As part of BDSM Play, a lot of people in the community wander about with a BDSM bruise mark on their bodies. These are the wilder versions of hickeys but scare a Vanilla person and send a straight message to their brain that the other person is trapped in an abusive relationship. They rule out the existence of kinky sex such as BDSM altogether. Especially in the case of Sadomasochists, a BDSM Bruise is more like a souvenir from the night of BDSM Play. It is absolutely common. That being said, there are proper ways put in by the BDSM Community to cater to these Physical and Emotional needs of people after a BDSM Session. This is known as Aftercare.
It is one of the fundamental steps of BDSM Play. In this article, we shall be looking at the tips and ideas to help you provide the best Aftercare to yourself and your partner.
What is BDSM Aftercare?
Aftercare is the act of caring and tending to the physical and emotional needs of the body after an intense BDSM session. Both the Dom and the Sub indulge in aftercare post play, as both of them have been through an emotional and physical rollercoaster. So, it is naturally important to help transition each other to a normal, less exhaustive mind space.
Healing and dressing up any physical BDSM marking or bruises is also part of the Physical Aftercare. On the other hand, fluctuating hormones and an abruptness in the emotional levels can cause something called Postcoital Dysphoria, which basically happens when someone feels random generalized anxiety or sadness after BDSM. There is also a sense of shame that is attached to the act of BDSM which creeps in as guilt after the Play. Considering all such mental and physical BDSM Bruises, Aftercare was introduced as a non-negotiable act once the BDSM Play is done with. Let’s look at tips and tricks to aid Physical and Emotional aftercare.
Tips for Physical Aftercare
BDSM Bruising is quite common and is one of the obvious outcomes of intense play. But, there are proper ways to take care of these bruises. If you are a regular player, you need to constantly keep your body in check and let the bruises BDSM heal before you go in for the next dive. Following are the ways to provide suitable Physical Aftercare to your body in case there is a BDSM Bruise that you brought as a souvenir.
Ice-Pack
A simple Ice-pack goes a long way in healing a BDSM Bruise. If your BDSM scene went a little astray and rough, you need to tend to the wounds and bruises accordingly. Always keep around two Ice packs handy if you indulge in BDSM Play on a regular basis, so that you have access to basic first-aid in case you need it. Keep the Ice pack on the bruised or swollen part of your body and let it rest for about 20-30 minutes. This is especially helpful if you’ve just come back home from an intense Spanking session.
Healing Gels
Healing gels like Arnica and aloe vera can prove highly effective in healing a BDSM Bruise. After all the pleasure from BDSM Play, your skin does start burning from all the pain and the BDSM bruise. If the bruise is caused by a thud hit, it is advisable to use the Arnica Gel whereas, if you feel a burning and stinging pain on the BDSM bruise, you can use Aloe Vera gel as it is really smooth on the skin and also helps in rehydrating the skin.
Bath Salts
Nothing works like a great, soothing bath after an intense BDSM scene. A warm water bath works the magic of the much-needed winding down that you crave after getting all rough and wild. You can add some Epsom Salts to the mix which will also instantly act as first-aid for your BDSM Bruise. The healing power of these salts may not be directly medical but it does aid in tending to the wounds a bit and takes care of your BDSM bruises.
Water
Water is definitely the universal healer. You might be going through any kind of pain or might have wounds and bruises, drinking water and hydrating your body plays a pivotal role in getting you back up. Similarly, if you have BDSM bruises and marks, you should drink water as part of your Physical aftercare as it really helps in leveling the body functions after an overwhelming BDSM session. Add some lemon, honey, and herbs to it if you like. Make it as refreshing as you want it to be and just give your body this water intake to heal back perfectly.
Exercise
This is a later step of Physical Aftercare. After dressing your BDSM bruise, having a bath, and winding down, you should have a workout routine to keep your body going. This not only helps in building resilience and immunity in the body but also flexes your body for better positioning in BDSM. A regular exercise routine will definitely pay off during BDSM play. The fluctuating graph of hormones or physical movement can be a lot for the body if you are a regular at BDSM Play. To level it up, it is important to indulge in some physical activity outside the BDSM realms- be it Yoga, Cardio, stretching, etc.
Tips for Emotional Aftercare
Tending to the fluctuating emotional levels that you go through while indulging in BDSM Play is also equally important. To prevent any bodily dysfunctions in the context of hormonal levels etc., emotional aftercare is really helpful. It helps in the gradual transition of your body and headspace from the rough BDSM to a more normal, daily routine setting. Take a look at the following Aftercare tips to follow:
Cuddling
Healing the BDSM marks that are more emotional than physical is also quite necessary. Cuddling with your BDSM Partner or one of your polyamorous partners after an intense BDSM scene restores the emotional levels and hormones. After the overwhelming joyride, cuddling will make you feel relaxed and releases oxytocin in the body which in turn helps in reducing stress. Platonic intimacy or cuddling can also be quite comforting at the end of BDSM.
Talking post BDSM Play
Take note of this if your BDSM partner becomes distant and silent after the BDSM Play, it is a big red flag. You should not be with someone who doesn’t pay attention to the Aftercare which is as important as the main BDSM scene. You should communicate and talk post BDSM about how it was, what you liked and what you didn’t etc. This not only helps in de-stressing a bit but also builds intimacy and chemistry between the partners which helps in later BDSM Play. This will also make the respective partners feel acknowledged and cared for after a Sub humiliation.
Watching Comfort Shows
Another great way to rejuvenate is watching something you find comfort in. Films and TV shows have inevitably become a big part of our lives these days. We all have our personal favorites which are Shows and films that we can watch anytime of the day or we like to watch when we feel low or tired. That is what you should turn to after an intense BDSM session too. It helps you go back to the comfort of familiarity which you need in Emotional Aftercare. All you need to do is take care of yourself and do stuff that makes you feel happier.
Sleeping
Seriously, there is nothing that a nap can’t fix. Once you have performed the physical aftercare and if you feel tired from all the intense BDSM Play or BDSM Bruise, it is best that you let your body rest for some time. Shutting your eyes and shoving away all the worldly stress does work and prepares you better, once you wake up. You can have a great nap post-BDSM as your body is already exhausted from the physical movements or even the mental stress. But you can put an end to all of it by simply going to Sleep.
Conclusion
Reading this, you must have gotten an idea about how important Aftercare is especially when it comes to BDSM. Since the stakes are so high in this kind of Sexual play and there is even a chance of a BDSM Bruise or BDSM marks, you definitely need to pay attention to your body after the scene is over.
Dress the wounds if it is too deep, ice or gel the bruises, etc., to provide proper care. You can even seek medical help if you think it is necessary, both physically or as BDSM therapy. Just find the appropriate consultant and they may guide you through deeper aftercare.
