PTSD & Intimacy

[blue_eyed_angel]

I am not sure if I can post here or not. I know that this is the PTSD section and I don't have PTSD. I am a carer. I just have a question that I have been pondering on for quite some time now.


Ok so here it goes...


My boyfriend suffers with PTSD which is combat related. And we are only intimate probably 2-3 times a month. I was just wondering if there is a connection between the PTSD and intimacy. :rolleyes:

If anyone has an opinion on this I would love to hear it.


Thanks!!!

 

[ebby]

Angel

I'm thinking about the possibility that the anxiety that's PTSD or the often associated depression could be associated with your boyfriend's lack of interest in intimacy. Hopefully things will pick up once he's further down the road to recovery.

I encourage you to be patient and flexible with him as he works through things. I doubt that this has anything to do with you personally. It's most likely not about you but rather about his struggle to put the things he saw and experienced into some place in his mind and beliefs about life.

Good luck!

 

[catjudo]

Is there a connection between PTSD and intimacy? Frequently. But I'm not sure there's enough information here to definitively say this is a PTSD problem.

...I recently became a carer for someone that suffers from PTSD. I am 22yrs. old and recently started dating a 36yr old OIF Veteran. I have been with him for 2 months...

How long has he had PTSD and what was his sex life like before? Maybe 2-3 times a month is normal for him. You've only known him with PTSD and have nothing pre-PTSD to compare it to. While that's not a lot, it's not that infrequently, IMO. Different people have different sexual needs. This is especially true at different times/ages in our lives.

I think the only way to get to the bottom of this is to have an open, honest conversation with him.

 

[linasmom]

Hi,

Is he on any medications? IE - anti-depressants? I can tell you that my sex drive fell through the floor when I started my meds and continues to be fairly dormant. I've tried different combinations of meds, but none seem to help with this specific side-effect. It's definitely frustrating because I want to be intimate with my hubby - but the meds make me feel like I could go the rest of my life without sex. This was not true pre-meds!!

Good luck,
Rachel

 

[blue_eyed_angel]

Catjudo:

Thank You for your input. He was diagnosed with PTSD I believe back in 2005. I am not sure what his sex life was like before me. I know that he has only ever dated women that are older than he is. I am the first younger woman that he's dated. I realize that me being 22 my sex drive would be different than someone that is 36. Not saying that sex runs our relationship nor would I want it to. He is older and at a different stage in the game. I am new with learning what PTSD is and the whole experience. I have been trying to educate myself as much as possible so that I can have somewhat of an understanding of what is going on with him. I will take your advice and have a talk with him. Thanks so much!!

 

[blue_eyed_angel]

Linasmom:

Yes, he is on anti-depressants. Actually his dosages seem really high to me. For example he takes Abilify 30MG, I believe twice a day. Which is a lot. So I guess I never really looked at the possibility of his meds being the cause of this. Thanks for your input.

 

[linasmom]

Ah! Abilify. I would bet money on the fact that the Abilify is playing a very large role in his libido.

Does he have a dual-diagnosis? Just wondering because I notice that Abilify is used primarily for Manic Depressive Disorder (though I do know that it is also used as an anti-depressant aid.)

 

[blue_eyed_angel]

-Linasmom-

I know that he has been diagnosed with PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, OCD. And he has mentioned to me I believe something about Bi-Polar disorder. I am not sure if he has been diagnosed with that or not. He is also on bupropion, paroxetine, and klonopin.

 

[void]

They are all correct. Good advice! My med's make me have near 0 libido.

 

[Deleted member 487]

Yes. Before my PTSD got this bad, I had somewhat of a sex life. Well, before my wife, anyhow. Now, nada.

 

[blue_eyed_angel]

Cactus Jack:

I just have a question:

So how does your wife deal with the no intimacy?? Just wondering...

 

[xxarmywifexx]

My DH has PTSD and depression. He has been off and on with different medications. I do notice a difference in his libido and I would have to say meds effect it a lot.

Hope this helps :)