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Originally Posted by Soupe du jour
What you describe sounds like bipolar depression. I see you are dxd with schizoaffective disorder. How do you differentiate between depression and schizoaffective "negative" symptoms? Do tell your doctor how you're feeling. No one wants to feel that way.
I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 1. Not all of my episodes included psychosis, but several did. At its worst, I was usually hospitalized. Most of my psychosis included delusions (often persecutory), paranoia, hallucinations, and schizophasia, but I did have one event considered a "negative" symptom in schizophrenia. Once I experienced a brief period of catatonia (stupor type). I could not move or talk. In the hospital, I had to be pushed in a wheelchair. At its end, I had a violent outburst, which was subdued.
I've of course had severe depressive symptoms. Low/no motivation, avoidance/isolation from people and activities, loss of enjoyment in life, hypersomnia and simply not leaving bed, cessation of many self-care ADLs. My worst depressions simply made me incapable of doing most activities. I would even not go to classes or work, or sometimes even call out sick. Once, my boss and colleagues (when I lived in Taiwan) had to come and get me to leave bed to go to the hospital. I remember, also during that time, being in my bed during an earthquake and simply staying there (with the bed sliding from one side of the room to another) and falling asleep again right after. Extreme psychomotor retardation.
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Hi soupe! Thanks for sharing your story.
I have no idea how to tell between negative and depressive symptoms. All I know is that I don't feel right.

My flat feeling is slowly morphing into a depressive feeling though. I just have NO motivation or desire to do anything. In all honesty, I'm starting to feel paranoid and scared. I'm going to call my pdoc Wednesday morning before my hernia surgery (he only works Wednesdays).