LARP Drop happens when the exhilaration or excitement of a game finally “drops” and we have to return to the real world. It’s often like a temporary depression and can range from mild to extreme. When you’ve spent a long time in an immersive world as a character, returning to being you in your world can be rough. Since many people use LARP as a form of escapism, to express parts of ourselves we don’t get to engage with, as a time being the people we wish we could be, or as an outlet for creativity that we do not get in our real lives, it can be hard to return to reality. LARP Drop can make people sad, despondent, irritable, exhausted, and anxious. It varies from person to person, but almost every LARPer experiences it.
There’s a science behind LARP Drop. A lot of it can be attributed to a phenomenon called “Dopamine Burnout” or “Dopamine Depletion,” which is caused by:
Physical Fatigue
High activity, high energy, or high emotion, and not eating/sleeping regularly.
Lowered Self-Worth
Often from comparing our characters to others’ or comparing ourselves in the real world when to our characters.
Social withdrawal
Going from seeing a great number of friends for a full weekend then back to seeing very few people can be difficult to handle.
Anxiety and depression
Thinking back over social interactions or how you told stories with others can often make us perfectionists. Dwelling on perceived mistakes or missed opportunities can make our moods shift very sharply downwards. Negative or careless comments from others can also make this worse.
Drink plenty of water
Staying hydrated throughout an event greatly improves your ability to keep up at game and not suddenly feel horrible once the adrenaline and dopamine wear off.
Try to eat regularly
That energy for playing needs to come from somewhere. If you struggle to eat enough at game, try having a buddy who will help keep you accountable (and who you can keep accountable) for eating enough and as regularly as possible. Also pay attention to what you are eating so that a sugar crash doesn’t add to your drop.
Rest
Sleep is very important, which is why Call of the Void has quiet hours from 2 AM to 7 AM. Even if you’re just sitting and resting your body every so often, that’s still a great improvement. Your body will appreciate it later.
Move around
While rest is important, so is movement. If you’re stuck inside for long periods, such as participating in intensive scenes, don’t forget to get up every so often. Stretch and walk around a little. Go outside for some fresh air.
Pay attention to your pain
A lot of us get hurt at LARP. Sprained ankles, pulled muscles, sleeping wrong - so much can do damage to our bodies. More often than not, people push through it just to get more out of their events. However, the pain will come back hard during drop. It’s best to try to address the pain before it compounds in the days following the event.
Remember your meds
Do you take medication? Remember to take your medication on its normal schedule (or as close as possible) during an event. An accountability buddy can help with this too. This might seem obvious, but it can be hard to keep track of in the middle of game.
Drink lots of water
Hydrate as much as possible in the days after an event. Regaining electrolytes helps as well.
Prioritize resting and recovering
Do what helps you relax the best. Hot showers, warm food, calming music, a very long nap - the key here is to ensure proper rest and recuperation.
Avoid social media
When you feel a large mood drop, things will seem far more negative than they were or are. Set boundaries between yourself and social media or shared spaces. This prevents adding to an already low mood, and it can help you readjust to your everyday life without a barrage of notifications.
Socialize
With the potential distances between friends, this can be difficult. But it can help so much to chat with people and even be physically with others. Play games, talk about life, catch up, and get back in touch with your support network. Remember that you have value and are appreciated by those inside this community and outside of it too.
Engage with life outside of game
Push yourself to do things outside of the realm of Call of the Void. This helps you acclimate back to normal life and find the things in it that still bring you joy. At the end of the day LARP is a hobby, not your entire life.
Reach out to others
If you feel like you need or want to talk to someone, reach out. Don’t avoid talking about game entirely if it’s positive for you to do so! It’s important to have people in your life who can listen to your ramble or vent about what happened. In a community striving to be supportive of all its members, find people who can help you through the good feelings just as much as the bad. Asking for support is one of the best things you can do.
Don’t engage with serious or heavy discussions
Feelings can be very volatile during LARP drop. Give any heavy emotions from the event some time to breathe. Let yourself and others in the community get into a better mindspace. Check in with people about how they are doing before asking about difficult or serious topics related to the event. Everyone deserves time to process potential drop and bleed, and allowing this time can often lead to better outcomes and understanding.