Hypersexuality
The taboo subject is hardly ever talked about. Sexuality is a normal part of life. Hypersexuality is ever more prominent in Bipolar Disorder. If you're in a manic state, then most of your senses are heightened including the need for sex.Sex will be on your mind constantly and the need for sex will lead most Bipolar Disorder patients down a bad road. Inhibition fuels the fire and often times risky sex is engaged. Hypersexuality is like an itch that needs to be scratched. Patients will seek one night stands and cheat on their husbands to relieve the anxiety of hypersexuality.
Early into my 11-year voyage with bipolar, I discovered a manic phase with hypersexuality. Everything I learned regarding safe sex and the evil ways of promiscuity suddenly didn’t matter to me any more. I had thoughts that I was truly a reincarnated Adonis sent to please women. The fact that I had an irresi-stible charisma only further fed my mania. I walked away from that battle wounded with an STD (though thankfully nothing permanent). It was a wake-up call.
—Amherst, NH
Increased libido will lead to sex that can be deadly. We're in an age of sexually transmitted diseases. Hypersexuality can cause unrestrained sexual enounters. Caution is thrown to the wind and so are condoms.
Sex will be enjoyed at the height of hypersexuality. On the downhill side of it, sex will still be an increased need, but it will be difficult to find satisfaction. Frustration leads to more encounters of sex, but satisfaction will still not be found.
The best course of action to prevent or control hypersexuality is to visit your doctor and tell him about your symptom so that your mood stabilizer, like Lithium, Lamictal or Seroquel, can be increased or added to control your manic symptom.
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I miss my days of having a high libido. The Risperdal I'm taking essentially killed my sex life in its tracks.
Great and Bold post! Taboo indeed and so misunderstood. I battled this as much as anything without even knowing it was a symptom. More should be done to educate around this topic. It can be such a destructive behavior pattern and so hard to contain.
This is a little talked about characteristic of bipolar disorder, and I appreciate your addressing it. Fortunately, I had no physical adverse effects from my hypersexuality, but the resulting shame and regret has lasted a lifetime. I wasn't diagnosed with bipolar I disorder until I was in my 40s, and it was a relief to know that there was a legitimate reason (but not an excuse), for my behavior. Learning about the disorder lessened my shame, in this as well as many other characteristics of the disorder. I agree that more should be done in educating and addressing this issue.
One more thing, I have found a medication that does allow me to continue to have a now healthy relation with my loved one.
I agree that this topic is taboo. I've never discussed it with my psychiatric nurse, but I've done enough research that I know it's a symptom. I've also personally experienced some shameful sexual experiences.
Anonymous, you mentioned that you're on a medication that doesn't diminish your sexuality totally. What medication is that?
Cristina
Incredible information. I am (still) the husband of a bi-polar 2 spouse. I have initiated a divorce process in which I wanted to reconcile not once, but twice within the last year and half because I still dearly love my wife. We "suspended" the legal process. While attending marriage counseling - I learned she was having multiple sexual encounters with other partners and with both genders. This is totally out of character- I have never seen this before in her. I suspect hypersexuality but really don't fully understand it. I'm still learning. With continued research (such as this page) and getting over the shock, I have discovered she was and still is not taking her meds as prescribed. Half the dose of lithium and totally blew off the mood stabilizer. Believe this or not - I can forgive my wife for the indiscretions, but not for lacking the responsibility of taking her meds. I have 2 kids, not 3 and this is the third time modifying meds w/o the pdocs approval. The legal process has reinitiated and keeps me from disclosing opinions or thoughts. I wonder if she even knows that she's possibly hypersexual? I am emotionally and mentally exhausted from this horrible illness. I don't even know how or if I have any resources to help her anymore. I can't even imagine what she's going through.
When one spouse gets this illness, both spouses have it and NEED to work TOGETHER to keep it in check.
Still loving her....