What Is Sub Drop in BDSM?

Have you ever had an incredibly intense, highly passionate relationship or ? While your senses are heightened and you feel incredible throughout, snapping back to reality after it ends can be really difficult for most people. In the , many folks who know this feeling well—namely, this kind of emotional nosedive is known as “sub drop.” It’s easy to associate the terms “Dominant” and “submissive” with the infamous trilogy, and although they might not be the representation of a healthy , they do offer some good examples of the downsides to this kind of power exchange.

For example, submissive main character Ana essentially demonstrates sub drop after an intense BDSM scene with her Dom, Christian, when she realizes they won’t be sleeping in the same bed. This means she won’t to support her coming down from the highly emotional and rigorous physical experience they shared, causing confusion, tension, and ultimately Ana to question whether she can handle the dynamic. Of course, this is a melodramatic portrayal of a fictional Dom/sub relationship, so it’s important to note that sub drop looks different for everyone, and it can show up in many different ways.

According to sex counselor , it can be compared to the feeling of coming down from a sweets-induced sugar rush. “During a kink scene, the brain releases a rush of neurochemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which can lead to a high,” Sohn says. “However, when these chemicals subside, a person may exper.