Do you ever have a dream in which something terrible happens and then wake up feeling relieved that it's only a dream - but subsequently truly awaken from this secondary state to find that the "dream" is in fact reality?

Losing touch with reality is one of the hallmarks of schizoaffective disorder.

Sometimes, during the course of a normal day, reality seems to change in very subtle ways. Words and figures on a printed page change back and forth several times, sabotaging reference books and timetables and making travel arrangements almost impossible.

It is the mind which is playing tricks of course - but it is really annoying to have to double, triple, quadruple and quintuple check every decision one makes.

Anti-psychotics help - but the problem is still there unfortunately.