What is the difference between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder?
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder- bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia share some symptoms,but in reality are very different. When my ex partner Ivan got extremely sick in 1994 and was committed to the hospital in a manic/psychotic episode,the first step was to rule out schizophrenia as they look so similar when the symptoms are full blown. Schizophrenia is characterized by chronic psychotic symptoms whereas the psychosis in bipolar disorder is episodic.
Of course the duration of psychosis can vary in both. When a person has bipolar disorder along with chronic,stand alone psychosis,the illness is called schizoaffective disorder. Psychosis comes in two basic forms- hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations include seeing,feeling,smelling or hearing something that isn’t there. I’ve had a lot of hallucinations over the years to seeing rats run around chairs,hearing voices that tell [ Read More ]
I have bipolar 1 + schizoeffective disorder. I am taking Resperidone 1 mg twice a day and Lamictal 50mg at night,which has somewhat worked to help stop my delusions about being a secret agent,cops spying on me bugging the house,but i almost to the point where the medicine isn’t going to keep on working at this dosage. I am already slowed down enough during my day because of the medicine. But I am still hearing things and smelling and seeing things that aren’t there. For instance the other night I swore I had seen a cat outside and I took a second look and there was no cat. I heard someone or thing banging on my window,but there was no one there. I am wondering if I should just get a higher dosage of Resperidone or go to something else.
I just received the following question from Kimbriel,
Julie,I thought that people w/ Bipolar II don’t get psychotic? Or did you have a psychotic depression?
Hi Kimbriel,
Believe it or not,I’m writing an article on psychosis right now. People with bipolar II can defintely get psychotic. I’ve had psychotic symptoms since age 19. Mine are always with depression –as it’s rare for someone with bipolar II to have psychosis with hypomania.
The difference is in intensity- people with bipolar I have full blown psychosis –usually with mania. In fact,70% of people with full blown mania have full blown psychosis at the same time. This is when most people have to go to the hopsital and often have to be committed by a family member!
I will let everyone know when the psychosis article is ready. It’s for healthyplace.com.
It’s hard to write about mania considering that I have been in a downswing for a week,but it’s a topic I have to continually address- I hear stories all summer about people who go off their meds because they feel so GREAT and then the disasters that follow. It’s easy to think –the sun is just so WONDERUFL!!!!!! when the weather gets nice,you’re off school,you have a vacation,the kids are home,etc.
There is no doubt that summer is wonderful if you were depressed in the winter- but this is just a friendly reminder that when things get WONDERFUL!!!!!,it’s time to check for mania. Here are some questions to ask yourself –or ask the person you care about.
1. Are you sleeping a lot less than what is considered the norm- but are still filled with energy the next day? The norm is six to eight hours- mania sleep [ Read More ]
I’m sitting here at my desk writing my column for BP Magazine. The topic is great- the length requirement is great. I have been writing these columns for years and usually enjoy the process. Today,things are tough. My anxiety is just hitting me from all sides! I feel it in my body- my brain and all around me. There is nothing wrong- I’m on track to write the article,even though I’m a few days past my deadline.Anxiety can be so debilitating because it’s so physical. I can sit and work when I’m depressed or mildly hypomanic. I can even work when I’m mildly psychotic. But anxiety is tough!!!!!I have to finish this though- I need a plan.
1. Change my writing position. I have a crate I use on top of my desk where I can stand up and write instead of sitting.
2. Do a few minutes of yoga. I have yoga [ Read More ]
Here are some mental health statements. Are they true or false? The answers are below.
#1. OCD is an anxiety disorder.
#2. People with bipolar disorder have psychosis.
#3. Bipolar disorder in children is the same as bipolar disorder in adults.
#4. Lithium is the only true mood stabilizer.
Answers:
#1 True! There are seven types of anxiety disorders,general anxiety disorder,social phobias,specific phobias,agoraphobia,PTSD and OCD
#2. Absolutely true. When my partner Ivan was in the hospital for three months- he was manic and very psychotic. This is normal with a full blown bipolar I manic episode. The psychosis is treated with antipsychotics such as Abilify,Seroquel,Risperdal and Zyprexa. I write about Ivan in my book Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder.
#3. False! The childhood bipolar disorder diagnosis is very controversial. In fact,in the last ten years the childhood bipolar disorder diagnosis [ Read More ]
The health information contained herein is provided for general education purposes only. This site should not be seen as a substitute for an official diagnosis or for professional health care.
