The term ‘chemsex’ describes the use of psychoactive drugs between gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM) lasting several hours or days with multiple sexual partners. Chemsex is seen as enhancing sexual pleasure and fostering relationship growth, with shared experiences within social networks influencing participation and identity. The use of drugs facilitates emotional bonding and connection, offering affirming and sometimes transformative experiences. For many, chemsex fills a void of intimacy. This research builds on these insights, further exploring the relationship between chemsex and intimate relationships in ways that have yet to be fully examined. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the study investigates how participants define and navigate intimacy within the unique subcultural context of chemsex. Through in-depth qualitative analysis, eight participants’ subjective experiences were explored, uncovering patterns that illuminate the relational and interpersonal dimensions of chemsex. Three core themes appeared: (1) The Pressure of Intimate Relationships; where relationships, typically seen as sources of emotional support, were often described as overwhelming, enigmatic, and at times, suffocating; (2) Between Being and Nothingness; where chemsex is perceived by some as a space for temporary liberation, self-expression, and pleasure, while others experience it as destabilising, leading to loss of control and negative consequences, and (3) Seeking Acceptance; highlighting chemsex as a means of addressing deep-seated loneliness through a unique form of intimacy, albeit with ambivalent outcomes. This research contributes to the growing literature on chemsex by offering a nuanced understanding of the complex emotional and relational dynamics within these encounters. The findings highlight the dual nature of chemsex as both a source of connection and disconnection, intimacy and isolation, self-realisation and depersonalisation. These insights provide valuable recommendations for psychotherapeutic interventions aimed at supporting GBMSM engaged in chemsex, enhancing therapeutic approaches to address the specific relational and emotional needs of this population.