What goes up, must come down
Keep in mind that it is normal to feel a little down in the days following a chem event. This is because the chems have caused your brain to release most of the feel-good chemicals at the same time. These feelings of gloom, irritation and emptiness will subside once your brain has replaced these chemicals. Don’t use chems to suppress your anxiety, stress and problems. That way, you avoid tolerance and mental or physical dependence or addiction. These feelings can last up to five days; in some people it can even last weeks.
Try to increase dopamine, serotonin and endorphins by exercising, listening to music, being creative, doing daily tasks, meditating, contact with family and/or friends, … .
In short: do something you enjoy doing!
Because your energy supply is depleted, you are also less able to concentrate and process information. For these reasons it is important that you take enough rest after the event and don’t go straight to work or school. Otherwise, you will feel down, tired and unfocused there.
Stock up on healthy food
Make sure you have healthy food on hand for the day(s) after the event. Your body will recover faster by eating well and resting. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic drinks to hydrate and flush toxins from your body. Eating foods packed with nutrients will help the recovery process. You may also consider taking vitamin C supplements. Some ideas of foods you can buy: bananas, nuts, oranges, avocado, eggs, blueberries, carrots, broccoli, spinach, salmon and tuna.
