bipolar and bdsm

I had a resent revelation about my bdsm fetish, I believe it comes from childhood. Certain memories have been recalled from earlier than 12 years old. Using bondage to masturbate possibly because of the guilt from being sexual..I have struggled to over come this for years, with no luck. I am dx with bipolar and have asked my t if it could be a symptom of that, she said one might feed the other but no real connection...my question is two part.. is BDSM a mental disease, and is it linked to bipolar..
I am especially interested in any bdsmer that is bipolar...

BDSM when done properly is a lifestyle or a kink, but NOT a mental disorder. I love indulging in it, but I don't feel it's linked to my bipolar.

i dont think the two are linked. i do think its more of a life style choice. i am bi polar, i do like things rough but its not something i associate with being bipolar.

i do have violent thoughts, thoughts of torture, self harm, and rape, but those do not fall into sexual pleasure, even the rape ones.

it is my total sexuality, I did not chose to live this way, it puts a barrier up in my marriage, believe me if I could be different I would. it has caused me to become totally asexual.

I am bipolar all the way. But not into BDSM at all. I might grab my wife's hair sometimes, or throw her on the bed, but that is about as rough as it gets for me.
I can see the attraction though. Bipolar people seem to crave intensity, and BDSM might be one of those extreme fixes for some people.

I'm only into mild kink in this department but agree that there is something about intensity that is compelling.

I'm bipolar and I like BDSM. I agree with pawn78 about the intensity. I like anything intense, whether that's intensely good or intensely whatever. I think my need for intensity is part of my bipolar, and mixing a little pain etc in with sex helps amp things up. But I don't think there is anything wrong with some power play etc as long as both people are into it.

I am very sorry if you feel I am belittling your post (that is not at all my intention) but I wanted to share because I thought it was hilarious. You see, I have never heard of bdsm (and still have no idea what it stands for) and when I saw the post I googled it then clicked images. LOL, not that bdsm is funny but my naivety is funny. That wasn't what I expected to see. I feel so clueless. How am I 31 years old and still don't know about these things? But no, I don't think it is a mental disorder and I could see how a mild version (for me) would be attractive.

I am not sure if it is related to bipolar but I DEFINITELY understand where you are coming from about early sexual experiences. I have at times had enormous senses of guilt and shame in my sexual relationships and at times when a partner has used some sort of restraint on me I have felt like it is "acceptable" to enjoy the sex. This goes right back to when I was 15 and my first proper girlfriend handcuffed me to my best friend's bed while we made out.

However I have worked out that the root cause of this is that when I was 10 I was sexually assaulted by three of my classmates and my pants were pulled down, but fortunately I fought them off before they got any further. However my best friend was then assaulted in front of me while other classmates held me down and laughed, and he had his clothes taken off him and was sexually molested.

This, I am certain, is the root cause of the guilt and shame that I have carried ever since around sexuality, which has only begun to slowly reduce since I have had a long-term stable relationship with a loving partner. However it does at times reassert itself, particularly as I have come into contact (not literally) with sexual offenders in later life -- a friend's boyfriend; my first platoon sergeant in the army; my grandfather on my mother's side.

I think in a mutually supportive relationship there is nothing wrong with bdsm. I don't want to judge how far or what kind, but if both people are interested in trying it out as a fantasy then so what? Most of the people who decry sexuality are the very ones who like dressing up like maids and doing someone's vaccuming for them while wearing women's underwear. Most of them seem to be politicians for some reason...

BDSM is definitely not a mental illness.

It can be so good.

Since I was a teen I have had a sexual fetish for cross dressing that has caused both joy and sadness in my life. My current Wife did not know when we met that I crossdressed. She found out. Luckily for me She is understanding and proved to be creative in finding a way for us to do this together. Whatever your kink is the opportunity to experience it is valuable. For me it is two sided. Letting go and allowing someone else to "write the screenplay" is cathartic for me.
Having my partner "under my control" yet seeing the trust in her eyes makes me feel powerful, but also brings waves of love for her, all over me. Her submission is a gift not a given.

This is some of the problems with BDSM and bi polar.

It can be damaging to you and others if you engage in BDSM while in a hypomanic or manic state.

Never play with someone you don't know. Be wary of so called "Doms or, in your case I think Dommes? " who are looking to exploit people for money, and selfish sexual gratification. Im sure these so called true practitioners would say that a submissive should give themselves with no thought of their own needs or desires. I personally think Submissive or Dominant; it is essential to the experience if both parties benefit from the interaction.

When manic I personally will go from a Man/Husband with a fetish and a love for kink to this sexually depraved being who thinks looking for anonymous sex is an acceptable pastime. The effects and fallout from this kind of behavior can be devastating. This is an example of how BDSM can turn to self destructive behavior.

Good Luck, Don't rush into anything, learn from the community, Dominant or Submissive you still have control of your body and mind.

thanks everyone !!! we seem to saying it is not an illness, that it can be pleasurable , but very dangerous when manic or even self destructive...ok I agree, but if it controls your thoughts how do you handle that..how do you change a lifetime...this on top of bp ?

If it controls your thoughts then I would consider that an obsession? I'm not sure..
Sometimes all we need to remove an obsession is to dive in and experience. Often the vision and the reality do not match.
On the other hand you may find out what lights your wick.
As long as you are not hurting anyone ( I don't mean whipping, choking, binding or humiliating a consensual play mate. ) what harm can there be in exploring your thoughts?

my pdoc has this thing she says...
it doesnt matter whats its called but its only a disorder if its causing dis-order to yourself or others.
if everyones into it then it doesnt matter