Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1096854

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bipolar? schizophrenia?

Posted by Christ_empowered on February 4, 2018, at 22:26:40

what's the difference? who decides? I'm not trying to go all deconstructionist on this, but I am -genuinely- curious.

my current, official label/diagnosis is "Bipolar I." When I get voices and such, its called "psychotic depression," and life goes on.

but then...sometimes, when I'm at the clinic, I look around, at the "Schizophrenics" around me. Big differences? Race. gender. status. social class.


But...then, when I'm feeling a bit more cheerful, I think..."well, Bipolar I -is- less stigmatizing than "Schizophrenia," and I am awfully lucid and such on the meds."

If a "Schizophrenic" functions well, has social skills and such, on meds, but is still moody...is that -really "Bipolar I" ?

at one point, about 10 years ago, I was diagnosed w/ "mild Schizophrenia" mixed with "bipolar I." I'd never heard of such, honestly. "Mild schizophrenia" ? Is that some kind of Gertrude Stein-type thought disorder?

ok. im not usually such a pissed off patient, but I'm having "a moment," LOL.

I guess it doesn't matter in terms of treatment. Abilify, lamictal. now and then, a bit of gabapentin. could be bad. this isn't bad, not really bad at all.

 

Re: bipolar? schizophrenia?

Posted by Lamdage22 on February 5, 2018, at 10:59:59

In reply to bipolar? schizophrenia?, posted by Christ_empowered on February 4, 2018, at 22:26:40

Does it really matter that much? You know yourself the best.

I dont even know what exactly i have. I have managed to get them to say that differential diagnosis is medication induced psychosis. But that psychosis is in the past. So it should be "condition after medication induced psychosis".

 

Re: bipolar? schizophrenia? » Christ_empowered

Posted by SLS on February 5, 2018, at 12:06:18

In reply to bipolar? schizophrenia?, posted by Christ_empowered on February 4, 2018, at 22:26:40

> I guess it doesn't matter in terms of treatment. Abilify, lamictal. now and then, a bit of gabapentin. could be bad. this isn't bad, not really bad at all.

Have you thought to add NAC (N-acetylcysteine) to Lamictal? Robert Post and Andrew Nierenberg recommend it sometimes.


- Scott

 

Re: bipolar? schizophrenia?

Posted by baseball55 on February 5, 2018, at 17:39:19

In reply to Re: bipolar? schizophrenia? » Christ_empowered, posted by SLS on February 5, 2018, at 12:06:18

I imagine some of the differences in social class you observe among those diagnosed with schizophrenia derive from the LOSS of social class that occurs when people are rendered disabled from schizophrenia. My nephew has schizophrenia - constant delusions, paranoia, hallucinates voices telling him to kill himself. His symptoms are only partly in control with meds. His ability to function in life has been destroyed by this and he in incapable of caring for himself. He is on disability and (lucky for us and him) is living in a group home rather than on the street or in prison.

While I sympathize wth those diagnosed as schizophrenic following an isolated psychotic episode due to bipolar or drugs, the idea that schizophrenia is some myth (al a Thomas Szasz) to control deviants (either in terms of social class or unconventional ideas and behaviors) simply denies the reality of people like my nephew.

I spent a LOT of time in psychiatric hospitals due to psychotic depression. I was not mis-diagnosed as schizophrenic. But I encountered many people with schizophrenia. It is a debilitating, devastating, all-encompassing and often untreatable disease.

 

Re: bipolar? schizophrenia? » Christ_empowered

Posted by SLS on February 5, 2018, at 18:38:18

In reply to bipolar? schizophrenia?, posted by Christ_empowered on February 4, 2018, at 22:26:40

What happened to "schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type"?


- Scott

 

Re: bipolar? schizophrenia?

Posted by Christ_empowered on February 6, 2018, at 7:05:44

In reply to Re: bipolar? schizophrenia? » Christ_empowered, posted by SLS on February 5, 2018, at 18:38:18

hi. my current counselor seems to lean towards schizoaffective, at times. I assume it would be manic type, but I'm not sure.

I don't know. I now receive disability, but a lot of that is because of the stigma attached to being a 'mental patient' in a smaller community. Don't get me wrong; I have ongoing symptoms, but the impact of pursuing 'treatment' and the labels that have been applied to me certainly don't help, either.

oh well. as 'mental patients' go, my life is calm, peaceful, meaningful. I'm blessed to have my parents behind me, that's for certain.

sorry about your nephew, baseball. sometimes, I wonder if perhaps just stop thinking so much on it and just...'play the hand you're dealt,' I guess.


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