Sex is an important part of most of our lives and no less so for people living withbipolar disorder.
But maintaining a healthy sexual relationship when bipolar can be as complex as the disease itself.
This high level of variability can impact a person’s ability todateor maintain a long-term relationship.
Mania and Hypersexuality
Hypersexuality is one of the behaviors that may manifest as asymptom of mania.
It is not unusual for people to experience a heightened sense of sexuality during a manic episode.
In and of itself, this is not a problem.
When the pursuit of sex becomes compulsive, it may even be classified as asex addiction.
Impact of Depression on Sexual Function
Depression can kill the sex drive.
People with bipolar disorder will sometimes go for months or even years with little to no interest in sex.
This makes either pursuing or sustaining a relationship all the more difficult.
There are ways to manage the sexual side effects of bipolar drugs without compromising treatment.
By and large, SSRIs have not been found to be particularly effective for bipolar disorder.
