Yes, mine was focusing on the legal definition in the United States. The definition is going to vary from country to country and within disciplines - insurance, law, medicine, psychology, etc.
Looking at UK and US definitions it seems to be a very grey area with no consensus on operational definitions other than that a psychotic disorder always seems to fit the definition. There does seem to be a discord between legal and medical definition of serious mental illness in some cases.
If I had been in the US and read the legal definition I would have been greatly tempted to come off my depot. After all why take an antipsychotic if you have a non serious mental illness.
I would certainly find it strange that they were chasing me up if I was a little late for it if my illness wasnāt serious anyway.
I am diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar type and I have a pretty difficult time functioning effectively.
Schizoaffective Disorder is a sub type of Schizophrenia according to the DSM 5.
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Surely this is an Individual thing? My bipolar probably isnāt as severe as someone else who has the same.
There is no reason I can think of to place yourself on a scale of ābest vs worstā.
Focus on your own scale. When were you at your worst? Make that the bottom, and start climbing.
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Yea I got diagnosed with sza twice at two reputable hospitals. I was sure I had it and then I started seeing this big shot dr who says that Iām not actually sza but bipolar. Iām pretty disabled by depression which Iāve had all my life and then Iāve had about 8 psychotic episodes. Iām not sure if sheās telling me that to make me feel better or not. She hopes to get me off antipsychotics and keep me on lamictal and Prozac. Iām currently upping the dose of Prozac slowly (so I donāt become manic) and hoping I can get to a decent dose. I really have my doubts though about this bipolar diagnosis. Iām not psychotic now but I have intrusive thoughts that are of s psychotic nature. Itās pretty bad for bipolar. The people I know with bipolar donāt have the same cognitive stuff that I have. Theyāre crazy but they can come out of the house lol. Iām a recluse but I donāt have negative symptoms as far as I know. Just really bad cognitive symptoms that could be related to my depression or the meds. Psychotic episodes, OCD, body dysmorphia and anxiety. With all these conditions maybe it appears like I have sza. Itās hard to believe that the Menninger Clinic and Columbia Presbyterian both diagnosed me as sza but Iām really bipolar. I guess only time will tell.
Well either way that sounds like it sucks. Well I guess I know that it does a little from experience too with regards to the psychotic episodes. Strangely enough I used to have OCD as a child but it went away recently. Rather than obsessing over staying clean I started to shower less and less. I used to be on prozac too a while ago. I couldnāt tell if it was doing anything for me. Only med that Iām sure I need is the risperidone. Anyway not much else to say except hang in there. Lifeās race is a marathon and it takes endurance to see it through to the end(old age).
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Thanks, sorry about the novel.
Sucks either way.
I stated it like this
People diagnosed with schizophrenia are sensitive people
People diagnosed with Bipolar are both volatile and vulnerable
In Schizoaffective Disorder itās a right mess.