[Icare dixit]

If you could choose between anxiety and psychosis, neuroticism and psychoticism, the psychosis being affective or non-affective, or just more of one and less of another, which one would you choose?

I don't know. I seem to choose psychosis unwittingly, to some extent, maybe not. But anxiety can be overcome and psychosis I'm not so sure about.

I just don't want it to be chronic. But if it is, you aren't aware, so without anxiety, it would be just fine. Rather lonely, not making much sense, but fine.

If it's a gradual worsening of psychoticism and psychosis. Purely neurodevelopmental.

I'd rather it be (mostly) affective.

Truthfully i prefer none of it. Yet i would not do psychosis, i would endure and overcome the anxiety only because that is me. everyone is different. blessings

Probably anxiety. That is a tough one! Anxiety makes me feel like I will die and psychosis tries to actually kill me.

Anxiety. I have the skills and healthy coping skills to get through the anxiety without meds.

[raspberrytorte]

I'd choose psychosis.

Anxiety is an all the time, horrible thing. At least you don't know you're psychotic when you are and it's not all the time (for me anyway).

Though... what anxiety has going for it is that you know you're just anxious and when you're psychotic things can be scary and you don't know they're not real so there's really no reason to be afraid. Though there probably really is because it really is real regardless of whether or not you notice it.

[MusicLover82]

Anxiety. I can hide my anxiety usually, even if it is severe. I wouldn't be able to hide psychosis at work and I would be too afraid of losing control. I love my job too much to show MI at work, and risk losing my job, too. I'm a private music teacher, BTW. I have to be responsible and "together" at all times so parents can know they can trust me with their kids.

[~Christina]

Anxiety .....I do have some control over it. Sometimes it's hellish, sure.

Psychosis? Its unpredictable I could hurt myself or even worse loved ones.

I am already neurotic as heck. So anxiety.

[BipolaRNurse]

I've experienced both, so I'd have to say anxiety. At least that's a known quantity, and I know how to deal with it (thank you benzos and deep-breathing exercises).

[Crazy Hitch]

Neither.

My extreme anxiety at work 2 years ago eventually lead to mania (lack of sleep was the ultimate trigger) which lead to psychosis. The two are intertwined for me.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

Neither.

My extreme anxiety at work 2 years ago eventually lead to mania (lack of sleep was the ultimate trigger) which lead to psychosis. The two are intertwined for me.

I strongly believe it is for everyone. It's just reaching a breaking point quickly and the extent of psychosis that may make the anxiety less severe. How easily anxiety gives way to perceptual changes. But the consequences may of course be worse in the long term. As I believe, the more gradual the rise in anxiety, the greater the flexibility and attenuation of anxiety by psychosis, and the more affective the psychosis.

A balance is very likely best, it seems to me. It often is, of course. You don't want SZ apathy and avolition or only BP dysphoric mania or agitated depression or a mixed state with anxiety between episodes or continuously.

Edit:
A purely affective psychosis or a purely non-affective psychosis might be best though. A combination is likely to cause a mixed state, I think.