Dating/Relationships

[Optimist]

Hey everyone,

Who amongst you have started a new relationship/had sex since you've had PSSD?

Did you tell the person you were with that you had PSSD. If so how was that experience?

Did your ED improve at all once you started a relationship or began having regular sex?

Any advice for someone who is looking to start a relationship with PSSD (specifically ED)?

One of my main barriers to trying to meet someone is that I feel like I'm lying to them.

[Snake]

Sadly I'm not able to have sex therefore I stopped dating/initiating anything since early 2017 and I'm confident to continue this way indefinitely.

[John321]

For me I was married and somehow had an understanding partner. My ED has improved a lot over the past 1 year. I don't know if it's the time that has healed it or having sex regularly. Maybe it's a combination of both. I think being in a relationship would improve things. Just my personal experience though.

[Optimist]

Sadly I'm not able to have sex therefore I stopped dating/initiating anything since early 2017 and I'm confident to continue this way indefinitely.

Even if things are not ideal, I'm happy to hear that you're finding peace snake.

[Optimist]

*Bump*

[AnhedonicApe]

The anhedonia and no emotions prevents me from having meaningfull relationships. This isn´t even only in the relation department, I don´t hang out with my friends anymore either.

[Distortion]

I don't hang out with friends either but it's a choice I made because social anxiety always made it way more stressful than fun and alcohol seems to be the only way around that so I got fed up and stopped. Even though I've never been in a relationship (thanks again anxiety you bastard) I feel as though I'm doing a lot better mentally atm, I'm seeing a nutritionist, taking a lot of recommended supplements, exercising quite a bit and soon I'll go to a pelvic floor specialist for my post void dribble.

Hope you're doing okay Anhedonic Ape.

[Optimist]

Hmm, I just remember reading a success story about someone with PSSD who is now demisexual. That he can have sex if he has an emotional connection with someone. We'll never know if we never try right? The tough part of pursuing a relationship is powering through the anhedonia and low libido. Human touch and emotional connection can go a long way.

@Distortion do you take benzos for social anxiety they help me (lorazepam 1mg once daily)

[Missano20]

I've been in several relationships since PSSD. I told two of them about it over the years and both were understanding. I'm seeing someone currently and he is well aware and determined to help fix me. He also coincidentally has sexual anhedonia himself as well as emotional numbness. I definitely feel like things improved for me at the start of our relationship but took a nose dive about 4-5 months and I'm not sure why just had a massive drop in functioning. I too consider myself demisexual at this point, although it's VERY difficult for me to form any emotional connections with anyone anymore including my friends. I know I love him more than anything, but of course with PSSD everything is muted and I can't always "feel" it. He is also aware of this.

[Optimist]

I've been in several relationships since PSSD. I told two of them about it over the years and both were understanding. I'm seeing someone currently and he is well aware and determined to help fix me. He also coincidentally has sexual anhedonia himself as well as emotional numbness. I definitely feel like things improved for me at the start of our relationship but took a nose dive about 4-5 months and I'm not sure why just had a massive drop in functioning. I too consider myself demisexual at this point, although it's VERY difficult for me to form any emotional connections with anyone anymore including my friends. I know I love him more than anything, but of course with PSSD everything is muted and I can't always "feel" it. He is also aware of this.

I'm curious then as to whether it's the initial - being with someone new (novelty, which the brain likes) - that attenuates PSSD symptoms, and that this same progress cannot be sustained over the long run.

Given that you have had partners, you must have in some way fallen in love?

From my own personal experience when it comes to an inability to form and maintain relationships with friends or romantic interests, I feel like being alone for prolonged periods of time has created a barrier that I need to break through. My ego has stepped in to protect me, which blocks me off what other people need from me, leaving me unable to be truly vulnerable and open with other people.