[aftont]

Just wanted to introduce myself to everyone. I just spent 17 days inpatient in a psychiatric unit and it seems like they finally have my diagnosis figured out, schizoaffective, bipolar type. I'm pretty sedated from all the meds (I'm only awake about 5-6 hours a day) so I would like to fix that. But at least the voices telling me in detail how to kill myself seem to be gone, for now anyway. They've got me on 9 mg of Haldol, split between 3 doses, klonopin 1 mg/day and lithium, 300 mg 2x day, along with some Cogentin. Haldol seems to be the only large dose but that klonopin can sure knock me out. Anyway, back to my original point. How did you all come to accept this diagnosis? I'm really not doing all that great with it. I also have ADHD pretty bad and also Tourette's, but this seemed to have just hit me out of nowhere. Its got me pretty upset.

[Blue_Bird]

Hi aftont, it wasn't hard for me to accept the diagnosis, it was more a relief to know what was going on. Also, after the hell I went through with other medications, getting on the right meds that actually worked helped me to accept that this is what I have. Glad you're getting help.

-Take care,

[aftont]

Thank u! I guess all of my diagnoses have been hard to accept at first simply because I don't want there to be anything "wrong with me"

Hello aftont and welcome! I think that I'm still coming to accept my diagnoses. On one hand it feels great to know what's going on with me. Once I was honest about everything I was experiencing the doctors could finally diagnose me correctly. On the other hand it's been difficult to accept that these experiences perhaps weren't divine but illness. And of course I didn't want anything to be "wrong" with me especially something chronic. But as I come to better terms with it, and see that I can live a life where I'm not defined by it it's a relief. I finally have a name for it. I finally have a diagnoses which means something can be done about it. I also take comfort in the fact that I'm not alone. Now that I know what I have I can reach out to others going through the same or similar.

But believe you me I didn't do great with it at first. I was in huge denial but it gets easier. It's great that you're getting the help you need and reaching out.

[aftont]

I'm beginning to feel better about it mostly b/c I'm so happy that after 5 hospitalizations someone finally got my meds right so I'm not hearing the voices constantly anymore.

Glad to hear that you're beginning to feel better about it and that your meds are working for you

[aftont]

Thank you?

[aftont]

That was supposed to be a thank you! Not a thank you?
Sorry. Didn't mean to sound like a jerk.

[rumishams]

i too just got the proper diagnosis, same as yours. it took 22 years, so i'm very grateful. over thirty hospitalizations. maybe closer to fifty, i have no idea.

at any rate, ask your pdoc if you can try invega. my mind is really clear and i have much more energy than i've ever had on any antipsychotic. i'm on lamictal for mood stabilizer.

things are still hard, but much better without the voices and delusions.

[hexacoda]

I hope over time your body adjusts and doesn't want to sleep so much. I still sleep about 10-12 hours a night but it isn't a problem.

[pearlzandlace012]

I'm still struggling coming to terms with my diagnosis. I'm finally learning to accept it though, even though I don't want anything to be wrong with me, especially something chronic. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but at least you have a name for what's been going on with you for all this time.