I just came home from a three-day book fair and it reminds me to tell you about con-drop and how it explains why you're sad after seeing your friends.
So, con drop was coined to explain the drop of energy that comes a few hours or maybe a few days after attending or participating in a convention.
After spending several days on an endorphin and dopamine high, you go home and crash. Life seems dull. You feel the emptiness. You need to sign up for another convention. You're chasing the next high.
This is the same kind of feeling the BDSM community have called dom-drop or sub-drop.
The feeling can come with mood-swings, moodiness, fatigue, depression, etc.
I was aware of both, but at some point I realized it also happens to other kind of events that bring a high of dopamine. Like a party, an evening with your friends, anything where you have a lot of intense positive emotions.
Sometimes I come back from a party with my friends. And in the bus, I immediately crash and start doubting myself. And if my friends are judging me. And wondering what I said or did wrong, overanalizing every micro expression to see if they secretly hate me. (they don't).
I used to feel guilty about this. I'm supposed to have a good time and here I was, immediately crashing the moment I left.
(of course I have adhd and a weird relationship with dopamine.)
The moment I connected it with con-drop, it made sense.
So here I am after the high of the book fair, forcing myself to take it slow and not immediately start working on a new project to chase the high.
I'm gonna get a cup of tea.