[ranger99a]

Hello All,
I have just been diagnosed with BP II and have been posting and searching this board. I am searching for answers… searching for hope that with medications I can be a “normal” person, a happy person, a friendly person. That the fits of rage inside me will die away and I will be able to handle life’s up and downs in moderation instead of either from a depressed or manic POV.

I have a few questions that I need answers to concerning my diagnoses of Stage II Bipolar.

Background. One of the things I have had an issue with all my adult life concerns sex / love. I have been married 3 times and have had a couple of long term relationships. Every time I become involved in a relationship everything is fine for a while. Then something happens during the relationship where I get urges and needs to have contact with other women. Whether it is affairs, phone communication and sex, or cyber sex and cyber relationships. Some of the later have moved real time. Most never do. This is a huge issue for me and my current wife who is thinking of divorcing me. I want to be faithful to my spouse and I try. God knows I try, but these urges come over me and I can't control them. My questions are these:

1) Are these urges/needs part of my condition?
2) If they are will medication remove them and give me my impulse control back?
3) Again, If they are Why is it when I know right from wrong I can't control them?
4) How do I explain to my wife that while I love her with all my heart I can’t stop doing the things that I know hurt her so much.
5) How do I stop this roller coaster? Can it be stopped with meds?

I’ve started taking Xanax and Symbyax to start, the Xanax the Dr said was just to slow me down and help me get some sleep and to eat. Although I kind of enjoy the not eating part right now. I’m losing a lot of weight that I’ve wanted to lose for years.
Thank you for any answers you can give. I appreciate your help.

[darkeyes]

Not all people with Bipolar disorder have the "stereotypical" wild sexual appetites that have been listed under criteria for Bipolar, but in many,not all can occur. I have been always been the opposite, little to no sex drive.
So I do not feel all Bipolars have super sex drives but can too, maybe your meds will nix this problem, maybe just getting on a mood stabilizer and getting balance in your life will cool but not kill you appetite, it's a matter of getting on a treatment plan with your pdoc and with medication/mood stabilizer and any other med combos.
Just my 2 cents. I wish you luck with this, my oldest brother is on his 3rd marriage and it's working, he is Bipolar-I, was DXed and put on meds back in the late 60's, had rough years in the begining but has been doing fine for years. So don't give up hope.
Please take care now,
DE