Many individuals that I have worked with who were diagnosed with schizophrenia see and hear fictional voices, but to these individuals, this is very real. So, in a way, these disorders do have some separate symptoms, yet tend to appear to be very much alike. Yet, they are very much different as well, and each will need to be treated differently.Several people ask, “What is considered a schizoaffective disorder?” Schizoaffective disorder includes the following symptoms: mild depression, delusions, hallucinations, and mania depression. The psychotic symptoms include hallucinations or delusions. The mood swing disorder of the disease includes the state of bipolar and depressive symptoms.

Schizoaffective disorder is often extremely challenging to diagnose and treat. Most individuals will need to be monitored for several months to make a proper diagnosis. An individual can be diagnosed with the disease but have depressive symptoms that can impair their ability to function daily and create a decrease in their ability to communicate within a normal range. Most individuals who display bipolar symptoms of the disease include both mania and major depression. This will depend on the individual. In the mania state of the disease, an individual will often display an irritable mood of highs and lows. They may feel the need not to sleep.

The lack of sleep only makes the symptoms worse for the individual. They often are very talkative and seek attention by talking with others, often at an inappropriate time. Well, other individuals may become withdrawn and unsociable. An individual can have both bipolar and depressive symptoms of the disease or just one part of the disease.The actual cause of the disease is still not completely known. Although it is believed that many factors have been blamed as the reason for schizoaffective disorder. They include a family history of mental illnesses, the inability to cope with overwhelming and stressful events in their life, and drugs that alter their mind, and even traumatic brain injuries.

I believe that the disease does reflect two unusual types of mental illness. One type is schizophrenia, a mental illness, and the other type is bipolar mental illness, which is combined to create the “schizoaffective disorder.” Many factors should be considered when diagnosing any type of mental illness in an individual. There are so many types of mental illness that it is especially important for individuals working in the mental health field to make the correct diagnosis. Doctors need to eliminate other mental illnesses, other medical conditions, and of course, substance abuse. The disease varies, and treatment for everyone diagnosed with this mental illness is different as well.

Treatment will usually depend on the severity and type of symptoms an individual displays. Treatment will often include education in the ability to function with daily life skills, a combination of medication(s), and group therapy or individual therapy. Regardless of what type of mental illness you may have, it is particularly important to have in place a solid self-support system that can provide you with a routine, stable treatment plan, and a strong family support system. Although many individuals do not have any family members at all, others have family members who can or will provide support. I have told many individuals that family does not have to include someone who is biologically related to you.

Family is whatever you make of it. Frequently, many people have friends who are usually closer to them moreso than their own blood relatives. Family can be the bond that you share with someone who loves and respects you for who you are. They accept the fact that you have a mental illness and provide the support you need to stay stable. Every individual with any type of mental illness should try to learn and understand their illness. Education plays an important part in an individual’s understanding of their mental illness, as well as that of family members and friends. Learning about your mental illness will help you to know the warning signs of when you may have a breakdown.

Receiving education about your illness can help teach you about the symptoms or triggers that you experience leading up to your breakdown. Every individual is different, and they have different triggers that can cause an outburst. There is no such thing as everyone being alike. Everyone has their own unique symptoms. I encourage individuals with any type of mental illness to learn the signs and symptoms of their illness. Learn what can cause triggers that lead to an outburst.

References:

1.Mayo Clinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizoaffective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354504

2.National Alliance of Mental Illness. Org. https://www.nami.org/types-of-conditions/schizoaffective-disorder/

3. verywellmind.com. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-schizoaffective-disorder-4171702