So you’ve just spent a night (or maybe a weekend) mixing drugs and sex. Regardless of how much fun you had, as you emerge from the darkroom or the bathhouse or the party, you might find yourself feeling tired, agitated or ready to crash. 

We’re not here to shame you for that. Quite the contrary: Script has a whole guide to safer chemsex. But, you should also know how to take care of yourself after a PnP experience. That’s because drugs have a strong aftereffect on your body and mind, from simple dehydration to temporary depression.

Rather than throwing yourself directly back into your everyday life, you might want to take some extra time to recover. Script spoke to harm-reduction and sexual health experts for advice on tending to yourself after you PnP.
 

Easy ways to take care of your body after chemsex

Some of the best things you can do after you PnP are pretty simple.

First: Take a long shower. Andy Spieldenner, executive director of MPact Global, which advocates for gay men’s health, says he likes to use this time to get his head together, start to come back into his body and clean off the night. In other words, a shower helps you start fresh.
 

It’s also really important to hydrate. Stimulant drugs especially—such as amphetamines, meth or coke—elevate your heart rate and body temperature, which can lead to dehydration, according to Christian Grov, a professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. So, drink plenty of water (or an electrolyte drink like Gatorade) after you get home from party and playing.

You’ll also want to catch up on sleep. A long night out likely deprived you of sleep to begin with, but some drugs can induce you to go without sleep for even longer, Grov says.
 

In the same vein, make sure you eat something after you get home if you weren’t eating much while you were partying. Drugs like meth, for example, can act as an appetite suppressant, and you may have gone without meals during your time partying. Getting your normal diet going again, even if you don’t feel hungry, is important, Grov and Spieldenner say. That said, don’t force it—introduce food as you can tolerate it. Soft foods, like bananas—which are high in potassium—or rice, work well.

And finally, don’t forget essential medications. If you’re on PrEP, take it as you normally would, and maybe add a dose of DoxyPEP to reduce your risk of STIs. The peace of mind that comes with taking your meds is “just going to be better for you, you’re not going to worry about things,” Spieldenner says.
 

How to take care of your mental health after chemsex

Your body isn’t the only thing that can feel the effects of party ’n’ play—your mind is also vulnerable to some intense impacts.

In the following days, you might find yourself in a fog, or even depression. That’s because drugs can cause a heavy release of feel-good neurotransmitters, Grov explains, that can lead to a type of emotional hangover as your brain recovers from this dump of positive emotions. In rarer cases, people have even reported symptoms of psychosis after habitual party and play, or when they have gone days without eating or sleeping. 
 

So, this is an opportunity to practise greater self-care. Grov recommends doing things that make you feel better when you have the potential to feel crappy. Maybe watch your favourite movie or TV show, Spieldenner suggests, or take some alone time to read and recuperate.

It can be tempting to use drugs again as a way of pulling yourself out of an emotional slump, but Grov says this can end up kicking the can down the road.

Spieldenner warns against too much social interaction after party ’n’ play. Big social events (or, heaven forbid, a big gay brunch) can drain your emotional energy at a time when you need to recover it. 
 

He also takes the advice a step further: “Don’t talk to people that are going to judge you the next day,” especially family or certain friends. Spieldenner says it’s best to avoid social situations where people might notice you’re feeling off, and then interrogate you about it. “Avoid those people,” he says. In other words, don’t feel pressured into any social situations that don’t feel supportive. But that doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself completely: If it feels good to be around trusted friends, go for it.
 

Other post-“party ’n’ play” tips

Once your body and mind are in a better place, there are a few small things you can do to wrap up a party ’n’ play experience.

When you’re cleaning up, make sure you label and store your drugs properly, Grov advises. Clear liquids, for example, can easily be confused for more innocuous substances, and you want to avoid anyone in your household misusing them.

If you have a support network, it’s also a good idea to check in with them both before you PnP, and afterward. This can help you set intentions for next time, or make sense of your experience, Grov says.