Just told by a doctor.

I have schizoaffective disorder by my pdoc. I just get discharged from the hospital yesterday. I was very shocked and how can I overcome this? Anyone can help me get my answers. It takes so many years for them to tell me that I have been diagnose with schizoaffective disorder. Its a long story but anyway anyone can tell me how can I overcome this?

I don't know if you can overcome it. I think you have to learn to live with it

Thanks for the info anyway. I m still new and shocked.

I'm on my phone right now. So I can't post until tomorrow but I'll try to post as soon as I can.

Hello,

Isn't it relieving to have a diagnosis? It kind of brings everything together and feels like a relief to know that you aren't alone and that there is a legitimate problem. But, with the news, I know that brings other stresses. Among other issues, I am diagnosed with schizoaffective, but I believe it is actually schizophrenia. I don't have an associated mood disorder where I go between highs and lows. Nonetheless, these psychiatrist continue to prescribe a mood stabilizer. So, what helps you overcome? I guess it depends on what issues you have.

Medicine helps. I am going to list the medicines I take and that seem to work for me. Keep in mind, everybody responds to medicine differently and that people have different symptoms requiring different medications.

Anti-psychotic: 600 mg Seroquel
Mood stabilizer: 400 mg Lamictal
Anti-Anxiety: 2 mg of Ativan
Anti-night terror: 2 mg Prazosin
Anti-depressant and anti-anxiety combination: 60 mg Cymbalta
Heart rate: 75 mg Metoprolol tar
Tremors: 0.25 mg Mirapex
Sleep: 150 mg Trazadone

These medicines work well for me. It may seem like with such high doses of certain medications that I would not be able to function, but symptoms are so bad for me that these high doses do not knock me out. In fact, I still have symptoms of certain issues, particularly sleep issues.

I have had 18 electro-convulsive treatments. I think they may have helped, but I would never go through it again.

My advice? Find a psychiatrist and follow a course of treatment. You may also benefit from therapy, though I do not find it therapeutic so I have once again stopped seeing therapist. For me, medication is key to my treatment. Good luck to you. Hopefully my experiences help somehow.

i have schitzoaffective/ schitzophrenia they don't know quite what i have so they diagnosed me with both and the meds help me. the docs have to diagnose because they need to know how and what to give you as for meds. that means they could misdiagnos a person with the wrong thing or they just don't know what the problem is really. That is what i've learned.

I personally think doctors have difficulty in discerning the differences between schizoaffective and schizophrenia. I think this is because there isn't a difference; I think the doctors just wanted a new diagnosis because of the stigma surrounding schizophrenia. The treatment for both are the same, the symptoms of both are the same. Maybe I am being paranoid about it, I don't know. The only difference I really see is schizoaffective individuals may have higher cognitive function; but, I think this is ridiculous. Schizophrenia manifests with a variety of symptoms and most schizophrenics don't have every single possible symptom, especially with treatment.

I'm trying to accept this diagnosis, too. Anything with "schizo" in the name sounds so damning, like I'm seriously damaged. It's tough. I can't tell you how to accept it other than it's good to have a course of treatment and know that you can feel better. There's no cure, but there is treatment.

Sound hearing requires wave forms. If your hearing inside head-meds. In ears outside..soft tightweaves and corkboard and thick cotton with meds dampen.

Thanks for the answer.. I wish everything is gonna be just fine.

I've just been diagnosed too. From what I've read, there's no cure. You learn tricks to deal with the symptoms and of course take your medication regularly.

I feel a sense of shame with the diagnosis. Like if I have to fill out a form and tell my diagnosis, I don't know if I'll be able to. I might just say bipolar disorder, which I was originally diagnosed with.

So I can understand your shock. But there is some comfort in knowing there's a diagnosis and a way to treat it. I highly recommend getting a therapist, because that's where you'll find ways to deal with stuff.

Much depends on so many things. Were you previously diagnosed with another issue? I was SA for many years and was not diagnosed for many years. Depends on your symptoms and the severity of same. In some ways it helps to know what you have if the diagnosis is correct. If you have doubts get a second opinion as confirmation. Wish you the best. For now, take one day at a time and find the best happiness that you can, even if for small things.