Emotional because of delusions, or mood disordered?

How does one discern if they are having a bipolar episode while also experiencing delusions? I was told that the delusions could have caused a "heightened emotional state" and that I was confusing those emotions for a bipolar episode.

If I'm understanding you're question correctly and you mean delusional psychosis - you have to be experiencing the delusion during a mood episode for bipolar disorder. If you experience psychosis outside a mood disorder...it's my understanding that is schizoaffective disorder. Please ask your doctor. I'm not a medical professional so this isn't medical advice.

My totally unprofessional opinion is that I've heard/read the same as eterea- if the delusions happen at the same time as a mood episode, and are as a result of it, then that is classed as bipolar disorder, whereas if they come outside of an episode, it's under the umbrella of schizoaffective disorder. It sounds as if you need to ask these questions to a pdoc, slither, and also to get help for the delusions, if you're having them right now. Hugs, if wanted.

Ennui wrote:My totally unprofessional opinion is that I've heard/read the same as eterea- if the delusions happen at the same time as a mood episode, and are as a result of it, then that is classed as bipolar disorder, whereas if they come outside of an episode, it's under the umbrella of schizoaffective disorder. It sounds as if you need to ask these questions to a pdoc, slither, and also to get help for the delusions, if you're having them right now. Hugs, if wanted.

As an non-professional who has asked this to my professional (who diagnosed me as Schzioaffectve), this is what he told me. I too agree that you should get help for delusions. Trust me, they make your life miserable. I too am sending huggies, if wanted.

Apart from my mood being all over the place, I'm not currently having psychotic symptoms (delusions/hallucinations).


To rephrase my question, if you think you are having a bipolar episode (mania, depression, mixed, etc.) while you know you are having psychotic symptoms, how do you know you are having mood symptoms and not just having emotions in response to the psychosis?

I asked if I sounded bipolar on another forum and they said I might have only been having psychotic symptoms and not bipolar symptoms as well. I know about schizoaffective and I do not think I have that. I was diagnosed BP1 years back, but my dx changed to schizophrenia recently. I think I'm bipolar now but my doctor and the people on the other forum say my symptoms sound like schizophrenia. I feel like I have ups and downs, but they tell me I'm just getting emotional due to the psychosis (and not because I'm having a mood episode).

Having symptoms of of both usually mean schizo-affective disorder, from what I understand. It doesn't really matter, though does it?

Just treat what you are experiencing. If you are having psychosis , that would fall under both bipolar with psychosis. Also, it is possible to have psychosis with depression although that is more rare, i think.