Depression After a Scene
Written by: GrandPa DeSade
ORIGINAL WEBSITE: unknown

Some people have experienced depression after a particularly heavy scene. Sometimes they attribute the depression to endorphin drop. This article will address some of the other possible causes and reasons a submissive may experience this syndrome.

It's not all endorphins folks.

Note: I have included the superscript references enclosed in brackets.

I am not a doctor but I have been actively involved in the scene as a Dominant for over twenty years and I have studied the effects of scening through first hand experience and extensive reading.

Factors in the occurrence of depression are not fully understood, but it is thought it can be triggered by {3} tension, stress, traumatic events, upset stomach, headache, LOW BLOOD SUGAR, and other things. (I have only given the things that may be associated with what we do.)

There is one other thing I have become very aware of since I started playing with a diabetic, (NS). A heavy play session uses up a lot of the body's sugar. Being in a sugar low can be depressive{1, 3, 4}, even for non-diabetics. A piece of candy, or something sweet may help with some of these effects. Remember, some of us are much more sensitive to sugar variations than others. For a diabetic, or for a quicker sugar pick-me-up than candy for others, go to your local drug store. They make glucose (sugar) pills for diabetics. They get into the bloodstream very fast, and are an over-the-counter item. The taste is pretty bad, but they do their job. (Most tend to taste like mildly orange flavored chalk.) The best help for sugar related problems are just to stay away from refined sugar, or better yet, all sugars. Complex carbohydrates are much better for the body and for depression. {3, 4}

Most of the sources of information on health foods say that the vitamin B complex is good at helping the body deal with stress and depression. Specifically {2, 3, 4} vitamins B3, B6, and B12 are mentioned as being good against depression. The recommendation is usually to dose with the whole B complex though.

Some studies {1} also indicate low vitamin C can be a factor in depression.

According to what I have read {1, 2, 3}, if someone has this problem of depression/low sugar after a scene, they should also stay away from vitamin E after a heavy scene. I know it is supposed to help with healing, but it also lowers the body sugar. That could make things worse. If you take vitamin E all the time, it may not be a problem. There have been studies showing it can improve glucose tolerance (even in non-diabetics) after three months or more.

Vigorous exercise has been shown to be an effective antidote to bouts of depression. {3, 4}

Music helps some people with bouts of depression. {3}

People who smoke are more likely than those who do not to suffer bouts of depression. {3}

I'm not a doctor, but I do read a lot.

References:

Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, ISBN 0-7615-1157-1, $24.95
The Natural Pharmacy, ISBN 0-7615-1227-6, $19.95
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, ISBN 0-89529-727-2, $19.95
Optimal Wellness, ISBN 0-345-35874-0, $20.00