Campaigns and Hubs Legacy campaigns What you need to know | Chemsex Chemsex and your mental wellbeing Chemsex can affect mental wellbeing in different ways, depending on the person, their current mental health, the drugs used, and how often it happens. Some people may feel more confident or uninhibited during chemsex. Drugs can reduce inhibitions and increase feelings of pleasure or intimacy, which can feel great in the moment. However, these feelings are usually temporary. After a session, some people may experience low mood, anxiety, irritability, or difficulty sleeping, especially during a comedown. This can be a temporary thing, which happens again only when they use drugs, however, sometimes there can be longer lasting mental health impacts. For some people, these ups and downs can begin to affect their mental wellbeing over time. Why can chemsex impact mental health? There are many reasons why chemsex can impact mental health. While everyone’s experience is different, here are some key ways chemsex can affect us mentally. It can change how you view and exprience pleasure. Drugs used during chemsex can change how the brain deals with pleasure, reward, and connection. This can make the experience of chemsex feel more intense and horny, but it can also make everyday life afterwards feel less enjoyable by comparison. Lack of sleep. Long sessions mean lack of sleep and not eating regularly. This can affect how we feel emotionally. Being awake for long periods or experiencing comedowns can increase feelings of anxiety, low mood, or paranoia. Using it to cope. For some people, chemsex can be used to deal with difficult feelings such as loneliness, stress, shame, anxiety, or past trauma. While it may provide temporary relief, these feelings can return afterwards and sometimes feel stronger. How can a comedown impact us? After chemsex, some people experience what is often called a “comedown”. This can be a physical and mental crash that can hit from 24 hours after you last used drugs and last up to 2-3 days after use, depending on the types of drugs you’ve used. You can experience things like: Anxiety Panic Feeling low Feeling emotionally drained Irritability Difficulty sleeping or sleeping for long periods Feeling disconnected Paranoia. Comedowns can vary in how intense they feel and in length. For some people they pass within a day, while for others they can last longer, especially after longer or more intense sessions. There are a few different ways to manage a comedown and ease the symptoms: Rest – lots of sleep and rest can help Drink - hydrate with water, fruit juices for a vitamin boost, or electrolyte drinks like sports drinks or coconut water to help salt and fluid levels Eat – eat nutritious foods like fruit, nuts, complex carbohydrates and lean proteins e.g. bananas help boost serotonin and pineapple can help produce melatonin for better sleep Take supplements – 5-HTP tablets can help boost serotonin levels and magnesium is good for sleep and muscle aches Look after yourself - avoid taking more drugs, hang out with trusted people, and allow time for the body to recover. There are a few things to avoid so not make your comedown feel worse: Alcohol – booze will make you more dehydrated Caffeine – coffee and caffeine drinks can increase anxiety and make headaches worse Greasy/processed food - big takeaways and friend food can upset a sensitive stomach. How can chemsex impact day-to-day life? For some people, chemsex doesn’t have any long-term affects at all, however for some, it can start to affect everyday life. This might include: Disrupted sleep Fatigue Difficulty concentrating at work or study Changes in mood or motivation Missing commitments or responsibilities Financial stress related to drug use Strain on friendships, partners, or family relationships. Sessions that last a long time can make it harder to return to a routine, especially if recovery takes several days. If you think chemsex is affecting your day-to-day life, there are small steps can help: Plan recovery time. Give yourself time to rest, rehydrate, eat, and sleep after sessions. Look after your body. Drink water, eat regularly, and take breaks. Set a routine. By doing simple key tasks and making small plans, it can ease you back into normal activities. Set boundaries. Think about limits around the time you’re giving to chemsex, to recovery, how often you do it, and how much you’re spending. By assessing it, you may decide it’s time to reduce it. Stay organised. Use reminders or calendars to manage commitments, especially for work. Communicate and stay open. Keep communication open and make time for others outside chemsex. Watch your spending. Set a budget and avoid carrying more cash than you plan to use. Consider reaching out if chemsex is regularly affecting your work, finances, relationships, or wellbeing. Our Chemsex Support Directory offers a range of support options that can fit what you need [LINK]. Can chemsex make anxiety or depression worse? Chemsex can sometimes be linked to anxiety or depression, although this will not be the case for everyone. Drug use can affect brain chemistry in ways that negatively change mood, especially with ongoing use. Comedowns, sleep, and emotional lows can contribute to ongoing feelings of anxiety or low mood. At the same time, some people may already be experiencing anxiety, depression, or stress before taking part in chemsex. In these cases, chemsex may feel like a way to cope or escape, even if it doesn’t help in the long-term. It can make these feelings feel more intense and can worsen anxiety and depression. There are certain drugs that don’t mix well with antidepressant medication (SSRIs): Cannabis: It can increase the risk of side effects, such as cough, diarrhoea, dizziness and fatigue Cocaine: It can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, which is a build-up of serotonin in the system which can cause confusion, fever, shivering, agitation, racing heart… among many other symptoms. MDMA (ecstasy): It can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome and SSRIs may also decrease the effects of MDMA. What are the signs that chemsex is affecting wellbeing? It’s important to look at your chemsex use and check in with yourself from time to time. Here are some signs that chemsex may be affecting your mental wellbeing: You're feeling low, anxious or unsettled more often You're finding it harder to enjoy things without drugs You're relying on chemsex to feel confident or to have sex You're struggling with sleep or finding and maintaining a routine You're feeling out of control or worried about your use You're avoiding people or situations outside of chemsex These experiences can happen gradually and may not always be obvious at first. We also know chemsex and mental health can both feel difficult to talk about. You may worry about being judged for your sex life or drug use, feel shame or guilt about it, you may face stigma in our own community, or feel like services don’t understand what you’re going through. That’s why finding help and support is so important. Using our Chemsex Support Directory will help you find the right kind of help that you need [LINK]. What can help improve mental wellbeing? There are different ways to look after your mental wellbeing while having chemsex. Some people find it helpful to: Set boundaries or limits around sessions Plan time to rest, eat and recover afterwards Stay connected to friends, community or support networks outside of chemsex Talk openly with trusted people about how they’re feeling Take breaks from chemsex or reduce use Seek professional support if things feel difficult Small changes can make a difference, and support is available at any stage. Where can I get support? If you’re concerned about your mental wellbeing or your relationship with chemsex, there are services that can help. This might include: Finding sexual health clinics Drug and alcohol services LGBTQ+ support organisations Mental health services You can find LGBTQ+ friendly options in our Chemsex | Help, support and treatment section [LINK]. Manage Cookie Preferences