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Posted 11/3/2006 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi.  I'm new here.  Was diagnosed with BP about 5 years ago, but only began actively treating it about 6 months ago.  I was originally diagnosed as BP1 with GAD, OCD, BPD, and Social Anxiety.  I have been struggling with pdocs, and recently went to one who told me I am schizoaffective.  I do have auditory halliucinations, and I do have a lot of paranoia.  However, I thought the psychosis covered the auditory issues, and the paranoia was just a part of the anxiety.

Can some of you please share your stories, knowledge and/or thoughts on this?

Thank you,

M

Posted 11/3/2006 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi M --

I *think* I'm right in saying that the differentiation between bp, schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia is down to the timing of the delusions and/or hallucinations. If they occur only during a depressive or manic episode; if the delusions and/or hallucinations come on before your mood swings and continue after your symptoms of a depressive or manic episode have passed, then schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder are more likely diagnoses (schizoaffective disorder being a kind of mix of schizophrenia and mood disorder).

Paranoia is often part of an anxiety disorder, but anxiety is often a part of bp, so I'm guessing the same goes for schizoaffective disorder.

If I were you I would really get that pdoc to talk to you properly about why he/she thinks you have schizoaffective disorder rather than bipolar disorder. -- I am a great believer in the necessity for docs to explain their diagnoses and treatments -- after all, it's *your* body, not the docs and you have to look after it when you're out of his/her office, so the more you know about what you have to help it with the better.

All best,
Rosie x
Posted 11/30/2006 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I was diagnosed first as bipolar and then a few years later schizoaffective. My mother had the same. I am doing very well on my medication regime now. I just had my colon removed 3 weeks ago and the most hell was severe pschosis for 13 days in the hospital. I was a living hell. I have been okay again since I am out of the hospital for one week and am back to fully normal. It is critical for me to have a good relationship with my doctor and my medications. I was a psychiatric case manager for 21 years and understand this illness. I hope you are doing better now. I hope you use the many resources out there. I do not know what state you are in but I am in s.c.Please take it slow and know that there is alot of hope with this illness.
Posted 11/30/2006 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
I have more than passing understanding of the DSM-IV and diagnoses of things. My biggest concern is that there are so many diagnoses here. The symptoms of these overlap each other significantly. I doubt that there are many practitioners who could sort this out properly. If you are still being told you have all of these things concurrently, I think you are over-diagnosed.

The other thing about auditory hallucinations...it is hard to sort out the malicious voices of a disorder versus the controlling voices that we all have. Questions have to be carefully asked. I once told a psychologist that I had silenced these control voices with therapy. He went ballistic about my hearing "voices" which has never happened to me! I explained the difference and he settled down and said he had misunderstood. You'll hear lots of people here talk about "negative feelings" that they "listen to." These are not auditory hallucinations and I think only you can decipher what is the case.

I don't know, before I dig myself in too deeply, it is a confused and overlapping picture and it has me confused and frankly, upset for you. Everything you mention is a serious labeling of you. The ramifications for you of having any one of these things are significant, let alone having all of them! A diagnosis is important, but a label is counterproductive. This goes against my grain.

Let us know what progresses.
Posted 11/30/2006 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi lady dragonfly. I do not know if you were referring to me having too many overlapping diagnoses. If so, I want to make it clear that it took a few years to be properly diagnosed to schizoaffective disorder, I am not bipolar also. You have alot of good advise and I hope we get to talk sometime. I am doing very well and am so grateful.
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