Schizoaffective disorder and your warnings.

@Violacorso Hi Violacorso welcome to Forumland. For me it is hearing voices, feeling touch, having visual hallucinations. The paranoia can last months and same with the delusions. Untreated it would just go on and on.

Hi @Violacorso Violacorso, I get strong reminders of previous delusions coupled with some paranoia, anxiety. Physically, I know it's bad if I can't sleep, have less of an appetite etc.

My episodes in the past have come on fairly quickly - in a matter of 1-3 days - so I have to be vigilant to watch for the warning signs. Have you thhought about your warning signs? I find it really helpful to catch it early and then hopefully put off/avoid a relapse. But it doesn't always work.

Hey there @Violacorso, I also live with schizoaffective disorder. My episodes can also come on quickly and are often linked to my other medical issues (I have thyroid disease and that can trigger a depression or manic episode). As for the psychotic part of things, they can also come on quickly too (an early warning sign is an 'electrified' feeling in my body along with not sleeping and being extremely paranoid). Unless I have treatment for my hallucinations, paranoia and delusions (psychology, psychiatry), they continue unabated. I am lucky to have struck upon a combination of medication which seemingly does the best job possible to keep me well.

I've had numerous hospitalisations over the years since my first episode. I don't know if I'll ever be completely free of bad episodes, but I do know they are getting fewer and fewer between and not as long as they once were. I guess it does get better with time.

Hey @Violacorso, it took me over a decade of trial and error to hit upon what has been the best combination of medication for me. I take a combination of older style and brand new to the market medications. They work well.

It is important to note though medication is not the in all and end-all of treatment for schizoaffective disorder. Psychology plays an important role as does psychosocial rehabilitation (some of us have a lot of issues with negative symptoms like apathy, low motivation etc).