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Bipolar Disorder and Sex: What You Need to Know

Introduction

Today, we’re diving into a topic that can create long-term challenges for individuals living with uncontrolled bipolar disorder: sex. A recent study published by the National Institute of Health sheds some light on this important issue, and we’re going to break it down for you in this post.

Researchers in this study talked to five people with bipolar disorder about their sex lives. They wanted to understand how bipolar disorder affects bedroom activities. The following findings are raw and unfiltered yet loaded with insight!

High Sex Drive: It's Not Just You

It’s common for people with bipolar disorder to have a high sex drive. This isn’t inherently a bad thing. All the people in the study said they had higher sex drives than others, even before they had their first manic or hypomanic episode. Where it becomes problematic is when poor decision making and sex drive come together.

Mood Swings = Sex Swings

One’s moods really affect one’s sex life. During manic or hypomanic phases, people in the study reported:

  • Higher sex drive
  • Wanting more experimental sex
  • Getting bored easily with sex
  • Feeling an internal pressure or urge to have sex

One woman in the study said she noticed her increased sex drive as a sign that she might be entering a manic phase. She’d start thinking about sex a lot and feel a strong need to masturbate.

 

Depressive Episode Cool Down

On the depressive side of bipolar disorder, things can appear like a start contrast. 

  • Women typically felt less interested in sex
  • Men reported more self-destructive sexual behavior

For women, it usually meant less interest in sex. But for men, it was more complicated. Instead of just losing interest, they sometimes engaged in more self-destructive sexual behavior, which made them feel worse about themselves. One of the men in the study described how his sexuality swings with his moods. When he’s manic, he wants to “shag anything” he sees. But when he’s depressed, he either doesn’t want sex at all or wants it in a “nastier way” where people are mean to him. There are some men who have difficulty achieving an erection, which can be a major source of distress. This is largely temporary and goes away with time. 

The Wild Years

Many people in the study talked about having a “wild youth” with:

  • Chaotic relationships
  • Lots of sexual partners
  • Experimental sexual behavior

If this sounds familiar, then it’s not just one’s lack of self-control. Unstable mental states can lead individuals down some interesting paths, especially when young and unaware of a bipolar disorder diagnosis.

The women in the study said they were more sexually outgoing than their friends from a young age. They sometimes did things that others thought were inappropriate, like flirting too much or acting out sexually in front of their friends’ parents.

Impact on Relationships

These sexual shifts can cause problems in relationships. When people in the study were in manic phases, they tended to flirt with others even if they were in a relationship. They also wanted different kinds of experimental sex with their partners.

One woman said she’d wake her partner up in the middle of the night to have sex. She also wanted to try more experimental stuff that her partner wasn’t into.

For single people, it was different. The single man in the study had more sexual partners during manic episodes. The single women masturbated more but didn’t look for sexual partners.

Alcohol and Sex

The study found that alcohol often played a role in people’s sexual behavior, especially during their younger years. This combo of bipolar disorder, alcohol, and sex could lead to risky situations.

Early Warning Signs

Here’s something interesting: changes in sexual drive might be early warning signs of new episodes. If you notice your sex drive suddenly spiking or dropping, it might be time to check in with your doctor, therapist, or mental health coach.

Same and Sex

Interestingly, the people in the study didn’t feel ashamed about their sexual behavior during manic phases. They described it as joyful. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t cause problems, especially in relationships. The regret and shame typically manifests during the depressive episodes and especially if one’s infidelity leads to the end of their relationship.

What this Means for Treatment

The researchers believe it is super important for doctors to talk about sex with their bipolar patients. Changes in sexual behavior could be a sign that a manic or depressive episode is coming on. It is important to initiate a dialogue about sex with your partner and physician since bipolar impacts nearly every aspect of life. Sex is a part of healthy adult behavior, and even individuals with bipolar disorder are encouraged to partake in sexual activity provided the right conditions of safety, consent, and privacy.

Concluding Remarks

This study shows the need to talk more about sex and bipolar disorder. It’s a crucial part of life and even the recovery journey. Don’t be afraid to bring it up with your doctor or therapist. They’ve certainly heard it all before!

Remember, you’re not alone in this. Sexuality might be a bit of a rollercoaster with bipolar disorder, but it’s all part of the journey towards recovery. It’s okay to have a complicated relationship with sex. What’s important is that we understand ourselves better and get the help we need.

So, next time you’re at your doctor’s office, consider bringing up how bipolar disorder affects your sex life. It might feel awkward, but it could lead to better treatment and a better understanding of the condition.

Citations:

[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9898481/#fn-group1 

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