Increased sex drive

@Former-Member. Yes, definitely, when I was hypomanic I was extremely preoccupied with thoughts of sex, and I found a ridiculously high proportion of the female population to be so extremely sexy that it was painfully frustrating to be out in public. What's more, my partner said she noticed my increased interest in sex when I was hypomanic

My moods are now stabilised with medication so I don't have the same level of highs anymore, but I am still cyclothymic so occasionally I get a sense of that intense sexual desire again.

The really good thing about getting older is that one can go with a p/maternal? .. so lovely oooh wonderful feeling "onenning' with the rest of the population .. its a little less overwheming and not as exciting .. but generates good brain chemicals

instead

of feeling like an official grumpy older person

Without a healthy sex drive H Sapiens would die out.

Hi Loula, I have a very high drive and it caused me so many problems so I had to be medicated. Now I have the opposite problem. Not sure which is worse. I miss all the fun I had but ended up having to leave work.

Hi, its such a good issue to discuss on the increased sexual desires among BD's. I would confess here that I have been going through this issues ever since I was diagnosed with BD in 2010. Its a bit shy to talk over about it with my psychiatrist or psychologist because sexual matters a still not widely discussed in my country. However, I personally have to be open about it because I need to know if BD's do have high and low sexual desires at times as the mood. Even with the prescriptions given to stabilise the mood but the high sexual desires in me couldn't be controlled. Is there any way to overcome this problem? Please do advice? Thank you

Hi @Former-Member,

I remember you from some time ago. Good to see you around. Yes, I too have had an extremely high sex drive in the past. I was a sexual wild woman for half of my thirties. Before this, when I was still married, I used to mostly just feel tortured by intense sexual fantasies of other people. Like you, it made me feel terrible to have those thoughts and longings. Well prescribed medication has steadied this aspect of my bipolar over many years now, along with inner work on myself to tame the sexual thoughts. Getting older has probably mellowed me out too in that way. I still like sex (though I don't have sex with anyone but myself at present) but it's just not as important or profoundly distracting as it used to be.

@Mazarita explained it a lot better than I did. Sorry if my post was confusing ...

Hi @Former-Member, wondering if you are receiving any treatment for your bipolar at present. My time of out-of-control sexuality was only really reined in by more accurate diagnosis and better medication. I did also put in effort over some years to calm myself down on that level and not just run with it, which is what I had been doing previously. I was brought up catholic but left it in my late teens. I still get a lot of senseless guilt from the teachings that were instilled in me as a child.

There is usually an aspect of "wildness" connected with sexuality. In many ways I am lucky as I have always accepted that, and try and keep some connections to nature. The intensity seems necessary for the realities of survival throughout a lifespan and for procreation. Yet the long term child raising seems mean that some curbing of desires is also needed. Religion and guilt about sexuality sadly still messes with people's heads. It messed with mine. I dont see that that as the best part of religion. I prefer the social inclusiveness and forgiveness in religion. I think it is simply outdated and confusing and gets sex wrong for a lot of circumstances in modern society. Life is hard enough without unnecessary guilt trips. Each individual has to work it out, Dont let guilt cripple you. Try and find a way for ethics and the joys .. .. to work together for you.