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Bipolar Disorder/Bipolar disorder and promiscuous sexual behavior

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Expert: Libby Bonner - 8/28/2007


Question
My girl friend may be bipolar. She presents most of the symptoms described in manic and depressive stages of the probable disorder. Pls, can you be more specific of what is meant by "promiscuous sexual behavior/drive"? Pls, give real life examples.

Answer
How old are you and the girlfriend?  I take questions from person older than 18.

In hypermania, but more typically in mania, one often sees "hypersexuality."  It may show as demandind sex more often with one's usual partner, or it may show as simply trying to find sex with any/many partners while the person is very ill.  They forget committments to others or they believe, while they are ill, that their usual partner will not mind the additional sexual contacts.   ALL of their thinking changes, including changes in thinking about sexuality, morality, etc.

Bipolar Disorder

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Libby Bonner

Expertise

I can answers questions from family members of adult patients with serious mental illnesses. I am most familiar with bipolar disorder [manic-depression] and schizophrenia. I use principles of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill to provide clinical info, emotional support, and practical suggestions, including finances/insurance. Emphasis is on family health; family preservation and functioning; coping skills; and effective communications with patients [consumers] and with providers of services. I am not qualified to help families with patients under 18 I cannot answer questions about herbal remedies.

Experience

I have a daughter w/ bipolar illness. Have experience with clinical medicine/psychiatry through my work in a hospital library. I have taken and now monitor the NAMI Family to Family educational program and I facilitate NAMI family caring and sharing evenings.

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