Bipolar Type II Support Group

My husband tried Viagra for a while. He was on Adderall for ADD toward the latter part of our marriage around the age of 50. I was on antidepressants at first, then the Bipolar meds after that. We had already had our children so sex wasn't that 'important' to me. Our relationship was already on the rocks. I'm pretty sure he masterbated. He was using pornography (which I don't recommend unless your wife doesn't care).

Maybe this is an appropriate suggestion. You and your wife could get sex aides(not sure exactly what they are called) and you could use them with her to bring her to orgasm. It would be a turn on for you to be a part of her joy, and bring you intimately together. Then you could use Viagra like you do too. Both of you could talk about the necessity to make creative choices for you both.

For heaven's sake, going off your MEDs would, shall we just say, 'kill' her, and your relationship--for sure.

My husband went off his meds. He was not able/or willing to be on them to keep himself stable. For me that was the straw that broke the marriage back. His choices led to increasingly damaging physical violence toward me. I had him arrested and filed for divorce. Very uncharacteristic of me. Being stable on my meds, I was able to confront myself and do the right thing.

Hey...I say, if we live with the stigma of Bipolarness we can surely search for support in other areas of our lives without shame. Bloom

Choose to keep on meds even though tempted to give them up. That would be the sane way to go Did you know there are sexual counselors available? Until the meds we take can be altered to eliminate the sexual side effects, love your wife and seek alternatives.

Hi again Twosides and friends:

I would never not take my meds. But, I would 'gladly', not spend my $ on my medications...I worry that I won't be able to afford them 'next' month. One of them, Lamatrogine (Lamictal) has recently gone generic!! However, it's still very expensive. Thankfully....my pharmacist told me that the retail cost will significantly go down over time. Having said this, my meds are not the only significant aspect of having a bipolar disorder right?

I'm going to stick my toe in the pool and say MY sex life is important. I'll get a sex aide myself and see if I can't fill that 'what will I do if I marry again blues' void with I'm going to fulfill this need, now. If I cannot bring myself to orgasm, well then I will enjoy the sensations up to that point. I suspect my stress level would decrease (in the very lease--grin). I can't believe I'm putting this out there--I was ashamed to masterbate as a teen. Also, it isn't Christian because you should engage in sex only in a marriage. Speedbumps maybe? One of my friends tragically lost her husband early in their marriage. She raised 6 children. I asked about her sex life, saying I had considered using a sex aide because my husband was unable to hold an erection very long. To my shock, she pulled out her's from under her bed, saying she had used it for years. I couldn't bring myself to cross that line even though she offered to order it for me. I'm in a position now to go ahead. Yikes...anyone have a brand name or website that's decent? :[ :] :/

If I were to become sexually involved with someone I would tell them my situation. I can't believe I'm writing this. I told my children I would never remarry. MY HEAVENS, where would I hide the gadget? so no kids or grandkids would be shocked! and forever look down upon me?! Bloom

Do I identify or what? I'm especially wondering how our young fellow support groupers would be looking at the situation. I mean hormones are hormones are hormones. Those are still coursing through our endocrine systems. Then wham! those dang synapses in our brains won't cooperate and fire off when they're supposed to. I'm supposed to want sex. I'm odd.

It's very disturbing. Kind of like a slap in the self-confidence. I don't know what to say, or do. I don't feel normal being dead to sex! Is there a way to bring this all back to normal?

I, too, think: "Am I destined to ever have another relationship? Without sex there's no possibility of intimacy". It is so depressing, especially when I see a man that arouses me. My heart is willing but my body is weak. Bummer.

I'm diagnosed Bipolar II: Mixed. I take Citalopram, Clonazepam, Lamatragine, and Bupropion. If I don't I'm NOT normal. Am I destined to be in a relationship? I've decided to cross the bridge then. In the mean time I accept I am destined to be a person on a spectrum of bipolar disorders, holding onto my meds for dear life, hoping for some answer to the stalemate. This is reality for now. Bye