Ptsd Symptoms & Healthy Active Sex Life

[Oduwa]

Just wondering..If you have an active healthy sex life does this improve ptsd symptoms or general mood at all? I know many of us have had sexually related trauma so I'm not talking about a sex life which is uncomfortable or unhealthy. I've heard that being sexually active can help emotional problems but I am wondering if it can help ptsd in particular and before after experiences in mood.

 

[Elat]

Can you explain where you are? Totally abstinent because you're nowhere near ready for intimacy? In a relationship and wanting to be healed by healthy sex? I'm just curious where you're coming from in all of this.

 

[Burej]

Sex is both my favorite grounding tool, and my favorite method of stress relief. I have a high libido, anyway... So even in long term relationships sex tends to be a daily thing for me.

((I do fit the standard 1:5 ratio. AKA Having sex 1/5th as often several years in, as in the beginning. It's not a constant thing. Starts out wicked high with a new partner, and settles into a daily thing in time. That ratio tends to hold true for most people, whether once a week turns into once a month, or daily to once a week, or several times a day to once a day.))

When I'm all triggery, though, that rate tends to kick back up to multiple times a day. When I'm isolating? It goes nil. So there is some fluctuation there, as well.

Does sex help my PTSD symptoms? Yep. Hugely. Again, because it is both so completely grounding... Being completely connected, present, & focused... And because it relieves so much stress. Conversely, I tend to go a bit sideways when I'm celibate. Other forms of exercise help bleed stress, and other forms of grounding help keep me present, but none so well or so completely.

 

[Neheh]

:giggle: Burej... the anonymous forum doesn't mask you well, my friend.

I'm like you. Anxious? Even depressed? Let's DO this. Isolating? Don't f*cking touch me.

Almost all of my trauma is sexual, and I love sex. I also find it grounding more often than not. Weird, huh? If I'm triggered during sex, I actually find it's better just to take a quick (really quick) breather, check in, and keep going. If if stops, the trigger takes over. It wins. And then I have lots and lots of shame, which totally blows, and that sticks to the whole idea of sex for sometimes weeks.

 

[Oduwa]

Thanks. Neheh makes a lot of sense that you don't let the trigger take control. It's encouraging that this helps you even with related trauma. I'm getting there and needed to know that it is possible and relevant.

 

[Zuwo]

If you have an active healthy sex life does this improve PTSD symptoms or general mood at all?

In my experience, I say yes. Yes it does help improve mood. I wouldn't say it changes PTSD in my experience or improve symptoms, but definitely helps me to reconnect with my partner, feel good for that moment with my partner and give me a much needed break on focusing so much on PTSD. Also, I do believe it of course has to be healthy sexual encounters too. PTSD sufferes so need to feel very safe and comfortable in their environment and with people. So, yeah, that is very important too!

 

[Zevu]

Totally have no idea, all I can say is that masturbation helps me feel less stressed for a while. I wish I could find someone to have sex with, lol!