and only one Man did  'aftercare'. Actually that was the part I didnt really care for, Im not a cuddly, stroke my hair and kiss me softly type of girl. Im more of 'yes I would love some soda thank you, yes please on the cigarette, and if you call me just for the hell of it to check on me then I am happy :-)


_____________________________

'I am not infantile, You StinkyButt Poophead!'

(in reply to NeedingMore220)
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