Decompression?

brcprincess · Post by **brcprincess** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:32 am

This was my fourth BM and every time I seem to have a different decompression, although they all seem to involve tears.

I was wondering what other people experience during Decompression, and if you could share your stories to help me better understand what this process is.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:37 am

Look inside to find your own meaning.

Everything else is just commentary.

brcprincess · Post by **brcprincess** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:54 am

Isotopia wrote:Look inside to find your own meaning.

Everything else is just commentary.

Wise words.

But some commentary would be interesting as well.

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 1:06 am

Been through 10 of them now.
Some easy, some really have been hard, "2000- 2001"
Most of them I have to go through here at work, 12 hour shift through the middle of the night. It can be really tough.

This year I haven't had the luxury to really decompress, jumped right out of the fire and back into the pan so to speak. Plus have some real world serious problems to deal with right now.

Hang in there, even though it is confusing and hurts at times it is part of the magic of the BRC. It is life at its fullest. As in life sometimes it hurts.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:43 am

The 10th Annual SF DECOMPRESSION Heat the Street FaIRE! is October 11th on Indiana Street in San Francisco.

mars · Post by **mars** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:28 am

It usually takes me about a month to decompress. It usually ends around the time of the SF Decompression, which I always think I'm not going to and then I go and love it and feel complete afterwards.

Then I forget about BM for awhile.

Then I start planning for next year.

That's the general pattern I have noticed over my 7 yrs. It's pretty rough cuz I can't seem to get my mind off BRC, including dreams while I am sleeping. But then I have this default world life that needs my focus and attention and the two are in conflict. I have to work to separate them out and be present for the tasks and situations that are in front of me. It's weird cuz on playa I am totally present but when I get home, I find it hard to be present.

I'm not sure if coming to eplaya and tribe and looking at other peoples' photos/videos is helping me in my decompression or prolonging it. I'm starting to think it's prolonging the transition and may need to remove myself soon so I can get more present in my default life.

dinniebrown · Post by **dinniebrown** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:01 pm

BRCprincess,

I had a really hard time last week, didn't know what to do or where to go (kind of like being in the middle of the playa with nobody around, but worse) and wasn't really able to focus on my real life and was definitely not at all present at work. It was my first burn and I'm glad to know that most people have a rough time with re-entry. I felt that on the playa I was overwhelmed with taking it all in and figuring it all out (in a good way, though), then when I got home I still hadn't figured it all out AND I had to deal with being back in "reality" at the same time. My mind couldn't take all of that at once! It didn't help that I made a connection with a guy on the playa that I'm dying to find but haven't yet.

What helped bring me back to the ground is constantly visiting the ePlaya and the facebook BM page, and looking forward to SF Decompression and other year-round events now that I'm officially a burner. Doesn't that feel good? Also, I gave myself the entire weekend to do basically nothing because I realized that it was too much to ask of myself to get back to my daily routines right away. For one week (give or take) on the Playa, we are dehydrated, malnurished, sleep-deprived, and putting our minds and bodies through hell in other ways, too. Then we get back and go to work the next day? Of course we have a hard time re-entering. Give yourself a week to cry, process, and just lay depressed in bed. Then dust yourself off and continue life as usual, feeling all the more complete because of the experience you just had and look forward to next years! We're all in it together and that's what feels so good!

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 1:56 pm

I don't feel like it is over until everything is clean and put away. This year I caught the cold/flu that was going around at work, so with my butt kicked by that, I haven't been depressed by other things. My car is still loaded with cleaned things that I cleaned up at my sister's house. I have the partially finished projects that didn't get finished laying around and they are inspiring to me rather than glaring "finish this now!" objects. I am going to look into regional events and art projects. I've realized that it is a sad situation to live 51 weeks in anticipation. If I enjoy it so much, I need to make it happen throughout the year.

klondike_bar · Post by **klondike_bar** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 2:56 pm

Im slowly settling back into normal life. my websearching is almost caught up, the dust will soon be vaccuumed, and most of my swag has been sorted away into various corners of my room.

I want to go back already.

oleg8888 · Post by **oleg8888** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 3:15 pm

Start preparing for next year NOW!!!!
Now is the time when you have the most creative ideas.
Now is when the passion is at it's highest.
If you do it now, you'll have a whole summer to enjoy

RedHeaven · Post by **RedHeaven** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:14 pm

[i][quote="dinniebrown"]BRCprincess,

I had a really hard time last week, didn't know what to do or where to go (kind of like being in the middle of the playa with nobody around, but worse) and wasn't really able to focus on my real life and was definitely not at all present at work. It was my first burn and I'm glad to know that most people have a rough time with re-entry. I felt that on the playa I was overwhelmed with taking it all in and figuring it all out (in a good way, though), then when I got home I still hadn't figured it all out AND I had to deal with being back in "reality" at the same time. My mind couldn't take all of that at once! It didn't help that I made a connection with a guy on the playa that I'm dying to find but haven't yet.[/i]

WOW, Great post and amazing tingly thread.......Guess what....this was my fifth year and I felt almost JUST LIKE you did......I think Ihad a panic that I know I cant go next year, so I wanted to do it all.....and I didnt do even a bit of that, in fact, I stood there dumbfounded more than ever. Sure, i was involved with the village more than ever, DJed, threw a party, I made a bunch of awesome signs and banners for multiple theme camps, had a good set up, knew a BUNCH of people from all over everywhere, and I STILL felt new and BEWILDERED most of the time to the point of exahustion.

I think taking a year off for me, as much as I dont want to, will be helpful in just keeping my head from being up BMans ass! hahahaa
I love it, but sometimes I start singing the Beatles "Its all too much!" I need a money and energy overhaul so 2011 is gonna rock. Bman does get obsessive and invasive as well as being super inspiring and life enriching. Its SOOOO enriching and amazing and life and human affirming for me, that I feel doubled over from it at times.