I haven’t had one for 4.5 years am I destined to have another? I have had episodes of mental health problems during that time though, like depression and manic episodes… but sometimes the pdoc dismissed the manic episodes as part of my schizophrenia. Only recently they started to think that maybe it’s part of a mood episode. Does diagnosis sometimes change after so many years?
I’d like to know the answer to this as well. I haven’t had an episode in a while eiher. Although I have schizoaffective.
After many doctors they keep jumping around from schizophrenia to schizoaffective disorder constantly with me. SZA is a fairly new diagnosis and it seems there is a lot of confusion on it all around. Bipolar has three main categories in itself
Bipolar 1
Bipolar 2
Or the lesser of two evils Cyclothymia
But I’m beginning to think SZA only deals with BP 1 and BP 2 or depression and where some of the confusion comes into giving a diagnosis for schizoaffective disorder.
Really just focus on what symptoms are affecting your life. Do not go looking for them. If the doctor is really missing your mood swings keep a mood journal and give that to your doctor.
To answer your last question. Yes, It can take many years to get a correct diagnosis in some cases. One thing though depending on what type of therapy you go to. Because you are talking more openly about yourself to a therapist. It can help to get a correct diagnosis a lot quicker. Therapy and med treatments go hand in hand. In many cases keeping you stable and out of hospital. Sorry, I guess I rambled on a bit.
If … and only If I can manage my symptoms on a lower dose of Risperdal, I will absolutely take this road.
I do know that medicated or not, I may have another major psychotic mixed episode crisis if I experience a major stressor or major trigger in my life