What the Hell?

I was diagnosed with Schizoaffective-Depressive Type and they said I don't have schizophrenia but Bipolar I.

Bipolar 1 can cause hallucinations.

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bipolar 1 and schizoaffective disorder are very similar. you should be glad you don't have schizophrenia. i dont understand why you say "what the hell?" besides, schizoaffective disorder isn't the same as schizophrenia.
A18793715 is right, BP1 can cause psychosis as well as schizophrenia and/or schizoaffective disorder.
your diagnosis can change especially if you're diagnosed during a psychotic episode vs. your "normal" self. i still don't understand why you seem upset that you don't have "schizophrenia".

i didn't get a feeling of them being upset that they don't have schizophrenia but more that they may be exasperated and/or confused by the diagnosis

To have schizoaffective, you must have psychosis outside of a mood episode. If they only occur together, then it's bipolar 1. If you get psychosis without a mood episode, then it's more likely to be schizoaffective. I have schizoaffective disorder with major depression. All psychotic mental illnesses are always debated on because doctors interchange diagnosis constantly. I've been in the hospital 6/7 (maybe 8? I can't remember anymore) times in the last 6 years. I've had many different diagnosis from different doctors. You can always go to another doctor for another opinion.

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diagnosises are nonsense anyway. they're a guideline for treatment. if every single person went to a psychiatrist, they'd find something wrong with everyone. scheme to keep you thinking you're sick.

then again, that is my personal opinion.

In my psych class as an undergrad the book/professor said that it's likely that more than 50% of the population will be diagnosed with a mental illness at least once in their lives. I think that was the statistic at least. I just remember us having a discussion about what being normal means because if the majority of people are mentally ill. Maybe mentally ill is the new normal. And old normal is just a myth.

It's true, everyone has their issues, and they could probably all be lumped under some mental illness diagnosis if the symptoms are impairing the person's occupational functioning or causing significant distress.

Very confusing, ask to get answers.

i just say, don't get caught up in the "label" of whatever mental illness it is you "have". just find out what works for you in keeping yourself healthy. may it be medications or meditation or whatever. the goal is to keep your mind and body right.

Are you confused because you've never had mania, and now they are giving you a bp diagnosis?

Just to be clear:

Schizoaffective disorder is on the Schizophrenia spectrum. It is a type of Schizophrenia. The only difference between whether or not you have Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder depends on the presence or absence of prominent mood symptoms.