New diagnosis - schizoaffective bipolar type

hi @Queenie does this help you to understand yourself a bit more or does this confuse you?

are you happy with what the diagnosis is?

samt31

hello @Queenie @samt31

I was wondering exactly the same as samt31.

How are you feeling about your new diagnosis?

hope you are ok

take care

Hi @Queenie,

Adding to @samt31 and @Former-Member's question, may I ask what this means for you? I mean how will this affect you, treatment and daily living?

I always like to think of diagnoses as a way of explaining and understanding a cluster of behaviours. It's very grey, with no clear boundaries.

Anyhoo, hope you are ok, and the diagnosis is helpful.

CherryBomb

Hi @CherryBomb , @Former-Member and @samt31,

This diagnosis totally confuses me. I honestly never thought I had either hypomanic or manic episodes, just peroids of happiness where everything is bliss. They don't last long but they are there occasionally. It confuses me mostly because I thought I had pretty good insight into my psychiatric illnesses and this just blows everything I thought about myself into a whole new direction.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised (but I am) because I have a strong family history of bipolar on my mother's side (incuding my mother).

Something to discuss further with my psychiatrist when I see him on February 1.

hello @Queenie

You have a very good attitude in response to the question about how you feel in regard to your new diagnosis?

I think I would be the same as you asking myself questions, why didnt i realise?

I believe that is a good thing though, a healthy response as you are open to finding out more. open to better understanding. this is a philosophical approach as well as educational and to my mind is the best approach anyone can have. It is the best approach to life in general for any human being.

Asking your psychiatrist also, rather than well meaning friends etc, or internet googling is also better for you. You trust your psychiatrist therefore will feel supported when asking and receiving answers.

I wish you well and admire your strength

@Kurra I'm glad there's someone out there I can relate to who also has this 'label'. I'm going to keep a mood diary for a while to keep track of my ups and downs to try and identify any patterns or triggers. I know when I am headed for a depressive cycle because I have a total lack of energy and am very weepy. I'm going to keep a closer eye on my happy times now. I do remember just before Christmas (about 2 weeks before), I was in a happy cycle and went shopping everyday. I never thought I spent excessively but it appears I bought a lot of random things I probably don't need. My psych says that's a signal of a hypomanic or manic episode. I was also sleeping a lot less then. I was also drinking a little (I wouldn't say excessively but I was certainly 'jolly'.). I never thought too much about it because I thought it was just the silly season and I was surrounded by happy shoppers at my local Westfield.

I didn't sleep at all last night but I am not in a happy cycle. I am still depressed and now I feel like I have no energy at all. Everything is an effort.

My psychologist has recommended a good App for a mood tracker and also a meditation App which were both free. I think I will make good use of them.