[NanuConfused]

I was diagnosed last year with schizoaffective depressive type and I've had a hard time meeting people with the same diagnosis. Though I took the sanity quiz and scored really high with the mania aspect, I believe I'm definitely depressive. My psychiatrist agrees. What are your experiences with the disorder?

[Travelinglady]

Maybe somebody will answer soon, NanuConfused. We have some folks here, but as you said, it's not a really common diagnosis.

[worthit]

I am schizoaffective bipolar type but my daughter thought I was depressed most of her life. So it could be that you're misdiagnosed however it is difficult to find a proper diagnosis as every psychiatrist will say something different.

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[Atypical_Disaster]

I have schizoaffective disorder too. I'm bipolar type though. It took a long time to get the correct diagnosis. For years I was diagnosed with schizophrenia because nobody caught the mood aspect until this year. It's been a long journey!

[NanuConfused]

Originally Posted by Atypical_Disaster

I have schizoaffective disorder too. I'm bipolar type though. It took a long time to get the correct diagnosis. For years I was diagnosed with schizophrenia because nobody caught the mood aspect until this year. It's been a long journey!

So does that mean the mania isn't as noticeable as if it was just bipolar?

[Atypical_Disaster]

Originally Posted by NanuConfused

So does that mean the mania isn't as noticeable as if it was just bipolar?

I have periods of remission between mood episodes that can last quite awhile(as can people with bipolar disorder). I think that's why nobody caught it for a long time. Trust me, when I'm manic it's extremely noticeable.

[Mrsmac42]

I was diagnosed about five years ago with schizoaffective depressive type. I didn't get manic periods just psychosis followed by terrible anxiety and depression.

Over the last few years there has been a bit of diagnosis creep, and my psychiatrist thinks I have major depression with psychotic features. They like their labels don't they?

[NanuConfused]

Originally Posted by Mrsmac42

I was diagnosed about five years ago with schizoaffective depressive type. I didn't get manic periods just psychosis followed by terrible anxiety and depression.

Over the last few years there has been a bit of diagnosis creep, and my psychiatrist thinks I have major depression with psychotic features. They like their labels don't they?

The labels can be so confusing! I'm not sure where one begins and another ends! lol

[TheatreKid]

Labels are tricky. Depending on who you ask, I am either bipolar with psychotic features, or schizoaffective bipolar type. My current pdoc isn't much for labels and just treats the symptoms.

[transient]

I have schizoaffective depressive type! I agree that it's hard finding people with it.

As far as experiences go, summed up, I am either depressed, semi psychotic, or transitioning from depression into psychosis and vise versa.
I spend quite a lot of time in the in-between lately. It really messes with my mindset, and my functioning, and my physical illnesses. But I do not want medication, so I have to face it the hard way.

I don't believe I have any mania aspects as my sister has mania and you can definitely tell with her. I think when I'm in a good mood I just really show it, because I'm like "yay! I'm finally feeling good and have no worries!!" and get hyper and become a jokester.

[NanuConfused]

Originally Posted by transient

I have schizoaffective depressive type! I agree that it's hard finding people with it.

As far as experiences go, summed up, I am either depressed, semi psychotic, or transitioning from depression into psychosis and vise versa.
I spend quite a lot of time in the in-between lately. It really messes with my mindset, and my functioning, and my physical illnesses. But I do not want medication, so I have to face it the hard way.

I don't believe I have any mania aspects as my sister has mania and you can definitely tell with her. I think when I'm in a good mood I just really show it, because I'm like "yay! I'm finally feeling good and have no worries!!" and get hyper and become a jokester.

I've been dealing with a lot of psychosis lately, it seems to switch seasonally with me. How come you don't want medication? Does it have to do with your physical illness?

[transient]

Originally Posted by NanuConfused

I've been dealing with a lot of psychosis lately, it seems to switch seasonally with me. How come you don't want medication? Does it have to do with your physical illness?

Yes, it's partly because of my physical illnesses. I also seem to be the rare kind of person who only experiences the side effects, most of which are negative.
In 2011 at a children's mental hospital, I was pretty much over-medicated and when those meds caused a serious health concern, I was basically medically neglected for two days. When I got out of the hospital, the meds they had me on started to cause me muscle spasms and other bad things which are irreversible. Ever since then I've been extremely adamant about any types of meds.

[Shmooey]

My previous pdoc said major depression with psychotic features, my new pdoc said today that he's thinking schizoaffective depressive type.

We'll see what evolves. I see him again in three weeks (had a med change today). I think he's right because my other pdoc said that when we got the depression under control, the psychosis would go away. Depression's been under control for six months, psychosis is bad as ever. I think they have equal power so to speak. Schizoaffective depressive sounds right to me.

I hate when they say they don't like labels. I want to know so I can learn more and see how I can help myself.

[worthit]

Exactly. ..

[Atypical_Disaster]

I hate when they say they don't like labels. I want to know so I can learn more and see how I can help myself.

This is a major pet peeve of mine.

If they don't like labels then why have a DSM at all?

So stupid. Labels have value, they've helped me to understand myself better.

[avlady]

I also agree i don't mind labels, actually they are diagnosises and i am able to study the illness and notice it in other people and know more about them and how to deal with them from my experience of it.

[worthit]

They say your are not our diagnosis. But you are. The same as you would say" I am diabetic or I am asthmatic" . You would say I am Schizoaffective. Its part of who I am, like I am a woman or man, I am a mother or a father.