Hypersexuality

My last diagnosis was schizoaffective, and i was pretty sure I had the depressive subtype, although recently I have been researching mania online and am considering whether I actually have the bipolar subtype.

The most overt symptom I have seems to be extreme hypersexuality. I am not actually engaging in any risky sexual activities though, but i am constantly focused on my own body. I have also been staying up very late at night, and i recently took a mania online test and it scored me as manic.

I wonder whether the fact that my antidepressant has been increased could have caused these symptoms?
I also wonder whether I should tell my psych about the hypersexuality even though it's embarassing?

Very common. I would discuss your mania symptoms. Don't have to bring up anything sexual if it's uncomfortable. Anti-depressants may cause mania if you have bipolar or bipolar type schizoaffective. You may want to talk to your pdoc about a med change if this is the case. A mood stabilizer, antipsychotic, and benzodiazepene can be helpful. Anti-depressants may be harmful. (All of this is just what I've heard so ask your pdoc about it)

I agree with what the other poster said. I am Bipolar 1/psychotic features. I CAN NOT take any anti-depressant under any circumstance. The tiniest dose= instamanic. Wellbutrin is supposed to be ok for some. I thought it was fun, personally. It caused hypersexuality. Honestly, I was mad when they took it away. Lol. (That happened during a 2 week hospitalization. My main memories of that one are injections and all out brawls with the staff).
Abilify (atypical antipsychotic) "abilified" my sex and shopping as i like to say (does this to some, not others).
My ex is schizoaffective. He would have hypersexual sprees. His thing would be blowing mass quantities of cash on escorts. Calling lavalife. Staring at girls on live.me for hours. He never hid any of it from me. Not even remotely. Honestly, it never phased me. I understood it for what it was. I had an on again/off again sex thing with someone else. My ex knew and it did not bother him.
He was more off meds than on meds but every time he would get locked up in the psych ward and forcibly medicated he would get hypersexual. He once suggested i give him a blowjob in the day room of the psych ward. He was completely serious. He did not think anyone would notice. Another time, he thought we should have sex across from the projects in Brooklyn. At a busy intersection. Right there. He did not think anyone would notice that time either.
I understand sexual topics can be embarassing and hard to discuss. That said, any psychiatrist who has ever dealt with bipolar/schizoaffective patients knows that hypersexuality happens. They have heard/seen it all. And it's not their business to judge. They write prescriptions. Furthermore, you don't have to divulge any details. Telling them you're hypersexual will suffice. Saying you're manic will work also. You'll end with the same meds most likely. But seriously, don't feel embarassed. I have a lot of bipolar/schizoaffective friends. Every last one of them has had hypersexual sprees. It's pretty normal, just maybe not necessarily the thing people mention.

It's pretty normal, just maybe not necessarily the thing people mention.

Yeah, I don't mention it in detail but to the therapist I admitted this. She seemed surprised. I took years, like over 5 years, to mention this. I didn't have to, but I decided I wanted her to know. Now when heavily medicated, it seems like it isn't such a strong symptom. But it's still there at different times. Manic or not. Hypomanic or not, it can show up. Regular people who don't feel this can't understand.

Same for me. I was diagnosed Bipolar after my anti-depressant made me incredibly manic for a few months. I struggle with hypersexuality. I actually do engage in risky behavior, but thankfully have avoided any serious repercussions from it. A few weeks ago all I could think about was sex and it lasted a week. I take a medication that prevents contracting HIV for times like this. Thankfully I am able to talk to my T and pdoc about this... they do not judge me. What helped me was building awareness, which can be done in the early stages of mania.

Talk to you Dr about it. It might help to write down a list of your experiences (mine would be hypersexuality, irritability, pressured speech etc) and bring it into your next session. Good luck!

Thanks for everyone's help guys. I might bring it up at my next session and see what my pdoc says about it.