Posted by ramsea on January 7, 2005, at 9:05:48
In reply to Re: Schizoaffective disorder? What do you think? long, posted by HappyGirl on January 7, 2005, at 0:22:15
Hope you are well. I was once dx schizoaffective but---------here is a list of labels I have been saddled with in my life. Social Phobia, School Phobia, General Anxiety Disorder, Unspecific Possible Personality Disorder, Developmental Disorder (from birth), "Fine, she's Just Artistic", Alcoholic, Chronic Schizophrenia, Major Depression with Psychotic Features, Bipolar Disorder (lifelong lithium prescribed), Acute Psychotic Break, Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar 1, and, my favorite------"You Know What?? You are A Waste of Time, Just Go To A 12-Step Group and Get Off Your Alcoholic Butt, We Have Real Patient's to Treat."
I am very grateful to that clinic, because their frightening response (he was not joking at all and I was in a very sorry state), made me even more vulnerable to serious, life-threatening/career/family and friend destroying episodes of Manic, Mixed,Depressed and Ultra Rapid Cycling bipolar.
I was most often left untreated because when I drank to help bring myself out of manic mixed spisodes, I was only seen as a drunk--and treated with great and killing derision by some psychiatric workers until a very good psychiatrist helped everyone to see what was really happening. Which meant--in some sense---that there was more biology at work in me than psychology. Positive affirmations, a zillion self-help manual to set me straight in a zillionmillion ways---plus a lifetime sentence to smokey confessions in the magic circle of tee-total rulers--- was not enough to keep me ticking on the earth plane.
You mentioned agitation. That is one bigger than big, ugly, viscious sour pickle.
I am also subject at times to life threatening, intolerable agitation--mania without the feel-good factor. I have had that too, a brilliant euphoria--but especially as I have got older I am more often subject to a terrible, highly energized agitation, at times with psychotic-like features.
I was told that many bipolars are in disguise due to these less stereotypical bipolar episodes and so are not treated properly. It has not been rare that ADs can have a side effect of weirdly powerful agitation which understandably can cause suicidal and SI incidents in sufferers.
It happened to me. Obviously I can't offer insight for you, only you and your health team will know what to do, but-----do review your ADs objectively, ensure that your agitation isn't inspired by Zoloft.
ADs were a danger ***for wacky ole me--- until a mood stabilzer was added. Lithium has helped my depressive side and calmed the agitation and manicky side too. I have been fortunate for a little while. Take care. It can get better and usually does.
poster:ramsea
thread:438299
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050103/msgs/438928.html