[Hobbit House]

I was just wondering why there are so few posts on this forum, because it definitely is an illness of it's own. I can relate to some of the bipolar threads, as I am so often in a depressed state of mind. For the most part I can't relate to the schizophrenic posts because hallucinations are not a constant issue. All of the schizoaffective posts I have been able to relate to well. Do people with this illness mainly post on other forums, or is this illness more rare than others? I know sometimes I find it difficult to connect with others - could this be the issue?
-Laura

[krisakira]

I think it might be more rare. I feel like I don't fit in with bipolar or schizophrenia sections either...

[Hobbit House]

thanks for understanding where I'm coming from and hope you are doing well. Sometimes I will complain about symptoms of my illness and my doctor will say something to the effect that there are some symptoms that medication just isn't going to take away... that I just have to accept as part of my illness and cope with it as best I can. I think this concerns mostly my difficulty with being unsure of how to perceive things - sometimes I'm right on target and other times way off! Usually if, for example, I find out that one person is lying to me, then I'll think that that person is lying all the time. I can't differenciate. Is this a problem for you, as well? Can you tell me what medications you are on? Mine aren't working real well these days. We moved recently and changes/stressors tend to mess things up a little for me.

[worthit]

My doctor says because we can't go on a higher dosage it looks like I will be the type that will always have symptoms through medication. It doesn't bother me, I'm used to it. I'm actually used to worse since this is the first time I've been on medication in decades of being sick. I only started seeking help five years ago. It's been a big difference in my life. I think schizoaffective is very complicated and I do identify with the bipolars because of the mania side of my illness. But I also participate in schizophrenics synonymous and that helps me as well

[Atypical_Disaster]

I don't post here often because I can't relate to most of the posters here even though I'm diagnosed with schizoaffective. My main issue has always been psychosis rather than mood so I post in the schizophrenia/psychosis board. I go for very long periods of time without having mood symptoms at all.

[cokes]

It is hard posting, that is why I don't post much. I don't trust real life people and don't trust cyber people either. I'm not depressed, I'm quite good right now, but the paranoia always haunts me & I won't post unless compelled to ( I always wonder why the section is quiet too but I never post, lol)

[Snoopysmom]

I don't because I only know how to reply not to post. Can some one help plz!!!!

I think schizoaffective is not often as diagnosed or understood, as opposed to schizophrenia or mood disorders.

[newtus]

my diagnosis goes back and forth between schizoaffective and schizophrenia but i just choose to post on the psychosis/schizophrenia board. mainly cause theres more people there.

[dillpickle1983]

I'm diagnosed schizoaffective and borderline, I understand more of the borderline posts and can relate better. I'm medication controlled and have no psychotic symptoms so it's difficult to relate.. But as you can tell I do stiil post here occasionally.

Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk

[schizoaffective]

The reason why there are so few posts is three-fold.

Firstly, it is a rare condition.

Secondly, those of us who have it feel as though our minds are constantly being turned inside out by signals (both real and imagined) from the world in which we exist. So it's hard find a time when we feel able to post.

Thirdly, although we may think we ought to communicate with others, the actual act of trying to do so often makes us feel physically sick afterwards.

It's a lonely life for those of us with schizoaffective disorder - because no matter how eloquently we may talk, and no matter how great our verbal and linguistic abilities, we can never really connect properly with others.

Our words are understood well enough, but we ourselves remain remote, untouchable and indefinable. So the attempt to truly connect with other people is bound to fail - and this failure always comes as a huge disappointment.

"It's a schizoaffective thing."

[Terabithia]

you are right on. I just wish it would get easier. Despite how hard it is to post, though, it really is nice to read other posts that I can relate to - it somehow makes my mind feel clearer - perhaps because my state of mind has been so eloquently described. So, thank you very much for making the connection from one schizoaffective to another! Does just the word "connection" scare you, as it can me? My husband is the only one I truly feel comfortable with - other connections scare me. We don't make friends because of it. We both are finding it much easier to relate to people online, as challenging and overwhelming as that can even be. But is it worth the difficulty? I guess that is the question. I guess if I want others to post, I must be willing to do so also.

[Disorder7]

I'm lurking here because I'm seriously questioning my bipolar diagnosis. I have paranoia all of the time, regardless of mood. I'm going to a different pdoc Monday for a second opinion.

Anyway, I think the people who commented that we, ( the terminally paranoid ), have trouble communicating with people...both in real life and online are right. I post a little, but I'm always afraid that someone won't like what I've said. I tend to offend others without trying. I would guess that's why so many of us just lurk.

[Terabithia]

I love that - lurking - it's something I do too, out of fear for some of the same reasons, but I tend to step forward anyway and often regret it. Oh, well. Hope you continue to post.
I love your avatar.

[dillpickle1983]

I lurk on many of the forums, however I rarely post in a forum that doesn't fit my diagnosis. I don't know. Maybe I should post in more spots. :/

[schizoaffective]

I have so far made 50 posts (about one a week), and all 50 have been in this forum - the schizoaffective forum.

It's strange, but I would not wish to post anywhere else. I suppose I am trying to keep things as simple and straightforward as possible in the hope of achieving mental stability.

I don't even read the other forums. Perhaps I should - but somehow I don't think so.

[Mercury Man]

I've had all sorts of issues, originally bi polar then schizoaffective to schiz as well as paranoid schizophrenia. I am much much more stabilized and normal nowadays due to clozapine.

[Snoopysmom]

I have had a hard time connecting at times at other times I connect to everyone. I lurk some. I'm also BPD and BP so I have some major extreme roller coaster ups and downs alongside with schizoaffective. I'm on Invega sustenna and it really helps but nothing cures of coarse. Lots of anxiety also. I'm not working at the moment so I should be around more.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SillyKitty]

I've wondered the same, but figured not as many people are diagnosed. I am bipolar type, so when I'm on check here then just go to bipolar.

[Sinking Feeling]

Originally Posted by Hobbit House

I was just wondering why there are so few posts on this forum, because it definitely is an illness of it's own. I can relate to some of the bipolar threads, as I am so often in a depressed state of mind. For the most part I can't relate to the schizophrenic posts because hallucinations are not a constant issue. All of the schizoaffective posts I have been able to relate to well. Do people with this illness mainly post on other forums, or is this illness more rare than others? I know sometimes I find it difficult to connect with others - could this be the issue?
-Laura

Here's my understanding of this and please note I am far from a expert, or pdoc or professional in any way. I'm just like you.

I think there is a great deal of confusion between schizoaffective and bipolar w/psychosis. It is a very fine line there!

Many bipolars could easily be diagnosed as schizoaffective by some pdocs. I often wonder if I am schizoaffective because I can have delusions and or hallucinations in any mood, depressed, baseline or manic.

Just my 2 cents

[Terabithia]

I was first diagnosed bipolar when I was 25. I went manic and heard things that weren't there and I thought I was a messenger for God. A mood stabilizer nipped it in the bud. But when I was diagnosed as schizoaffective, my hallucinations were frightening and very different. They were hallucinations of persecution (poisoning, atrocities taking place around me, paranoia, etc.). So, I wonder if it's the type of hallucinations that distinguish one diagnosis from the other. Or, could the hallucinations I had during mania be caused by a change in mood - high, thinking I'm greater than I am... And the hallucinations as a person with schizoaffective disorder be caused by thoughts gone completely wild?? I do know that on a daily basis it's my thoughts that give me more trouble than my mood, but the first definitely effects the last. I agree, it's a fine line - I've mentioned before on this site that I think a person needs to be in the hospital for a couple of weeks to get the right diagnosis.

Thanks for the response. I've just been posting lately on whatever thread I relate to, and, for the most part, on whatever forum that may be. I like to try my best to connect, even though I feel rejected half the time - how many threads I've ended!

[thickntired]

Hi,

A very good friend of mine I met in AA was diagnosed shizoaffective after a lot of other things. We're both recovering addicts and have loads of mental illnesses, but her diagnosis is really confusing. It also doesn't help because when I'm trying to read about it the research sucks. I'm bipolar I, so when I go manic I'm psychotic and delusional (I don't hallucinate some do). The best I can figure from talking with my friend is we BOTH go manic, but in our case I think my manias build up and last longer while hers pop up more frequently and are shorter. Like in my case the paranoia or delusions are a lot more intricate or have a well developed plot, so they may last longer because they are so real to me when I'm in the mania. With her she will just flip and hospital staff become Nazi soldiers. Either way it's all terrifying. I feel for you all being stuck between diagnosis. At one point my friend was diagnosed with dissociative disorder which is even worse because lawyers claim it is faked at trial. Really, when a person gets sober there's no telling what is wrong until they are clean for one or two years.

I'm sorry you all are not given the obvious support and recognition needed.

[Sinking Feeling]

Can any one here define the differences between schizoaffective and bipolar with psychosis? From what I can tell, the main differences lies on when some thing happens. For example, for bipolar 1 with psychosis, we only get pyschotic on either end or the pole, not at baseline. Where as schizoaffective episodes are not dependent on mood, they can happen any time even at their "baseline".

Please some one correct me if I am wrong. I would like to know too.

[Pikku Myy]

Thank you for sharing some insight Come to find out my younger brother was schizoaffective, and had finally somewhat balanced out in his early 40's before his passing. I am BP1 and can certainly say there is a difference... Good luck to us all

[Terabithia]

Originally Posted by Sinking Feeling

Can any one here define the differences between schizoaffective and bipolar with psychosis? From what I can tell, the main differences lies on when some thing happens. For example, for bipolar 1 with psychosis, we only get pyschotic on either end or the pole, not at baseline. Where as schizoaffective episodes are not dependent on mood, they can happen any time even at their "baseline".

Please some one correct me if I am wrong. I would like to know too.

I understand it to be this way too, from what I've read and personal experience. I do wonder, though, if there are definite differences in the type of hallucinations.