Intercourse and bipolar disorder

[Gatormadman]

I am 37 years old, severly bipolar, and the medications I am currently taking help me control the illness better than any I have taken before.  However, what seems to help me control the fits of mania and bouts of depression better than anything is when I have sexual intercourse with my wife on a regular basis (3 to 5 times per week).  Is this just wishful thinking, or can having sexual intercourse on a regular basis actually help a person with bipolar disorder control the illness?  

[jen21287]

Well, just like with exercise, sex releases endorphins which are "feel good" chemicals in the brain. People suffering from mood disorders are encouraged to exercise because of the endorphins released so it seems logical that having sex on a regular basis would help elevate your mood. I do not believe it is a substitution for medication by any means but rather an added perk. A lot of people suffering from bipolar disorder have a decreased sex drive because of the medications they are on, so I guess you are a lucky one :)

[GabrielBurton7]

Sex reduces stress, is physically active, releases seratonin and endorphins, etc. And in the best of circumstances, it's a spiritual experience. So the answer is yes - intercourse helps. My therapist has recommended that during bad times, I have intercourse 4 days in a row.

[Nelson_Ph_D]

I recently read an article in the American Journal of Psychiatry titled "Effective Lifestyle Practices in Controling Bipolar Disorder", and apparently, Gabriel did, too.  Dr. Lawrence Blihm, a practicing psychiatrist and author of the article, lists the five most effective "practices" in decending order of importance.  In his words, they "have been shown in numerous clinical studies to be the most effective means by which a bipolar individual can control his or her illness", and I've included a paraphrased version here:

1) Self-medicating or discontinuing prescribed medication.  Often, bipolar individuals will "self-medicate", the most common drugs being alcohol and marijuana.  Sometimes, they turn to hard drugs, which will cause the condition to only worsen.  However, studies show that tobacco smoking induces a "calming" effect on most bipolar people, and a very high percentage suffering from the disorder smoke.  Also common among bipolar individuals is the feeling they can discontinue prescribed medication. When done without consulting the primary physician. relapse to the same severity as was evidenced before medical prescription will occur.

2) Consistent sleep pattern.  An inconsistent sleep pattern most often causes a destabilization of the illness.  To much sleep (possibly caused by medication) can lead to depression, while to little sleep almost always leads to mixed states and irritability.

3) Regular regulated sexual intercourse (as opposed to hypersexuality).  Sexual intercourse causes the release of endorphins and seratonin.  However, while medication does this in limited amounts over an extended period, sexual intercourse magnifies these beneficiaries exponentially.  Furthermore, while masturbation has somewhat of the same effect, it is to a substantially lesser degree as the physical exercise aspect necessary in reducing stress is not present.

4) Adequate stress management.  If unmedicated, excessive stress will inevitabl cause the individual to relapse.  Medication raises the stress threshold somewhat, but excessive stress generally causes a relape into depressio/irritability or mixed states.

5)  Being under- or over-medicated.  Taking a lower dosage of mood stabilizers can lead to relapse into mania.  Taking a lowr dosage of an antidepressant may cause the patient to relapse into depression.  Higher doses of either can cause destabilization into mixed states of both.

So, again, to confirm Gabriel's assertion, the answer is an emphatic "yes" to your question.

[sinster]

actually i went off sex with my meds ive been on many types aswell . having lots of sex isnt the answer for me. sure its an outlet.  but for me in my case its dont help alot. when the feeling subsides im back to square one. feeling like ****.  i prefer to be cuddled and snuggles when i feel down. but hey if you can manage loads of rolls in the sack rock on!  but i think its down to the person if it actually helps with the illness. i find my manic fits of bi polar take me to cleaning house and then i crash too tired for sex.  but cool if it helps you.. all the best.
good luck:)