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#1
I know self-tests don't substitute professional diagnostics, but just wondering. I have a doctors appointment next week, so I'll mention these thoughts.
I've had a few hallucinations in the past, and something I would call a hallucinatory memory (of a conversation that never happened and didn't quite adhere to the laws of physiscs) in 2019. I have had panic attacks since christmas, but I think I might be getting over those, as right now, I am crashing in other ways, crying for no reason etc. I've also had one or at most two tiny fractions of visual hallucinations in the past few weeks, just for a second seeing someone standing somewhere. |
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Purple,Violet,Blue
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#2
I don't know of any self tests for schizoaffective. I think I have found some for schizophrenia. It took me a long time to be diagnosed with schizoaffective. More than 20 years. For years it was major depressive disorder. Then major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms. Then finally schizoaffective disorder. I think we have finally reached the right diagnosis.
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*Beth*, Purple,Violet,Blue
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#3
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many thanks for your reply. I am not actually diagnosed, but to me this seems the obvious choice. Schizophrenia seems a bit much considering I only properly hallucinate every few years on average (not counting hallucinations that last for a second) and an affective disorder seems equally much considering I am generally very unemotional. Having panic attacks and then crying for 1.5 days streight (I feel fine now) came as a bit of a shock. This enhanced emotionality felt worse then any prior hallucination including the memory which came in waves over a period of 4 months or so. Has your diagnosis helped you? I wonder how much they can do... |
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Purple,Violet,Blue
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#4
Yes, my diagnosis helped me. It was like a sigh of relief. I had finally gotten the right diagnosis and it was like finally this is what is "wrong" with me. This is what I can work on. It gave the doctors the right diagnosis to get the meds right, which for me include two anti-depressants and two anti-psychotics, and ADHD med, and anti-anxiety medication, and a sleep medication. For me this helped me tremendously to get on the right meds. I hardly hallucinate now. And they are briefer episodes. I don't experience as much paranoia. I do have blunted affect which I think is because of the medicine but I'm not sure. Do you want medication? That seems what a diagnosis is useful for but also for me just for defining myself.
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Purple,Violet,Blue
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#5
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About medication, I think we know so little about the brain that it seems scary to meddle with it. I've had this general opinion and then I read "Cracked - Why psychiatry is doing more harm than good", which bolstered my opinion. On the other hand, if the panic attacks come back, I'm probably up for anything (and then, I agree, I need a diagnosis). Last edited by AliceKate; Jan 27, 2021 at 02:37 PM.. |
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Purple,Violet,Blue
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#6
It took me 14 years to get the right Dx. If you don't want medication I'd be upfront and get a therapist that is willing to work with you. None of my T's have been willing to work with me unmedicated and pdocs want me in therapy.
__________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog |
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Purple,Violet,Blue
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AliceKate, Fuzzybear
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#7
I was first dxd bipolar at age 20 after being treated for major depression since I was 17....
Then it was bipolar with psychotic features. Last year I was diagnosed with schizoaffective.seems to fit better than the others. Took 17 years. __________________ Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features or schizoaffective bipolar type PTSD generalized anxiety OCD celexa, prazosin, Lybalvi and prn zyprexa and klonopin |
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Purple,Violet,Blue
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Fuzzybear
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#8
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Purple,Violet,Blue
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#9
I recently found the PANSS rating scale and I'm filling it out 1x a week to see if there's any changes for me.
__________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog |
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AliceKate, underwonderland
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#10
Good post. I also do not want medication (due to very severe reactions to many meds I've tried)
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Purple,Violet,Blue
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#11
Fuzzybear there has to be someone that is willing to work with you even for a short time. To build skills.
__________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog |
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Student of Life
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#12
Yeah, I've been kicked out of multiple groups and things for not taking my meds. I definitely learned the hard way that I need them. Anyway, not saying in any way that everyone needs meds. It can be a challenging thing to think about taking them or not taking them.
__________________ "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!” |
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Grand Member
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#13
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Legendary
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#14
I'm just rating myself. So I know wat to tell my T.
__________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog |
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AliceKate
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#15
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Grand Member
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#16
update: I found the answer to my question:
"Being considered "mildly ill" according to the CGI approximately corresponded to a PANSS total score of 58, "moderately ill" to a PANSS of 75, "markedly ill" to a PANSS of 95 and severely ill to a PANSS of 116." Source: What does the PANSS mean? - PubMed |
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Victoria'smom
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#17
I have never heard of the PANSS scale before, but I just quickly scanned through it. Really interesting! Definitely informative and enlightening.
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Legendary
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#18
Thank you. I just use it as a check off of what to tell my therapist.
__________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog |
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AliceKate
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