Hyper Sexuality DIsorder?

Question

Hi, I am asking for a friend because she is too embarrassed to ask. She has Bi polar 1 with rapid cycles and also suffers from HSD, she is taking med's for the Bi Polar but her symptoms for HSD are getting worse, when she was first diagnosed and medicated she was normal again but recently her 'cravings' are getting out of control. Does anyone have any advice, she feels she is going crazy

Answer 1

As a therapist and as someone who struggles with bipolar disorder, I can say that it sounds like this is part of a manic episode. I suggest that she contact her doctor because she likely needs her meds adjusted, I know this is what I needed when I became hypersexual.

Answer 2

I have worked in mental health for 20 years, and I never heard of a disorder called "Hyper Sexuality DIsorder." There is no such disorder in the DSM-IV, the recognized manual on psychiatric disorders in the USA.

However, inappropriate sexual acting out can be part of several psychiatric disorders, especially the manic phase of Bipolar DIsorder.
She needs to talk to her doctor about her sexual feelings. The doctor is there to help her and she should not feel embarassed about talking about that--it is a recognized component of Bipolar Disorder and the doctor should know about her behavior in order treat her adequately. Maybe a different medication needs to be tried or her dosage needs to changed. She isn't doing herself any good by not discussing this with her doctor.
If there is something called HSD outside of the USA, I really don't know. But regardless of what you call her behavior, she should not be ashamed to talk to her doctor.