Bizarre Withdrawal
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 10
Bizarre Withdrawal
Hello All,
Over 250 days sober, feeling happy and healthy. Question - when I would go through withdrawals after binges, I would have typical symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sweating, insomnia, etc. - the bizarre part is that my libido / drive would go through the roof. Any scientific reason to this? I read it was because my brain was dying for a release of endorphins and since I wouldn't give it alcohol, it caused a surge during the withdrawal period. Just always been odd to me that despite feeling like absolute death and pain, my libido would be through the roof...
Over 250 days sober, feeling happy and healthy. Question - when I would go through withdrawals after binges, I would have typical symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sweating, insomnia, etc. - the bizarre part is that my libido / drive would go through the roof. Any scientific reason to this? I read it was because my brain was dying for a release of endorphins and since I wouldn't give it alcohol, it caused a surge during the withdrawal period. Just always been odd to me that despite feeling like absolute death and pain, my libido would be through the roof...
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 82
For me, the increased sex drive had to do with the intense fear an anxiety of getting sober; body wanted an outlet.
Fortunately, I made a decision to follow the suggestion not to get into a relationship for 1 year, so I didn't drag that behavior into sobriety.
Things leveled out as I got honest, and I became sexually sane as well. AA....whatta deal!
Fortunately, I made a decision to follow the suggestion not to get into a relationship for 1 year, so I didn't drag that behavior into sobriety.
Things leveled out as I got honest, and I became sexually sane as well. AA....whatta deal!
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,912
Hi Wizard - welcome to SR
I had that experience, too about the sex drive and I read it from others as well occasionally here on the forum. I explained it by suddenly being released from the sedating effect of alcohol in part. The other part might be that actually the brain mechanisms that generate the libido and make sex feel rewarding are a lot of the same biological mechanisms that make alcohol feel rewarding (food as well). The mechanisms that are hijacked by prolonged heavy drinking and can turn into addiction. Like Drknz said, it's about dopamine release, and other neurochemical events. My hypothesis was that probably my brain started craving reward (and this chemical surge) in a different way as the most powerful source (alcohol) was withdrawn. Luckily I never had any problem or tendency to overindulge in sex excessively or in any harmful way, so I just enjoyed it as I was in a relationship at the time
If you feel it's problematic for you, then I would address it.
I had that experience, too about the sex drive and I read it from others as well occasionally here on the forum. I explained it by suddenly being released from the sedating effect of alcohol in part. The other part might be that actually the brain mechanisms that generate the libido and make sex feel rewarding are a lot of the same biological mechanisms that make alcohol feel rewarding (food as well). The mechanisms that are hijacked by prolonged heavy drinking and can turn into addiction. Like Drknz said, it's about dopamine release, and other neurochemical events. My hypothesis was that probably my brain started craving reward (and this chemical surge) in a different way as the most powerful source (alcohol) was withdrawn. Luckily I never had any problem or tendency to overindulge in sex excessively or in any harmful way, so I just enjoyed it as I was in a relationship at the time
If you feel it's problematic for you, then I would address it.
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