How do you cushion the post-internet-socialization drop?

[petra]

I tend to crash after socialization ends, and it's worse via Zoom because there's so much of reality reasserting itself with only question marks for the "When shall we N meet again?" question. What do you do to keep a relatively even keel?

Comments

[petra]

I try to make sure I have something else scheduled after socialization, even if it's just "Go for a walk." The drop is worse after things that aren't recurring, and I tried scheduling "Cook Dinner" after one such, and -- well, I cooked dinner, but not without crashing.

[mific]

I think I've had a lot of personal projects scheduled so I just get on with them after Zooming. Plus my friends group zooms at 7pm so I'm hungry after and bustle around getting dinner. But we're back to face to face at a restaurant next week.

[petra]

That makes sense. I hope your reunion with your friends is excellent!

[mesotablar]

I don't think I understand what you mean by crash....like feel flat or is it worse than that? I get screen fatigue if I'm at a screen too long, regardless of what I've been doing so I generally feel relief getting away from my laptop

[petra]

I tend to feel worse than flat -- I get anxiety attacks and sometimes they make me cry. I think on the whole it's better to have the socialization with the crash than no socializationn, but it's hard.

[mesotablar]

oh I'm so sorry you go through that!
I have been dodging socialisations a bit recently but that is because I don't feel I have much to say and I really hate having awkward conversations because I tend just to go silent, which isn't the best socialisation strategy.

[petra]

It's not so bad if I know that the meeting in question is recurring, but if it's a one-off Fun Thing I get dropped like a rock afterward. My brain is a special needs brain, and sometimes what it needs is to be a jerk.