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Sub drop / Dom drop

Sub drop is a strong physical and emotional response experienced by a participant in a BDSM scene, and tops can also experience drop after a scene[1].

Sources: grade C×7. Last checked 8 October 2026. What the grades mean

The response can last for minutes, hours or days[1]. It can include flu-like symptoms and strong emotions such as shame[1].

Tops can also experience drop after a scene[1]. Top and dominant are widely used for the physically active or controlling participants[2].

Drop can be somewhat mitigated but not fully prevented by aftercare, including warmth, chocolate, quiet, darkness, cuddling and food/water[1]. After BDSM activities it is described as important for participants to go through aftercare, to process and calm down from the activity[3].

A scene is a specific period of time agreed to by both parties, and it is also called play or a session[4]. Drop is described as something a participant experiences after such a scene[1].

Sources

  1. Source grade CBalestrieri, Dr Kate (16 June 2022). "Understanding and Addressing Sub Drop" . Modern Intimacy . Retrieved 22 August 2024 . modernintimacy.com (via Wikipedia: Glossary of BDSM)
  2. Source grade C"Dictionary of BDSM Terms" . Archived from the original on 2 December 2014 . Retrieved 26 November 2014 . xeromag.com (via Wikipedia: BDSM)
  3. Source grade CZane, Zachary (4 October 2019). "What Is Sexual Aftercare, and Why Is It So Important?" . Men's Health . Archived from the original on 20 July 2020 . Retrieved 20 July 2020 . menshealth.com (via Wikipedia: BDSM)
  4. Source grade CMiller, Phillip; Devon, Molly; Granzig, William A. (1995). Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns: The Romance and Sexual Sorcery of Sadomasochism . Mystic Rose Books. p. 55 . ISBN 978-0-9645960-0-9 . archive.org (via Wikipedia: BDSM)
  5. Source grade CWiseman, Jay (1998). SM 101: A Realistic Introduction . California: Greenery Press. ISBN 978-0-9639763-8-3 .; Dossie Easton, Janet W. Hardy: The New Topping Book , page 111 (via Wikipedia: BDSM)
  6. Source grade CDossie Easton, Janet W. Hardy: The New Topping Book , page 72, Greenery Press (CA) 2002, ISBN 978-1-890159-36-8 (via Wikipedia: BDSM)
  7. Source grade CWiseman, Jay (1998). SM 101: A Realistic Introduction . California: Greenery Press. ISBN 978-0-9639763-8-3 .; Dossie Easton, Janet W. Hardy: The New Topping Book , page 71, Greenery Press (CA) 2002 (via Wikipedia: BDSM)

Grades: A systematic review or official classification, B peer-reviewed study, C expert or community organisation, D practice from the community without research. How we grade sources.

Every claim was checked against its source before publication. Last checked 8 October 2026.