Ok although I’m in an episode right now and having severe depression and bit of psychosis I’m really ■■■■■■■ happy that I finally have a name for my illness! Saw my psychiatrist today and she confirmed that I do indeed have schizoaffective disorder! Along with possible personality disorder of some kind - well she said ‘personality traits’. I was feeling really crap about that diagnosis a week ago but how she explained it has really helped and now I’m just relieved I finally have an idea of the problem. It’s been a looooonnnggg road! I mean I don’t even know how long I’ve been suffering from this but I started having full psychotic symptoms back in 2015 and first started seeing psychologists etc in 2016. So it’s taken almost exactly a year to reach this diagnosis. Just thought I’d share the news and say that I will prob be here a lot from now on 
It took doctors awhile to diagnose me too. At first they said bipolar bc I started out with a manic episode. Then I started hearing voices. Then it became schizoaffective disorder.
I’m glad that you feel happy with your new diagnosis. I feel mine fits a lot better and it’s good to be off the mood stabilisers and just on an antipsychotic. Less drugs!
It took 8 years for me to get my diagnosis changed from bipolar with psychotic features to paranoid schizophrenia.
I was first diagnosed with bipolar and years later they changed it to paranoid schizophrenia as it became obvious to my new psychiatrist that I was having paranoid psychotic episodes and not mania. I was hiding away because I thought that a secret cabal was testing microwave weapons on me and generally harrassing me. That’s not usual for mania.
I am so happy for you! I remember that relief of finally knowing what was wrong with me. I was diagnosed bi polar at the age of 13 and it wasn’t until I was in my delusions for a year and a half(at age 23 or 24) that I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. It’s scary but it beats not knowing why you feel the way you do.
I didn’t have a problem with my bipolar diagnosis when it was given to me back in 1993. When I started experiencing olfactory (smell) hallucinations, they changed my diagnosis to schizoaffective in 1994. I was just as unaffected then.
Welcome to the 1% club. It’s an exclusive one at that!
Diagnosis can often change over time but it’s important to take the medications. Do that and your doing better than most!
Imagine being happy about a sz diagnosis with all the stigma we complain about. I think it does feel good to have the cards on the table, though.
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