I have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. I don't think I have that much bipolar though because I don't have the dangerous parts of mania. I do get grandiose delusions with my mania though. So, I guess that alone would make the jump from hypomania to a full blown manic episode. I had to take on big projects, hyper produce, I talked a mile a minute, racing thoughts, more energy (but not much more due to my pills making me tired), and think I would single handed change the world for the positive. Like I was on a mission to save the world. Also I was thinking my art was going to be the next big thing and thought I would literally make a $100 million a year. This is also how I got into public speaking. If it wasn't for that manic episode, I would still fear public speaking. It caused me to get into Toastmasters and speak at autism conferences. I want to speak at mental health conferences as well. Yeah, schizoaffective disorder is NOT a mood disorder. It is classified as a psychotic disorder much like schizophrenia. It is basically schizophrenia and a mood disorder combined. I think when the DSM 5 comes out then I wouldn't be able to fit the criteria for schizoaffective anymore. My hallucinations are not that bad and I hardly ever hear voices only some episodes I do. For example I went into the hospital because of a psychotic break and I didn't hear voices until for some reason I went out of the hospital. I actually got worse for a few weeks after the hospital. Even then the voices were mainly whispers and people threatening me. I am still able to talk to people in the psychotic episode but sometimes I would speak gibberish. Otherwise, it doesn't affect my socialization. I am very interested in talking to people and I love making friends even though its hard. I have 3 friends that are like best friends. I talk to them all the time. The main reason why I have these friends is because they have mental health issues as well and one of them has schizoaffective disorder. My friend with schizoaffective disorder is very friendly. He also is very funny. He isn't violent except sometimes toward himself, much like me.