Hope and Help for Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type

Hope and help for schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. What can I say about DSM 5 schizoaffective disorder bipolar type? It’s a long word. Having both is no picnic in the park. The highs, the lows, hallucinations, and delusions are all common symptoms. So, my memories are such a blur anymore, I can’t focus on the different stages of this disorder.

I remember the delusions-those will forever stay with me, because they’re embarrassing. I much more like the highs rather than the lows. In the extreme lows, I was very suicidal. I guess you could say it’s a blessing that I don’t remember it all.

I don’t remember the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, because I changed doctors so many times in the past. So far, since last summer, I haven’t had a delusion (knock on wood), because I’ve been taking Ginkgo Biloba along with my other meds. I believe that was the missing link to curtailing the episodes.

Bipolar 1 Schizoaffective Disorder

Bipolar 1 Schizoaffective Disorder combines symptoms of both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Individuals with this disorder experience mood episodes that include manic or mixed episodes typical of Bipolar 1 Disorder, along with symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions.

This means a person with Bipolar 1 Schizoaffective Disorder may experience extreme mood swings, from high-energy manic phases to depressive lows, alongside disturbances in thinking and perception.

I believe I had this mood disorder. My thoughts were all over the place. My highs were of euphoric nature. The world couldn’t stop me. Then I’d come crashing down and wondered why I was put on this earth just to suffer. Like I said, the delusions were embarrassing. I would yell out my apartment window thinking I was talking to someone, but in real time, nobody was there.

Bipolar 2 Schizoaffective Disorder

Hope and help for schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. Bipolar 2 Schizoaffective Disorder includes both mood disorder symptoms and psychotic features. It combines the depressive and hypomanic episodes seen in Bipolar 2 Disorder with schizophrenia symptoms like hallucinations or delusions.

Unlike Bipolar 1, Bipolar 2 doesn’t involve full manic episodes. Instead, it includes less intense hypomanic episodes. Even so, these symptoms can still have a big impact on someone’s daily life.

Mania and depression aren’t as intense. You’re not constantly bouncing from one extreme to the other. The hallucinations and delusions are still there, and the voices still linger in the back of your mind, but they’re quieter now, less demanding. You can finally catch your breath a bit.

Living with bipolar disorder can feel like walking a tightrope, constantly trying to stay balanced between two extremes. On one side, manic episodes come with bursts of energy and excitement, while depressive episodes bring feelings of hopelessness. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that just keeps going.

Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type Symptoms

Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type includes a combination of symptoms from both mood disorders and schizophrenia. Here are some common symptoms:

Mood Symptoms:
- Manic Episodes: Altogether, elevated mood, increased energy, reduced need for sleep, grandiosity, rapid speech, and impulsive behavior.
- Depressive Episodes: Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, changes in appetite or sleep, and loss of interest in activities.
Psychotic Symptoms:
- Hallucinations: Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not present.
- Delusions: Strongly held false beliefs that are not based in reality.
- Disorganized Thinking: Difficulty organizing thoughts, leading to incoherent speech or difficulty following a conversation.
Other Symptoms:
- Social Withdrawal: Avoiding social interactions and activities.
- Impaired Functioning: Difficulty maintaining work, relationships, or daily activities.

Cognitive Symptoms

Hope and help for schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. Hence, cognitive symptoms of Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type can affect a person’s ability to think clearly and process information. These symptoms may include:

Impaired Attention: Difficulty focusing or concentrating on tasks, which can affect daily functioning and productivity.
Memory Problems: Challenges with short-term memory, such as forgetting recent conversations or appointments.
Executive Functioning Issues: Trouble with planning, organizing, and problem-solving, which can make it hard to manage daily responsibilities.
Slowed Thinking: A noticeable delay in processing information or responding to questions.
Difficulty Understanding Information: Challenges in comprehending complex concepts or instruction

Nevertheless, these cognitive symptoms can vary in severity and may impact a person’s ability to work, study, or maintain relationships.

I definitely had slowed thinking mainly because of the meds I was on. It wasn’t so much the disorder, as it was the side effects from the meds. That’s why I’m slowly switching to holistic herbs.

Treatments for Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type

Meds, of course, is the first option:

Hope and help for schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. The treatment for Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type often involves a combination of medications to address both mood and psychotic symptoms. Here are some commonly used medications:

Antipsychotics:

These are used to manage psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. Examples include risperidone, olanzapine, and quetiapine.

Mood Stabilizers

Hence, these help control mood swings and prevent manic or depressive episodes. Lithium and valproate are commonly prescribed mood stabilizers.

Antidepressants

These may be used to treat depressive symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine or sertraline are often used.

Anticonvulsants

Thus, sometimes used as mood stabilizers, medications like lamotrigine or carbamazepine can help manage mood symptoms.

Support Groups

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Provides support and info for various mental health conditions, like schizoaffective disorder. Therefore, they’ve got resources and support groups to help.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

Offers in-person and online support groups for people with depression and bipolar disorder, creating a safe and welcoming space to share experiences.

Meetup Schizoaffective Disorder Groups

Brings people with an interest in schizoaffective disorder together to share experiences and support each other through local and online meetups.

Rethink Mental Illness

Provides peer support groups where people can connect, share experiences, and find empathy, acceptance, and reassurance from others who’ve been through similar situations.

Schizophrenia Peer Support

Overall, an online community with live, facilitated peer support groups every week for people living with schizophrenia spectrum conditions.

Hope and help for schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. Or, you could try these ways to occupy your mind or distract yourself.

17 ways to occupy the mind

1: Reading. Clearing your mind and focusing on a good book can really pass the time.

2: Going for a walk. Thus, it keeps you occupied and helps clear the mind.

3 Start a blog! My favorite. That’s my biggest outlet right now!

4: Meditate. It occupies and clears your mind.

5: Watch a movie. It can help pass time.

6: Go for a drive. This has been one of my biggest things to keep me occupied.

7: Listen to music. Following along with a song can pass time.

8: Clean. Cleaning can help your mind focus on one task at a time.

9: Go for coffee. Spending sometime to go for coffee can help give your mind a break.

10: Gardening. Gardening takes time so its a project to keep you occupied for a while.

11: Organize your room. It takes time but ends with great results.

12: Go for a hike. Hiking is another activity that is great physically as well as mentally.

13: Bake. Bake up some sweet treats to enjoy later!

14: Go to an animal shelter and play with the lil angels. Puppy and kitty therapy is the best.

15: Volunteer. Good for you and the community!

16: Burn some sage (if you’re into that). I love burning sage for some mental clarity and it kills time!

17: Go get a hair cut. A new look can make you feel refreshed!

Sum It All Up

Hope and help for schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. I don’t know if you have figured it out, I’m not a big fan of meds anymore, because some side effects are worse than the illness. It’s like the FDA is passing pills nowadays without caring about the side effects, because Big Pharma is pushing them to get approved. And then we, the consumers, suffer from all sorts of negative reactions. It’s frustrating and scary simultaneously.

Schizoaffective disorder bipolar type sounds scary, but it’s not. You can learn to live with it. Just like any other chronic illness, it requires proper management and support. The key is to find the right treatment plan that works for you.

Remember that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a brave step towards managing your symptoms and living a fulfilling life. With the right treatment plan, many people with schizoaffective disorder can lead successful and productive lives. May peace be with you, and always love one another. Until next time…