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Hello, friends. In this episode, I answer two questions related to relationships and mental health. The first tackles the subject of sex and extended lapses in intimacy in a relationship, while the second asks about mental health struggles when in a relationship accompanied by the feeling of being stuck in a pattern of thoughts like love is pain.
Question 1:
Hey Doc,
I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar 2 Disorder. I have begun medication and am feeling much better. Up until now I have been severely depressed for about 5 months.
Onto my question:
My wife and I have been together for 11 years, married for 8. We got together at 18 years old. Throughout nearly the entirety of our relationship I have struggled to provide intimately. There will occasionally be weeks where things are great between us but it always goes away. My wife is very hurt by this because she feels that I don’t find her attractive and that is why I don’t have sex with her. I love her dearly but our relationship has had more valleys than peaks. Even though I feel better on medication I still don’t feel that I have that sexual drive she desperately needs. She has said she has never felt this low before. I also stopped watching porn and masturbating for a month with no improvement.
Could Bipolar 2 explain these extended lapses in intimacy? I have been to an endocrinologist previously and my testosterone level is not to blame.
Sorry it’s a long question but I wanted to get all of the important things in there.
Question 2:
Hello, I’m 19 and I’ve been starting to realize a pattern in my life. Every time I go into a relationship, my mental health crumbles, even if the other person is the sweetest person in the world. I’ve been stuck in a pattern of feeling like love is the worst pain I’ve ever felt, and think this might be due to something undiagnosed, that I have to wait for a long while to get a diagnosis for. I really need advice, I think this is getting worse and worse, and I’m scared of how bad it might get before I can see if I actually have a mental illness contributing to this.
Episode 280 – Related Posts
As well as listening to the podcast, you can also find my thoughts on the questions in written format in these related posts!
Question 1 – Mental Health and Sex: How To Address Low Libido In Your Relationship – Duff The Psych
Question 2 – Why Do Relationships Make Me Unhappy? – Duff The Psych
Sponsor:
This episode of Hardcore Self Help is sponsored by MasterClass and Skylight Calendar.
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With a mission to connect loved ones, Skylight Calendar displays your family events on a simple, touchscreen device. Now, as a special offer, you can get $10 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to skylightframe.com/calendar and enter code HARDCORE at checkout.
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