POIS and bipolar disorder

[sunshine]

Hello everyone,

I don't usually post messages on forums but I can't find any answers to my problems.

I'm in my twenties, and ever since I discovered that POIS existed I've told myself straight away that I was suffering from POIS, because after every sexual encounter I'm in a lethargic state, I find it hard to be in the present moment. The next day I often have a brain fog and I've had trouble finding my words. I've rarely had any obvious physical symptoms though.

I've also been suffering from hypersexuality for several years. I often think about sex and this can even create concentration problems, even at work...

However, I wonder if I'm not bipolar too, because after sex a cycle starts for me where I'm low for 1 or 2 days, then I'm super high, (to the point where sometimes my pupils dilate as if I'd taken ecstasy no joke). Then on the third or fourth day I have uncontrollable sexual urges again (hypersexuality).

Sex is a trigger for my bipolar disorder. I don't get mood swings if I don't have sex the days before.

Having POIS is one thing, but suffering from hypersexuality and POIS is horrible because the cycle never stops. I've read that people with bipolar disorder generally suffer from hypersexuality.

Have any of you ever wondered if what you had was actually bipolar disorder instead of POIS? Or both?

This battle with myself has lasted far too long for me, I have lots of projects that I can't manage to do, despite my efforts at work or in my studies I'm not getting the results I'd hoped for.

[soulution121]

Maybe check out the characterisitcs of a sex and love addict... May help to understand a few of your symptoms

[soulution121]

Also, one of the effects of POIS has been extremely difficult mood swings and personality changes. I can become more agitated, angry, apathetic and less empathy. The worst version of myself to be honest, very narcissistic and anxiety ridden when in POIS state.

When I haven't ejaculated for months and not watched any porn I am a completely different person, more empathic, more rational, more at ease with life.

Dr Jekly Mr Hyde personality shift I call it

[RemarkableNeck]

Hi sunshine,

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with hypersexuality and POIS at the same time. I deal with something similar. It's frustrating to think that our bodies are so determined to engage in a behavior which is self destructive due to the terms of our condition.

I'm not really sure how to properly describe it, but POIS seems to cause many strange mood disorders in my case. While recovering from POIS, my mood seems to get stuck in certain states. For instance, if someone tells a funny joke and makes me laugh, I'll be stuck laughing for hours at a time (this can be extremely embarrassing because it appears as though I'm acting crazy). Conversely, if I go out in public and do something to embarrass myself, the fear and anxiety I get from that experience will seep into everything I do for hours afterwards. My mood in-general also appears to change on its own throughout the day for no apparent reason, even if unprovoked by any outside stimuli. I could spend my entire day working at home, and for a few hours I feel extremely confident and motivated followed by a few hours where I feel as though I might cry if I talk to anyone. I used to think some of the aforementioned mood symptoms were some result of a prescription medicine I was taking or from caffeine, but after doing tests completely sober for months on-end, I can conclude that all of the symptoms entirely stem from POIS.

The cycle of your symptoms sounds unusual compared to what others have reported. How do your mood and POIS symptoms intersect after the first few days post-O? Are the symptoms you described your only psychological symptoms with POIS or are they on top of others?

[gzbking]

Hello everyone,

I don't usually post messages on forums but I can't find any answers to my problems.

I'm in my twenties, and ever since I discovered that POIS existed I've told myself straight away that I was suffering from POIS, because after every sexual encounter I'm in a lethargic state, I find it hard to be in the present moment. The next day I often have a brain fog and I've had trouble finding my words. I've rarely had any obvious physical symptoms though.

I've also been suffering from hypersexuality for several years. I often think about sex and this can even create concentration problems, even at work...

However, I wonder if I'm not bipolar too, because after sex a cycle starts for me where I'm low for 1 or 2 days, then I'm super high, (to the point where sometimes my pupils dilate as if I'd taken ecstasy no joke). Then on the third or fourth day I have uncontrollable sexual urges again (hypersexuality).

Sex is a trigger for my bipolar disorder. I don't get mood swings if I don't have sex the days before.

Having POIS is one thing, but suffering from hypersexuality and POIS is horrible because the cycle never stops. I've read that people with bipolar disorder generally suffer from hypersexuality.

Have any of you ever wondered if what you had was actually bipolar disorder instead of POIS? Or both?

This battle with myself has lasted far too long for me, I have lots of projects that I can't manage to do, despite my efforts at work or in my studies I'm not getting the results I'd hoped for.

yes pois can create bipolar like symptoms although they usually resolve after you recover from pois it was the main reason i could not break the cycle for years at end although i have found a method that works for me to keep the bipolar in check and break the cycle easily i hope you find your way of dealing with it soon.

[soulution121]

I get the feeling that POIS does something to the Neocortex and limbic system and pushes the flight/fight/freeze/fawn responses. Its like everything else is shutting down but the reptilian part of the brain being on super alert.

This mood swing has nearly destroyed my life twice!

We will persevere!

[sunshine]

Hi sunshine,

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with hypersexuality and POIS at the same time. I deal with something similar. It's frustrating to think that our bodies are so determined to engage in a behavior which is self destructive due to the terms of our condition.

I'm not really sure how to properly describe it, but POIS seems to cause many strange mood disorders in my case. While recovering from POIS, my mood seems to get stuck in certain states. For instance, if someone tells a funny joke and makes me laugh, I'll be stuck laughing for hours at a time (this can be extremely embarrassing because it appears as though I'm acting crazy). Conversely, if I go out in public and do something to embarrass myself, the fear and anxiety I get from that experience will seep into everything I do for hours afterwards. My mood in-general also appears to change on its own throughout the day for no apparent reason, even if unprovoked by any outside stimuli. I could spend my entire day working at home, and for a few hours I feel extremely confident and motivated followed by a few hours where I feel as though I might cry if I talk to anyone. I used to think some of the aforementioned mood symptoms were some result of a prescription medicine I was taking or from caffeine, but after doing tests completely sober for months on-end, I can conclude that all of the symptoms entirely stem from POIS.

The cycle of your symptoms sounds unusual compared to what others have reported. How do your mood and POIS symptoms intersect after the first few days post-O? Are the symptoms you described your only psychological symptoms with POIS or are they on top of others?

Thank you for your message and for sharing.

I sincerely hope that you will also find a way to get better, the hardest thing about POIS is that it's super difficult to talk about it to those around you like a normally sick person.

Your case is a bit similar to mine in that I also get stuck on certain emotions during mood ups and downs.

To come back to hypersexuality, it's very hard on a daily life, what would be the worst thing for a student with an important oral? Having a POIS on the big day. That's the kind of problem I'm facing and I can't control myself, or only with great difficulty.

On top of all the problems I have insomnia between the first and second day, I also have a lot of guilt.

There's a fine line between a form of bipolar disorder and having POIS, but the difficulty in knowing is that I no longer have the physical symptoms of POIS after 3 days, whereas my mood swings can last up to a week.

That's what makes me think I'd have both, the POIS and the bipolar (in addition to the hypersexuality found in bipolars).

I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but I'm hypersensitive (my emotions are multiplied).

Don't hesitate to send me a private message to discuss, and if you know of a way to break the infernal cycle, don't hesitate to share your experience in private or on this post.

Thanks.

[sunshine]

Hello everyone,

I don't usually post messages on forums but I can't find any answers to my problems.

I'm in my twenties, and ever since I discovered that POIS existed I've told myself straight away that I was suffering from POIS, because after every sexual encounter I'm in a lethargic state, I find it hard to be in the present moment. The next day I often have a brain fog and I've had trouble finding my words. I've rarely had any obvious physical symptoms though.

I've also been suffering from hypersexuality for several years. I often think about sex and this can even create concentration problems, even at work...

However, I wonder if I'm not bipolar too, because after sex a cycle starts for me where I'm low for 1 or 2 days, then I'm super high, (to the point where sometimes my pupils dilate as if I'd taken ecstasy no joke). Then on the third or fourth day I have uncontrollable sexual urges again (hypersexuality).

Sex is a trigger for my bipolar disorder. I don't get mood swings if I don't have sex the days before.

Having POIS is one thing, but suffering from hypersexuality and POIS is horrible because the cycle never stops. I've read that people with bipolar disorder generally suffer from hypersexuality.

Have any of you ever wondered if what you had was actually bipolar disorder instead of POIS? Or both?

This battle with myself has lasted far too long for me, I have lots of projects that I can't manage to do, despite my efforts at work or in my studies I'm not getting the results I'd hoped for.

yes pois can create bipolar like symptoms although they usually resolve after you recover from pois it was the main reason i could not break the cycle for years at end although i have found a method that works for me to keep the bipolar in check and break the cycle easily i hope you find your way of dealing with it soon.

Thanks for your message! What's your method for breaking the infernal cycle?

To stop thinking about sex I take cold showers, I do sport, it's help but unfortunately it's not always enough (and of course it doesn't take anything away from the POIS).

I've tried to treat the POIS with injaculation but I can't always do it, but when I do it helps, or else with loratadine (10mg). I have the impression that it helps a little but not a lot. I've only been taking the treatment for a few weeks and I'm not getting enough distance.

I replied above to another answer, I give a little more information.

[Progecitor]

Besides a low serotonin level there are also indications that you could be high on dopamine.
Another member had similar problems with his pupils:
https://poiscenter.com/forums/index.php?topic=2542.msg36896#msg36896
He also had an elevated level of homovanillic acid (HVA), which is a dopamine metabolite.
https://poiscenter.com/forums/index.php?topic=2684.msg36066#msg36066
https://poiscenter.com/forums/index.php?topic=2301.msg35866#msg35866

Elevated dopaminergic signaling has been already identified to be involved in bipolar disorder.

Chronic Carbamazepine Administration Attenuates Dopamine D2-like Receptor-Initiated Signaling via Arachidonic Acid in Rat Brain
Observations that dopaminergic antagonists are beneficial in bipolar disorder and that dopaminergic agonists can produce mania suggest that bipolar disorder involves excessive dopaminergic transmission. Thus, mood stabilizers used to treat the disease might act in part by downregulating dopaminergic transmission. In agreement, we reported that dopamine D2-like receptor mediated signaling involving arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n?6) was downregulated in rats chronically treated with lithium.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11064-008-9595-y

The occurrence of psychosis has been related to: a) increased central dopamine levels, associated with the intake of most of these substances, including novel psychedelic phenethylamines, synthetic cathinones and 4,4'-DMAR; b) cannabinoid CB1 receptor activation, achieved with synthetic cannabimimetics; c) 5-HT2A receptor activation, reported with NBOMe compounds, latest tryptamine derivatives, lefetamine derivatives, DXM and hallucinogenic plants; d) antagonist activity at NMDA receptors, described with phencyclidine-like dissociatives; and e) k-opioid receptor activation, typically associated with Salvia divinorum intake.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wps.20174

Normally 5HT2A receptors mediates the action at the dopamine neuron, acting as a ‘‘brake’’ of dopamine release, via either direct connection between the serotonin neuron or an indirect connection with a gamma-aminobutyric acid interneuron.
https://sci-hub.se/https://journals.lww.com/jonmd/Abstract/2011/12000/Risperidone_and_Lorazepam_Concomitant_Use_in.15.aspx

5-HT2A receptors and 5-HT2C receptors exert opposite effects on dopamine release. Evidence has been provided that 5-HT2C receptors inhibit dopamine pathways and that 5-HT2A receptors enhance dopamine release.
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.972.6802&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Some authors understand serotonin syndrome as a consequence of excessive activation of 5-HT2A receptors. The available evidence supports the view that activation of these receptors is associated with hyperthermia, while inhibition of the same favors hypothermia.
The activation of 5-HT2C inhibits neurotransmitter (dopamine) release, thus reducing dopaminergic inhibition of the NRP and increasing activation of sympathetic structures. The activation of 5-HT2C thus inhibits vagal activity and favors hyperthermia. Antagonism (5-HT2C inhibition) is, however, apparently not so sufficient as to induce hypothermia.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/6/3365/htm

It seems clear that SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction involves stimulation of the 5HT-2C receptor.
SSRIs could cause serotonergically mediated inhibition of dopaminergic neurotransmission, however. Dopaminergic neurotransmission has been shown to have a facilitating effect on sexual behavior. Consistent with this hypothesis is the observation that bupropion has a positive effect on sexual function and the anecdotal reports that dopaminergic agents, such as amphetamines, reverse SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction.
https://sci-hub.se/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094014307000717

Flibanserin is classed as a postsynaptic serotonin-1A receptor agonist and serotonin-2A antagonist. There are other properties of flibanserin that elicit moderate agonist activities at the serotonin-2B, serotonin-2C, and dopamine D4 receptors.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ryan-Anderson-20/publication/322895750_Ignorance_Is_Not_Bliss_If_We_Don%27t_Understand_Hypoactive_Sexual_Desire_Disorder_How_Can_Flibanserin_Treat_It_Commentary/links/5ab0e0a30f7e9b4897c23c3d/Ignorance-Is-Not-Bliss-If-We-Dont-Understand-Hypoactive-Sexual-Desire-Disorder-How-Can-Flibanserin-Treat-It-Commentary.pdf

Flibanserin in POIS treatment.
https://poiscenter.com/forums/index.php?topic=3551.msg45723#msg45723

Men affected by Parkinson’s disease (which is characterized by the alteration of central dopaminergic system) show frequent alterations of their sexual activities (e.g., hypersexuality and compulsive sexual behavior, sexual behavior with underlying sexual dysfunction or restless genital syndrome, erectile dysfunction and decreased libido) suggesting that dopamine should have a role in men similar to that demonstrated in animal models. Nitric oxide (NO) is controlling, at the level of the spinal cord, ejaculation and also oxytocin is implicated in this control.
Administration of L-DOPA or dopamine receptors’ agonist facilitates male rat sexual behavior (stimulating ejaculation and decreasing latency), whereas administration of dopamine receptor antagonist inhibits sexual behavior and reduces premature ejaculation in man.
The mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons are chiefly under the control of testosterone (T) via ARs or, to a minor extent, estradiol via ERbeta. The hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons are chiefly under the control of ERalpha, and dopamine may cooperate with the kisspeptin system, but in a still unknown way.
Orchidectomy produces an increase of intracellular dopamine content coupled with a decrease in its release, due to the lack of NOS production mediated by the decrease in testosterone levels.
Indeed, as demonstrated in animal models, finasteride treatment was able to impair the signaling of dopamine (i.e., that is involved in the regulation of sex drive, as described above).
Indeed, dopamine is the neurotransmitter involved in the major pathways of sexual behavior, such as sexual motivation, erection and ejaculation, reward and motor functions. Dopamine is under the inhibitory tone of serotonin, whereas neuroactive steroids integrate, among the others, peripheral and central stimuli to control dopamine circuits.
https://sci-hub.se/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12020-018-1593-5

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating dopamine and glutamate neurotransmission. It was found that patients with bipolar disorder had lower GABA levels, which results in excitotoxicity and can cause apoptosis (cell loss). Carbamazepine does decrease levels of the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) in the CSF of affectively ill patients following probenecid administration, consistent with its ability to decrease dopamine turnover in animals.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Getinet-Ayano/publication/309686057_Bipolar_Disorders_and_Carbamazepine_Pharmacokinetics_Pharmacodynamics_Therapeutic_Effects_and_Indications_of_Carbamazepine_Review_of_Articles/links/586b873908ae329d6211f317/Bipolar-Disorders-and-Carbamazepine-Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacodynamics-Therapeutic-Effects-and-Indications-of-Carbamazepine-Review-of-Articles.pdf

[demografx]

…We will persevere!

That’s the Spirit!