I've got this disorder good luck!

Hello--i have bi-polar (i'm female) and when I get like that (fortunately my husband "always" wants sex also and he isn't bi-polar-just a sex p_g)(i think guys more than women tend to want sex more frequently) but what I do to help calm me down is I go jogging, work out, clean, basically put my "energy" into something productive instead of fighting.I would also think that his meds. Need to be checked, maybe the dose needs to be increased when he is like that--basically having a manic episode (which is the time we have our hypersexuality feelings)i take seroqual anywhere up to 300mg. And believe me--noway will he want sex after taking this med. You do become tolerant of these types of medications, and you can't drive or do difficult important cognitive thinking, that is why I only take it when I become hypermanic (as oppose too hypomanic)(and there is a big difference between them). You need to let him know (at a time he's not asking for sex) that he needs to have is meds. Reviewed/changed. Tell him how much it hurts you, and how far away from him it makes you feel. It must be very difficult --your situation. I would also suggest a support group in your area. Maybe here in this forum you've found one--i hope you have. Good luck

the hypersexual thing is part of a manic episode... He could just spiral over the top , really he should be on seroquel to keep him grounded.. At least it worked for me ,

ps the hypersexual thing really is not that great for him because he can never get enough sex in that manic state .. At least I couldnt... (my hubby loved it)... But for me the dellusions and paranoia come with the hypersexual state so it is not great

he should talk to his pdoc about meds if he is like that

ditto I also agree. Being hyersexual is a sign of mania. That one way you can tell if i'm going in to mania or not.

I'm bipolar and been going through some hypersexuality for several weeks now. I was just walking around the trail and it seemed impossible to get sexual thoughts out of my mind. Of course there are many beautiful young women in running outfits so it is easy to focus on the sexual thoughts. I focused on my steps and needed to count them aloud (quietly) to fill my mind with the walking and numbers.

I am single and there are ways to have sex with people nowadays that are quite easy - through the internet. But I am not promiscuous and have not done anything like that, even without the internet, except when drunk. And I have been sober for a long time. What I end up doing is relieving the feeling I'm having and I will take about .25mg of clonazepam to bring me down a bit. I had thought I needed to take more of my clonazepam as I have not being taking it as much recently.

So I think in the case of your husband - caligurl - if he did take the drug he would be "calmer," and perhaps you could encourage him to get relief but within the confines of your marriage. I hope that helps.

So, that's my little report.

[quote="scyzner"]I'm bipolar and been going through some hypersexuality for several weeks now. I was just walking around the trail and it seemed impossible to get sexual thoughts out of my mind. Of course there are many beautiful young women in running outfits so it is easy to focus on the sexual thoughts. I focused on my steps and needed to count them aloud (quietly) to fill my mind with the walking and numbers.

I am single and there are ways to have sex with people nowadays that are quite easy - through the internet. But I am not promiscuous and have not done anything like that, even without the internet, except when drunk. And I have been sober for a long time. What I end up doing is relieving the feeling I'm having and I will take about .25mg of clonazepam to bring me down a bit. I had thought I needed to take more of my clonazepam as I have not being taking it as much recently.

So I think in the case of your husband - caligurl - if he did take the drug he would be "calmer," but it sounds like his dosage isn't quite right and maybe it's not the right drug, and also perhaps his mood stabilizers are out of whack. Occasionally they stop working as well - a second opinion might be a good thing. And perhaps you could encourage him to get relief but within the confines of your marriage and without your participation if you don't feel like it. I hope that helps.

Yeah, I agree...mania/hypomania that is not being adequately controlled. You did not say what meds he is on ( i mean the full list.) But if he is not on at least a mood stabilizer adn an atypical antipsychotic (someone mentioned Seroquel--GREAT drug), he probably should be. AND sometimes teh Dr will increase one or the other when this type of thing happens. HAVE HIM CAL HIS DR!!! lol..Because this is obviously putting stress on your relationship, and when he comes down, he will probably be better able to see that and agree that it's a good idea to head these episodes off at the pass.

In a crunch, though, there may be some non-intercourse options you can try that will make him happy and you not so unhappy.

Good luck

Even though Seroquel may work for one as you know a particular med doesn't work for each person. I hate the anti-psychotics - I feel like people on Thorazine once looked and never take them. So I would not say "he should be on ______________ " but rather he should see his shrink.
Steven

LOL...I was simply talking about the sort of normal convention at this point of using the atypicals to help stabilize mood. It helps many people. Of course not everyone will end up on the same regimen...I do hope, however, that you would agreee that his hypomania is NOt under control, and he should consult his Dr to see if they can achieve BETTER control somewhow when these episodes hit so as to reduce the stress on the realtionship.

Take care

In my humble opinion, this is not an issue about bipolar nor hypersexuality. This is about a man who, when he doesn't get what he wants, resorts to abusive behavior. My guess is that it is not limited to the sexual arena, but is a destructive behavior that has bled into all areas of this relationship. You both need counseling, him specifically to learn how better to express his needs and frustrations. I wouldn't want to have sex with anyone who is abusive. Trust your feelings.
kara

My husband was diagnosed w/ bi-polar 10 years ago. There were constant episodes w/ infidelity issues and schizophrenic episodes that I had done some gross wrong to warrant him deserting his family for several weeks at a time and returning home w/ no explanation of what had happened or where he had been.He was usually severely depressed when he finally came back.It was like a movie you saw over and over that he played out in his minds' reality. Lithium was the drug (in smaller doses, 450 mg 2 x daily) that finally put the episodes to rest. He rejected the treatment within a month the first time that it was prescribed to him,(8 years ago) with excuses like 'he didn't like the way it msde him feel', and 'reduced sexual drive',but when we finally lost our home to his disease, and started over in a new location, he picked up the lithium treatment again through VA, and the episodes lessened frequency and we have gone for over a year w/o a major episode. I never put my guard down, but I am a firm believer in lithium in smaller doses. Antidepressants are too much of a crap shoot, and can cause major side effects (or suicide)when trying to find the magic cure. To my bi-polar husband and bour marriage, low dose lithium has been a miracle.I am a firm believer in lithium as the drug of choice in he treatment of bi polar disorder.

My boyfriend is bipolar, won't take his meds and a few months ago we found out we're pregnant! boy has that made stuff hit the fan! He has been absouetly demanding about sex. Even left out condoms for me to find to say to me, incase I got laid, since you never want to F me!! that was on Mother's Day while I was 10 weeks pregnant. I think I got a deal breaker here, we either get some help or it's over, I can't put up with it anymore!

Just a side note...I think you stated that you have been doing your part by giving in until you are so sore you can't go anymore. Cudos to you. My wife just rations it out, kind of like she's in-charge of that single need of mine. In my mind, it is not near enough to satisfy the crave I desire. So, what am I supposed to do? Well, I could talk with her, and tell her that it is currently just part of the Bipolar, and that she should fell lucky that I am not going out and getting it from everything with two legs. There are other things she could do, that doesn't involve intercourse. There are all kinds of quick ways she could get me off, like hand jobs, etc...She could even wear rubber gloves so she would not have to get dirty. (Again, I apologize about being so graphic.)

I forgot something in my last post.....I am not the type of guy that would have my wife just get me off, and that would be the end. It would be mutual....I would make sure she climaxed every time. There has to be something in it for her....