Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Hypersexuality?Sexual AddictionMental Health and SexHow Hypersexuality FeelsTreatmentRelationship ConcernsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Hypersexuality?
Sexual Addiction
Mental Health and Sex
How Hypersexuality Feels
Treatment
Relationship Concerns
Frequently Asked Questions
Having an excessive desire for sexual activity or sexual activity that is extremely frequent, such as compulsively masturbating or watching pornography, can signal hypersexuality.You may have also heard the termnymphomania. This is an outdated term that is no longer used in the clinical setting.
Anyone can be hypersexual, but people withbipolar disorderare prone to bouts of hypersexuality. People with this disorder have unusual and extreme shifts in their mood and energy, and hypersexuality can be a warning sign that they are having a manic episode. This tendency can present challenges with sexual satisfaction and relationships.
In this article, we will discuss what hypersexuality is, the four signs, how doctors address it, and tips for navigating relationships with hypersexuality.
Thianchai Sitthikongsak / Getty Images
Hypersexuality is an extreme focus on sex, sexual thoughts, or sexual activity. People who are hypersexual may think about sex compulsively, engage in sexual risk-taking despite negative effects, and have intense fantasies that seem out of control.
Hypersexuality can lead to feelings of distress, and can negatively impact relationships and other areas of life such as school and work.
In the moment, hypersexuality may present as a strong and frequent urge to engage in sexual activity, masturbate, or view pornography. Potential consequences are not the primary concern as the focus is on satisfying the urge, and some people describe their experiences as beingaddictedto or obsessed with sex.Because of this, the person is more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as unprotected sex with a stranger or viewing pornography at work.
After the fact, a person who has acted on urges associated with bipolar hypersexuality may feel intense shame or regret.This could be due to the frequency of the urges or not being able to control them. Additionally, it could be due to remorse related to inappropriate behavior. They do not want to continue experiencing and acting on the urges and may seek ways to control themselves in the future.
Is Sexual Addiction a Symptom of Bipolar Disorder?
Sexual addictionis thinking about and engaging in sexual behavior so often that it interferes with your relationships, health, work, or other aspects of your life. It’s sometimes used interchangeably with hypersexuality.
Hypersexuality is listed as one of the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder. It is common for people with bipolar disorder to experience hypersexuality.
Some people with bipolar disorder who experience heightened sexuality may receive a diagnosis of sexual addiction, even though sexual addiction is not listed as a disorder in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Others will not be formally diagnosed.
Mental Health and Sex in Bipolar Disorder
In bipolar disorder (BD),sex driveand satisfaction can change depending on the phase. For example, sex drive and satisfaction may be very different during a manic episode compared to a depressive episode.
In combination with other symptoms of bipolar mania such as impulsivity and poor judgment, hypersexuality can lead to destructive behavior.
Researchers aren’t sure why some people with bipolar disorder experience hypersexuality and others do not.
How Common Is Hypersexuality in People With Bipolar Disorder?Researchers have found that about 25% to 80% of people with bipolar disorder will also experience periods of hypersexuality.
How Common Is Hypersexuality in People With Bipolar Disorder?
Researchers have found that about 25% to 80% of people with bipolar disorder will also experience periods of hypersexuality.
What Does Bipolar Hypersexuality Feel Like?
Hypersexuality is more than just a high sex drive. Additionally, hypersexuality associated with bipolar disorder is different from hypersexuality among people who do not have bipolar disorder.Here’s how to tell the difference.
Taking Risks
People who struggle with hypersexuality often have a pattern of taking risks with their sexual behaviors.This may include havingsex without protection, having sex with many partners, engaging in sexual behaviors at work or in public places, and compromising relationships with infidelity. The risks associated with the behaviors are often not considered, or they may seem insignificant, until after the fact.
Feeling Regret or Shame After
In bipolar hypersexuality, there are often feelings of shame or regret after engaging in sexual behaviors.For example, there may be an intense urge or extreme desire to engage in arisky sexual behavior. They may feel relief immediately after engaging in the behavior, and then intense feelings of regret or shame as they process their actions.
Continuing Unwanted Behaviors
Despite the consequences of sexual behaviors, people with hypersexuality often struggle to stop repeating the unwanted behaviors. The negative effects of sexual behaviors may include sexually transmitted disease (STD), job loss or compromised work or school performance, financial issues, legal issues, and relationship challenges, among others.People with bipolar hypersexuality often feel out of control and struggle to resist their extreme sexual urges.
Changes With Manic and Depressive Episodes
How Is Hypersexuality Treated?
Since hypersexuality is a symptom of bipolar disorder, particularly manic episodes, treating bipolar disorder as a whole addresses hypersexuality. This is typically done through therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Therapy
Psychotherapy, ortalk therapy, can be used as part of a treatment plan for bipolar disorder and hypersexuality associated with bipolar disorder. This may include specific techniques such ascognitive behavioral therapyfor the individual, couples therapy to work on relationship challenges, or a combination of therapy options.
It is important that the treatment plan is customized to the needs of the patient. There are different ways that hypersexuality can affect someone, and they may respond differently to different treatments.
Medication
Medications are often used in combination with talk therapy to create an effective treatment plan for bipolar disorder.These may include mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants. These medications can help to treat and prevent bipolar episodes, including manic episodes associated with hypersexuality.
Both bipolar disorder and associated hypersexuality can include relationship concerns. With hypersexuality, partner relationships tend to be the most impacted. This is, in part, related to the link between hypersexuality and sexual risk-taking and infidelity.
Beforetalking to a partner/spouseabout bipolar hypersexuality, take some time to consider their perspective. It can be hard for them, too, especially if there has been infidelity. Go into the conversation with compassion, and suggest ways to work on trust, commitment, and possible coping strategies for the symptoms.
It can be a significant challenge for people with bipolar hypersexuality to manage their symptoms and the effects on those around them. With treatment, however, it is possible to have healthy relationships.
Summary
Frequently Asked QuestionsBipolar disorder is a lifelong condition.However, that does not necessarily mean bipolar hypersexuality will last forever. People with bipolar disorder experience episodes of depression, mania, and even phases without depression or mania. With continued treatment, bipolar hypersexuality can be managed, and people can experience healthy, happy sex lives.There are some similarities between bipolar manic episodes, including hypersexuality and narcissism.However, there are also differences, such as the hypersexuality in bipolar disorder being linked only to episodes of mania.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition.However, that does not necessarily mean bipolar hypersexuality will last forever. People with bipolar disorder experience episodes of depression, mania, and even phases without depression or mania. With continued treatment, bipolar hypersexuality can be managed, and people can experience healthy, happy sex lives.
There are some similarities between bipolar manic episodes, including hypersexuality and narcissism.However, there are also differences, such as the hypersexuality in bipolar disorder being linked only to episodes of mania.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Hypersexuality.Cantor JM, Klein C, Lykins A, Rullo JE, Thaler L, Walling BR.A treatment-oriented typology of self-identified hypersexuality referrals.Arch Sex Behav. 2013;42(5):883-893. doi:10.1007/s10508-013-0085-1Cleveland Clinic.Bipolar disorder. Updated January 27, 2018.Downey, J., Friedman, R. C., Haase, E., Goldenberg, D., Bell, R., & Edsall, S. (2016).Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry Journal,2016, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/5839181Downey J, Friedman RC, Haase E, Goldenberg D, Bell R, Edsall S.Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry Journal. 2016;2016:e5839181. doi:10.1155/2016/5839181Koos M, Bothe B, Orosz G, Potenza MN, Reid RC, Demetrovics Z.The negative consequences of hypersexuality: Revisiting the factor structure of the Hypersexual Behavior Consequences Scale and its correlates in a large, non-clinical sample.Addictive Behaviors Reports. 2021;13:100321. doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100321Heare MR, Barsky M, Faziola LR.A case of mania presenting with hypersexual behavior and gender dysphoria that resolved with valproic acid.Ment Illn. 2016;8(2):6546. doi:10.4081/mi.2016.6546National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.Fulford D, Johnson SL, Carver CS.Commonalities and differences in characteristics of persons at risk for narcissism and mania.J Res Pers. 2008;42(6):1427-1438. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2008.06.002American Psychological Association.Narcissism. Updated 2020.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Hypersexuality.Cantor JM, Klein C, Lykins A, Rullo JE, Thaler L, Walling BR.A treatment-oriented typology of self-identified hypersexuality referrals.Arch Sex Behav. 2013;42(5):883-893. doi:10.1007/s10508-013-0085-1Cleveland Clinic.Bipolar disorder. Updated January 27, 2018.Downey, J., Friedman, R. C., Haase, E., Goldenberg, D., Bell, R., & Edsall, S. (2016).Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry Journal,2016, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/5839181Downey J, Friedman RC, Haase E, Goldenberg D, Bell R, Edsall S.Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry Journal. 2016;2016:e5839181. doi:10.1155/2016/5839181Koos M, Bothe B, Orosz G, Potenza MN, Reid RC, Demetrovics Z.The negative consequences of hypersexuality: Revisiting the factor structure of the Hypersexual Behavior Consequences Scale and its correlates in a large, non-clinical sample.Addictive Behaviors Reports. 2021;13:100321. doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100321Heare MR, Barsky M, Faziola LR.A case of mania presenting with hypersexual behavior and gender dysphoria that resolved with valproic acid.Ment Illn. 2016;8(2):6546. doi:10.4081/mi.2016.6546National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.Fulford D, Johnson SL, Carver CS.Commonalities and differences in characteristics of persons at risk for narcissism and mania.J Res Pers. 2008;42(6):1427-1438. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2008.06.002American Psychological Association.Narcissism. Updated 2020.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.Hypersexuality.Cantor JM, Klein C, Lykins A, Rullo JE, Thaler L, Walling BR.A treatment-oriented typology of self-identified hypersexuality referrals.Arch Sex Behav. 2013;42(5):883-893. doi:10.1007/s10508-013-0085-1Cleveland Clinic.Bipolar disorder. Updated January 27, 2018.Downey, J., Friedman, R. C., Haase, E., Goldenberg, D., Bell, R., & Edsall, S. (2016).Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry Journal,2016, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/5839181Downey J, Friedman RC, Haase E, Goldenberg D, Bell R, Edsall S.Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry Journal. 2016;2016:e5839181. doi:10.1155/2016/5839181Koos M, Bothe B, Orosz G, Potenza MN, Reid RC, Demetrovics Z.The negative consequences of hypersexuality: Revisiting the factor structure of the Hypersexual Behavior Consequences Scale and its correlates in a large, non-clinical sample.Addictive Behaviors Reports. 2021;13:100321. doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100321Heare MR, Barsky M, Faziola LR.A case of mania presenting with hypersexual behavior and gender dysphoria that resolved with valproic acid.Ment Illn. 2016;8(2):6546. doi:10.4081/mi.2016.6546National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.Fulford D, Johnson SL, Carver CS.Commonalities and differences in characteristics of persons at risk for narcissism and mania.J Res Pers. 2008;42(6):1427-1438. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2008.06.002American Psychological Association.Narcissism. Updated 2020.
American Psychological Association.Hypersexuality.
Cantor JM, Klein C, Lykins A, Rullo JE, Thaler L, Walling BR.A treatment-oriented typology of self-identified hypersexuality referrals.Arch Sex Behav. 2013;42(5):883-893. doi:10.1007/s10508-013-0085-1
Cleveland Clinic.Bipolar disorder. Updated January 27, 2018.
Downey, J., Friedman, R. C., Haase, E., Goldenberg, D., Bell, R., & Edsall, S. (2016).Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry Journal,2016, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/5839181
Downey J, Friedman RC, Haase E, Goldenberg D, Bell R, Edsall S.Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry Journal. 2016;2016:e5839181. doi:10.1155/2016/5839181
Koos M, Bothe B, Orosz G, Potenza MN, Reid RC, Demetrovics Z.The negative consequences of hypersexuality: Revisiting the factor structure of the Hypersexual Behavior Consequences Scale and its correlates in a large, non-clinical sample.Addictive Behaviors Reports. 2021;13:100321. doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100321
Heare MR, Barsky M, Faziola LR.A case of mania presenting with hypersexual behavior and gender dysphoria that resolved with valproic acid.Ment Illn. 2016;8(2):6546. doi:10.4081/mi.2016.6546
National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.
Fulford D, Johnson SL, Carver CS.Commonalities and differences in characteristics of persons at risk for narcissism and mania.J Res Pers. 2008;42(6):1427-1438. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2008.06.002
American Psychological Association.Narcissism. Updated 2020.
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