Hail Hellions,

The Dystopia Rising: SoCal team sincerely hopes you had an incredible time joining us for “Croatoan,” the grand finale of our decade-long history in HeEl Dorado. I want to take a moment to address something that may be new to some players while others are intimately familiar with it: an experience known LARP drop.

"LARP drop" or "post-game drop" refers to the emotional and sometimes physical exhaustion experienced by participants after a LARP event concludes. It can manifest as feelings of sadness, a sense of loss, disorientation or even depression, often stemming from the abrupt return to reality after immersing yourself in a fictional world with intense role-playing experiences. To quote nordiclarp.org, “The emotional highs of game most likely have a hormonal component; endorphins, adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin levels shift as the result of game stimuli. As with any high, the comedown can often feel shocking and depressing.”

This experience shares similarities with the phenomenon observed in sports known as "post-competition blues" or "post-event letdown." Athletes often encounter similar feelings after the excitement of competition subsides, and they return to their regular routines. A stronger form of this drop often occurs after athletes perform in championships and tournaments so with the intense circumstances and feelings of the last weekend it seems like a fair comparison to what many of us might experience. To offer assistance, here are some tips for self-care to get through the LARP drop:

Reach Out & Stay Connected:
Maintaining connections with fellow players can offer ongoing sources of support and a sense of community. Both casual in-person gatherings we’ve come to know as “Taco Tuesdays,” or meet-ups over voice chat are some of the ways you can stay connected. Our Discord server and other similar social media spaces are a perfect spot for this kind of engagement in a digital space. If you find yourself struggling, don't hesitate to reach out. You'll find that many others are going through similar emotions and your well-being is important to us, both in and out of the game.

Reflect & Decompress:
Consider journaling about your experiences during the event, writing up a post-game decompression post about what your character experienced or is doing now, or make a game-related meme to share or engage with or draw your favorite scene from the weekend. Reflecting on your character's journey and the interactions you had with each other can help you process your emotions.

Remember Self-Care:
Remember to hydrate, eat your favorite comfort foods, take some time for yourself to relax and recharge. Whether it's indulging in a favorite hobby, spending time with loved ones, adventuring outdoors or simply enjoying some quiet time. Staying active or engaging in a familiar routine can help when your brain dips into a slump. Prioritize activities that bring you comfort and joy.

And finally, thank you all so much for being part of our community and breathing life into our slice of wasteland paradise. This story may have concluded but it doesn’t have to be goodbye. Hell Dorado lives on through our shared experiences and can be visited through the memories we share. The Dystopia Rising: SoCal team looks forward to seeing you again somewhere else in the wasteland, and in other game worlds.

-Gabi “Boo” Ashley, Director of Conflict Resolution.

References & Further reading:
https://nordiclarp.org/2015/01/19/post-larp-depression/
https://larped.com/getting-through-larp-drop/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/13773510-post-event-sadness/