Hello! Wanted To Ask Some Questions About Schizoaffective Bipolar Type; Because We've Been Dx'ed With

Hello! wanted to ask some questions about schizoaffective bipolar type; because we've been dx'ed with bipolar type 1 already but aren't really trusting of anyone in psych-therapy circles to reveal any details about my schizospec symptoms. Aside from the fact that psychiatry in my corner of eastern europe is very anti-dx in general. I had to fight to get taken seriously with bipolar for them to finally stop giving me antidepressants without mood stabilisers kind of deal.

What makes bipolar be schizoaffective and not just bipolar with some schizospec symptoms? How does schizoaffective manifest for you? i've read enough regarding actual dx criteria for schizoaffective and i would fall into schizoaffective but i wanted to hear a first-person point of view.

Feel free to ignore this if you're not comfortable, or dm me instead if it's more ok for you.

thank you!

Hello! I totally understand being hesitant to disclose psychotic symptoms. It’s for different reasons but it took me a very long time to get proper treatment as I was unable to understand that my symptoms were 1. indicative of a disorder 2. severe enough to warrant treatment. Luckily where I live I have access to a lot of resources for psychotic people, so I eventually have found a regime of medications that helps me to think clearly.

I think for me the difference between bipolar with psychotic features and schizoaffective was that i was in a near constant state of psychosis before treatment. In bipolar, usually psychosis is sort of treated as the end of the road: the most severe mood symptoms can get. Honestly there’s a ton of disagreement over what schizoaffective even means. Personally I define my version of schizoaffective as schizophrenia with bipolar episodes, but that’s my personal definition and definitely doesn’t apply to everyone.

Before treatment I was constantly confused and unable to take care of myself. Some of my psychosis was related to my nonhumanity (I consider my god/angel identity to be endelic due to this), but not all of it is. And my nonhumanity is definitely not all psychotic. I really am a fae creature. I know a lot of my beliefs would be written off as crazy talk if I explained them to my psychiatrist. But ultimately I know myself best.

Human definitions for mental conditions are flawed and very subjective/fluid. Unfortunately, I love labels so I choose to identify with the diagnoses I’ve been given.

Sorry if this is a very long rambly response. I love talking about this sort of thing. If you have any more questions/discussion feel free to dm me!