how do you tell the difference when the symptoms are similar?
i was initially diagnosed as bipolar with psychotic features, but then changed to schizoaffective. that diagnosis fits, but i sometimes wonder about PTSD. i had a traumatic time managing some properties before i got ill. that was when i had my first psychotic break. stress can cause schizophrenia, but it can also be the source of PTSD. some PTSD people have psychotic features too, so where is the distinction there? i’m still sensitive to stress and have break through symptoms to a mild degree, but i often wonder about the similarities and differences with the two. to add to the mix, there is also CPTSD, complex PTSD, where the person has endured prolonged exposure to stress. that also describes my life pre psychotic break.
i didn’t have much mania when initially diagnosed with bipolar, i think it was just the fact it was psychotic and i wasn’t sleeping for days on end. i did go through a brief period years later where there were elevated moods that kept me up at night, but the medication has kept that at bay, i guess.