The Sexual Complexities

As you’ll read – the veteran story in this article is one of increased sexual desire since discharge.

When I asked one of my interviewees how PTSD has affected his interest in sexual activities, he shared the following insight: his previous role within a very high risk environment has heightened his desire for constant adrenaline and thrill, which resulted in much greater desire than ever before.

Interestingly, during flashbacks, he finds that masturbation provides a sense of relief and satisfaction that other activities can’t match, despite signing up for various activities like skydiving, extreme endurance races and other adrenaline rich situations. As you can see this indicates a very complex relationship between his PTSD symptoms and sexual release, where intense physical activities and pushing pain barriers offer a similar but not equal satisfaction.

Symptoms and Sexual Function
This particular veteran tells me he is aware of no obvious dysfunction or negative side effects on his sexual function from PTSD. The feature of increased need for sexual release is not a problem for him in his life however at times it causes issues within his relationship as his wife is not as interested in sex of this style on this regular frequency. I see this fairly often with couples in this situation, it might not be a problem for one party within the relationship however when discussing what’s going on with the spouse it can be a major issue.

(Communication is key in all these things of course but it’s not the focus for this article – keep an eye out for that one…)

Instead, he experiences hyperalertness, hyperawareness, and hypersensitivity, particularly to smells, which can be quite significant triggers. His experiences whilst being in the military, have heightened his sensory responses, which can pose either a negative or positive impact on his sexual wellness depending on what’s been the trigger.

Medication and Its Effects
Interestingly, this veteran has never taken medication for his mental health conditions, instead navigating things on his own until the last few years when he sought professional support from a Psychologist. In interviews with other veterans there have been numerous disclosures about erectile dysfunction, low libido and various other physical and psychological impacts to sexual wellness.

Conclusion
This brief article barely scrapes the surface for what goes on for individuals and couples when PTSD is also entering a relationship. Understanding these personal nuances can guide more tailored and effective support for veterans navigating similar challenges which are integral to recovery or if your preferred choice of phrase is learning to navigate Post Traumatic Growth.