[artsy.blonde]

hey all...
Ive been posting on the bipolar blog. i was dignosed with bipolar I with pyschosis but that has recently changed. I have been hearing voices for a while now, with medication some of it has been dulled. but latly the voices have been getting louder and have been telling me not to trust people that drive black cars, not to trust people that drive cars whos license plate starts with a letter D ( i live in NY, all license plates here start with a letter) and that the TV, usually CNN, is trying to send me a special message. i told my pysch and my therapist this and my pysch told me that he thinks, well he knows, that i have schizoaffective. he said that i was probably misdignosed by my last pysch who told me that i was bipolar. i was wondering if anyone here has expiranced anything like this? or does this REALLY sound like schizoaffetive or was i misdignosed? i also have awful mood swings, i can go with out sleep for days and then crash and be extremly depressed. im on lithium, celexa, topamax, invega and visteral. he just started me on the invega a few days ago for the voices that have been telling me those things and it has been helping a little.

any words would be appreciated. i feel so alone and isolated. i dont have many friends, due to crappy social skills. thanks all!

[Junerain]

I too was diagnosed with schizoaffective after an initial diagnosis of bipoar..I feel my Pdoc suddenly changed my diagnosis due to me finding another Pdoc, he was extremely hurt...(Pdoc)))) But I too have been known to believe strange delusions, I think I may have scared a few folks here at PC with my delusions, but they welcomed me back, this is a very loving community...

If you are feeling lonely, I would suggest making friends here at PC it is such a great community (((((PC)))))) You can start be letting people get to know you and your story, who you are (PM me anytime artsyblonde) and eventually become one of the ones who helps other people, gives support, and just listens, lets others cry on your shoulder...

PC is a GREAT support system

That being said I would not neglect real life either at the same time you could join a support group such as dbsalliance.org (click on find support to find a meeting near you) My best friends have come from this support group, it is conducive to finding real frinedships

Or you could join a group with similiar interests as you have, a book club, meetup.com group, a church, you know YOU best...

These 2 things working together should leave that loneliness at bay

((((no more loneliness))))

[Nypheria]

Hello.

Schizoaffective disorder is such a complicated thing! (Because its just all around difficult!)

I too have bouts of BP, but also see things. (Aliens and voices that tell me who is/isnt an alien and who to trust.) Was diagnosed with schizoaffective first time around, and was put on Zyprexa (which havent taken since august)

It really is hard to make friends simply because of the complex nature of whats wrong. (Voices and emotion/anxiety) So dont be too hard on yourself. Your not alone.

What helps me is when I have bouts of schizo-ness, post here, and when its the bi-polar part, post there. Just remember - were here for you.

[artsy.blonde]

thanks for all your words of wisdom and advice. its truly appreciated. so you think that i am dignosed correctly? that my doctor isnt wrong? I know that no one here can dignose etc.... im just curious and want peoples opionions thats all.
thanks so much for the welcomes....

I too was first diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, and then when they read my private journal because I was Baker acted and forced into treatment, they changed the diagnosis to PS.
I wish the best for you artsy.blonde. I pray that you deal well with whatever is wrong. This site is a great outlet. There are a lot of really good people here too, that really do care.

[spiritual_emergency]

artsy.blonde thanks for all your words of wisdom and advice. its truly appreciated. so you think that i am dignosed correctly? that my doctor isnt wrong? I know that no one here can dignose etc.... im just curious and want peoples opionions thats all.

Hello artsy.blonde,
It might be helpful to remember that a diagnosis is based on the cluster of symptoms; as symptoms change, it's not unusual for a diagnosis to also change.

Some people find a diagnostic label to be comforting because it makes them feel as if they now have a "name" for their experience and can begin learning about it. If your diagnosis changes however, you can start to feel uncertain and powerless once more.

Other people have never paid attention to what the labels are for their experience, they prefer to focus on symptoms and as long as they're getting some degree of symptom relief, they don't care what the larger picture is called.

[billieJ]

I think that there may be a relatively fine line between Bipolar with Psychosis and Schizaffective Disorder. The first possibly being a little more mood-swingy; the last a bit more psychotic. I'm sorry that the voices and messages have become so bad, but the important thing is that you recognize them as symptoms. billieJ

[SpottedOwl]

((artsy.blonde))

Welcome and thanks for posting!

First, the diagnosis is for you. If it helps you, great. If it doesn't help you, then ignore it. IMHO, schizoaffective disorder is often diagnosed when there are elements of psychosis that go on for longer than a couple days. My understanding is that the period of psychosis can last for up to a month, and periodically return for SADisorder. If it goes on longer than a month it might be schizophrenic.

Originally Posted by artsy.blonde

I have been hearing voices for a while now, with medication some of it has been dulled. but latly the voices have been getting louder and have been telling me not to trust people that drive black cars, not to trust people that drive cars whos license plate starts with a letter D

I have a theory that hallucinations are the dream world 'leaking' into our waking world. Especially when you consider that a lot of hallucinations appear when we are not able to get restful sleep.

With that idea in mind, I try to look at hallucinations symbolically. What if you had a dream, and in that dream you were told not to trust black cars with letter D starting their plates? How might you interpret that?

IMHO, all hallucinations hold value, just like our dreams hold value. They are part of our mental lives, and there is meaning in them. The trick is to remember that the meaning is usually symbolic and not literal. In other words there is no actual threat from the black cars, but perhaps a black car represents people with hidden intentions or it might remind you of a childhood memory.

The fact that you know these voices are not voices other people can hear tells me you have a good grip on reality. Be gentle with yourself. Do the best you can to get regular sleep and to eat good foods.

Not sure if that helps, but know that you are in my thoughts.

[BNLsMOM]

Here is a very detailed, very informative article that sheds some light on bipolar psychosis:

http://www.healthyplace.com/bipolar-...oc/menu-id-67/

[kaytibear]

I hope you feel better soon

[Joanofarc]

Hi arsty, i have bipolar and schizo-affective disorder too.

[Michah]

Hi there......and warm welcome to you!

I was dx with multiple dxs 16 years ago......Borderline PD, Schizoaffective and PTSD......agoraphobia and Generalised Anxiety disorder were transient but potent episodes......and all kind of interplayed with each other.

It takes much time to sort through things if there are multiple presentations......I really feel for the frustration of feeling like it is swinging from one side to the other I have had my trusty psych team in hopsital have open debates about the dxs.......so I was treated for all of them, both psychiatrically and medically.....

From a treatment point of view, it is good to have a dx, but try and not put too much emphasis on any one thing.......a more holistic view will reduce your anxiety somewhat......besides, you are the manager of your own treatment.....question, question, question everything if you are not sure. A second opinion is also a good thing......Get that pdoc working for their money

Take good care babe.......and keep talking......we are here.....

Hugs

Michah

[birdcrazy]

I think I am actually bipolar with psychosis instead of schizoaffective bipolar type, but yeah, such a thin like between them. I'm alot better on a mood stabilizer and antipsychotic, but once a month or so, I have mini mania/psychosis spells that go away the next day.