[cashart10]

It was a couple years ago that I started hearing voices. It started in my headphones and advanced into any kind of speaker system. Sometimes I didn't know if it was real or in my head. However, the voices stopped and I don't think they've been back since. I know that I have some thoughts that most people don't agree with and sometimes experience paranoia but neither of the latter affect anyone else or cause me too much harm. It doesn't seem to matter but the difference is a diagnosis of bp1 with psychotic features or schizo effective. With bp1 with psychotic features I can come off of all my anti psychotics but otherwise won't be able. Anyone else struggle with their diagnosis? Any input?

[bioChE]

Why do you think you can stop APs with BP? I'd venture a guess most people with BP1 are on an AP. Especially with psychotic features.

And yes, I struggle with my diagnosis. But I've mostly given up over the years.

[vjdragonfly]

I questioned my BP at one time even asked my pdoc if it could be wrong. It is a hard pill to swallow. My pdoc answered if I wasn't BP the meds wouldn't be working and at the time I was doing fairly good. If you don't trust your dx you can always get a second opinion. I'm hoping you are able to come to terms no matter what it may be.

[LacunaCoiler]

I was diagnosed bipolar 1 with psychotic features by an actual psychiatrist, it took me some time but I've now accepted it. A psychologist ran a butt load of tests (too like 4 hrs) and came to the conclusion of schizoaffective disorder. I've never accepted that diagnoses and I still fight them to this day. My new pdoc disagrees with the schizoaffective diagnosis and agreeed with me that it's bp 1 with psychotic features. So we're on the same page there.

[cashart10]

Originally Posted by bioChE

Why do you think you can stop APs with BP? I'd venture a guess most people with BP1 are on an AP. Especially with psychotic features.

And yes, I struggle with my diagnosis. But I've mostly given up over the years.

With bp1 psychotic features, you only have symptoms during an episode so potentially a med stabilizer (except prn perhaps) alone will work.

[cashart10]

Originally Posted by vjdragonfly

I questioned my BP at one time even asked my pdoc if it could be wrong. It is a hard pill to swallow. My pdoc answered if I wasn't BP the meds wouldn't be working and at the time I was doing fairly good. If you don't trust your dx you can always get a second opinion. I'm hoping you are able to come to terms no matter what it may be.

Thank you! I have three difference opinions, the last one I'm not ever sure about but I intend to have that conversation soon. I do love my pdoc though and don't want to change.

Yeah, and I too feel my delusions do not effect others. The others disagree and I've been detained against my will for thinking things equivalent to every person attending church on Sunday. I'm a mad women they say.....all I know is I might never make it out alive if it happens again. I think my delusions are real, people disagree. They say "perhaps if you had a lot of money or were famous i would believe you" explain my life I say. Explain what has happened....all that's been robbed and stolen from me. Why people attack. Self fullfilling prophecies they say. Okay, I've read about those and I see what you're getting at, I've done it to myself. I'm too quiet so they attack. I start talking more, trying to bond. You're too loud they say and you talk too much and nobody cares. Ok, something in the middle is needed perhaps. In the middle I'm told "you're not as perfect as you think you are" I never thought I was perfect, I'm still doing it wrong. How do I win? When will they stop threatening and attacking me? Am I mentally ill and imagining all this? No they say, not all of it, just some. Then I'm not mentally ill, I'm being attacked. You're mentally ill they say, take your meds and stop being a brat. I'm done.

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by cashart10

With bp1 psychotic features, you only have symptoms during an episode so potentially a med stabilizer (except prn perhaps) alone will work.

Is this what your doctor told you? It is a logicall approach but I do not know how realistic it is.

EDIT What if it is schitzoaffectivd? Have you had psychosis only during an extreme mood swing, or did the psychosis also come when you were more stable?

[cashart10]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

Yeah, and I too feel my delusions do not effect others. The others disagree and I've been detained against my will for thinking things equivalent to every person attending church on Sunday. I'm a mad women they say.....all I know is I might never make it out alive if it happens again. I think my delusions are real, people disagree. They say "perhaps if you had a lot of money or were famous i would believe you" explain my life I say. Explain what has happened....all that's been robbed and stolen from me. Why people attack. Self fullfilling prophecies they say. Okay, I've read about those and I see what you're getting at, I've done it to myself. I'm too quiet so they attack. I start talking more, trying to bond. You're too loud they say and you talk too much and nobody cares. Ok, something in the middle is needed perhaps. In the middle I'm told "you're not as perfect as you think you are" I never thought I was perfect, I'm still doing it wrong. How do I win? When will they stop threatening and attacking me? Am I mentally ill and imagining all this? No they say, not all of it, just some. Then I'm not mentally ill, I'm being attacked. You're mentally ill they say, take your meds and stop being a brat. I'm done.

I'm so sorry! I can relate. How can a shower not be the equivalent to a baptism for instance? Same concept; same process. Why does that make me crazy? It is a vicious cycle yet my pdoc always asks if I am having those thoughts and I know exactly what she is talking about.

[Victoria'smom]

I I question whether or not I have BP with psychosis or SzA but I'm on the same amount of meds as my husband. Well he takes one more for depression and he's bp w/o psychosis. All three of us are on antipsychotics full time the only difference is the amount we take of each med. He's on more of an MS than me but I'm on a higher dose of AP then him.

[jacky8807]

Originally Posted by Tucson

Is this what your doctor told you? It is a logicall approach but I do not know how realistic it is.

*technically * BP should only have psychosis in an episode. if you prevent the episode you prevent the psychosis. mood stabilizers are suppose to prevent the episode.
but Aps also work on mood and sleep so they are the only things that keep some people stable.
it all comes down to what works for the individual in me humble opinion

[cashart10]

Originally Posted by Tucson

Is this what your doctor told you? It is a logicall approach but I do not know how realistic it is.

Yes...she told me it can sometimes determine if a mood stabilizer alone or a mood stabilizer with a lower dose seroquel will work.

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by cashart10

With bp1 psychotic features, you only have symptoms during an episode so potentially a med stabilizer (except prn perhaps) alone will work.

Originally Posted by cashart10

Yes...she told me it can sometimes determine if a mood stabilizer alone or a mood stabilizer with a lower dose seroquel will work.

This is good information to know. You now need to determine which diagnosis is correct.