SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER & BIPOLAR DISORDER

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do you think im a psycho or a maniac

I have no clue. I don't know what I am. I don't think
that I qualify as schizophrenia, though sometimes it
seems like my goals are to become such. I'm pretty
damned sure I'm bi-polar, but your moods seem to
shift MUCH faster than mine. Then again, I don't trust
doctors, so I'll never get the Dx, as long as I'm careful.

But, don't you see that it doesn't matter which,
or if it's something else, or some combination,
as long as you can receive the help that you
seem to need and desire?

I think i couid have Dysthymia i related to Bi Polar a bit but never had Manic, Hypomanic or Mixed Episodes i think.



Dysthymic Disorder is characterized by chronic depression, but with less severity than a major depression. The essential symptom for dysthymic disorder is an almost daily depressed mood for at least two years, but without the necessary criteria for a major depression. Low energy, sleep or appetite disturbances and low self-esteem are usually part of the clinical picture as well. The diagnostic criteria is as follows:

On the majority of days for 2 years or more, the patient reports depressed mood or appears depressed to others for most of the day.

When depressed, the patient has 2 or more of:

Appetite decreased or increased
Sleep decreased or increased
Fatigue or low energy
Poor self-image
Reduced concentration or indecisiveness
Feels hopeless

During this 2 year period, the above symptoms are never absent longer than 2 consecutive months.

During the first 2 years of this syndrome, the patient has not had a Major Depressive Episode.

The patient has had no Manic, Hypomanic or Mixed Episodes.

The patient has never fulfilled criteria for Cyclothymic Disorder.

The disorder does not exist solely in the context of a chronic psychosis (such as Schizophrenia or Delusional Disorder) .

The symptoms are not directly caused by a general medical condition or the use of substances, including prescription medications.

The symptoms cause clinically important distress or impair work, social or personal functioning.

Specify whether

Early onset, if it begins by age 20

Late onset, if it begins at age 21 or later

The only specifier that can apply is With Atypical Features.

Associated Features:

Depressed Mood
Somatic or Sexual Dysfunction

Addiction
Anxious or Fearful or Dependent Personality
Dramatic or Erratic or Antisocial Personality

i dont think i have that

My mom has schizophenia. It was very difficult for me growing up as a child. My mom emotionally sbused me but she couldn't help it because of her illness. I have lived with my mom until I was 9 years old. When I was 9 I got taken away from my mom by the police. I was really scared!! I was then put into foster care. I was in one foster home for about 6 months. Then I was in another foster home for 3 1/2 years. After that I was adopted by a family downstate who has tons of adopted kids. I felt really lonely there because there were so many people living in one house. When I graduated from high school in 2002 I moved back to the U.P. to be close to my birthmom. I now live about 10 minutes from my birthmom. I am really afraid that I am going to get schizophinia because my mom has it. I am 24 years old and I was told that if I haven't gotten it yet then I probably won't get it, but I still really worry about getting it. My mom still hears voices a lot and I think she still sees people that aren't there. Do you guys have any advice on what I should do? You can send me a PM or e-mail me if you want too. Thanks.

Consider Complex PTSD, please. I'm type 3. Many of it's symptoms mimic BP. Even AS can mimic a lot of it, especially when you add in PTSD and you don't need to have seen war combat to get it or even a traumatic event. It's like we're prewired to get it, just due to going through life not being well understood.

Like you need to hear this, but it very possible to have the PTSD, AS and BP all rolled into one and you can even add in a little Dyslexia and I may well have just described me. I'm using a med now that has worked for possibly all three of the main. It's almost impossible to tell. They list BP and PTSD for the med, but don't even know how the damn thing works for sure. All I know is it keeps me out of the horrible depressions or at least they don't last for months and I don't need to really know a lot else. It has also helped with getting the brainrace under better control. The other symptoms that are a problem, I'm going to work through with a councilor, I hope. They don't lock you up just because you have BiPolar. They have never even suggested it and I can get about as strange as they come. But finding the right med for BP can be a freakin god send.

Here's a link from one of our members, Claradoon, for PTSD info. A simple goggle of Complex PTSD is easy and informative as well.

PTSD info

this thread is so depressing.


IM CRAZY!

I'm curious about these conditions... I think that I may well have symptoms of one of these types of conditions...

Hi there,

There's been some really positive, helpful advice listed in this thread.

It is scary to gain a diagnosis, to seem to find something inside yourself that is able to accept there is actually something going on.
Sometimes, it can feel like you're so used to wondering, and it takes so much out of you doing that, that the thought of actually having to try and accept someone else's 'formal diagnosis' can be intimidating. Not to mention, I think in alot of us, even though we know something isn't quite as we think it should be, it's easier to delude ourselves, than face the truth.
However, that rambling completed - shadexii had some excellent advice about going to a doctor.
You may wish to gain a few opinions, it never hurts, it can be confusing, yet worthwhile in the long run. If it helps you as a person feel okay with yourself and halt any self harming behaviour, then it's probably not only a smart thing to do, but important eh?

I'm BP I & PTSD (with other bits and pieces rolled in) - and like shadexii, have tried manmy prescription meds, most were not helpful for me, and self medication is not always the best road either (even though in our own minds we may like to think we know best) - give it a try mate.
If you've come this far, and lived through all the ups and downs and back to fronts, you can most likely do anything.
I wish you luck with it.

Peace