Lack of depressive symptoms

I have been diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder for many years now and by many clinicians. My symptoms fit the dsm criteria quite nicely. However, all of the clinicians seem to note one thing as odd. I feel happy, manic or hypomanic almost all of the time. In my given estimate I am manic or at least happy about 95 percent of the time. I am here to try to learn more, has anyone else experienced this? It has been this way my whole life.

koyote22 wrote:I have been diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder for many years now and by many clinicians. My symptoms fit the dsm criteria quite nicely. However, all of the clinicians seem to note one thing as odd. I feel happy, manic or hypomanic almost all of the time. In my given estimate I am manic or at least happy about 95 percent of the time. I am here to try to learn more, has anyone else experienced this? It has been this way my whole life.

you mentioned that your symptoms fit the dsm criteria quite nicely, can you give more specifics on which exact descriptions, symptoms or traits you fit or relate to, other than what you mentioned as feeling happy, manic or hypmomanic almost all the time. according to research, there are mainly two types or manifestations of schizoaffective disorder which is the "bipolar" type and "depressive" type without any mania or hypomania, there are other symptoms that you didn't mention such as catotonia / disorganized thinking.

it's actually not odd for clinicians to address their conclusions on you if they misunderstanding the potential pathology. according to research or at least from the amount of research i've gathered myself, the majority of schizoaffective patients i've seen were the "bipolar" type and to a lesser extent, the "Depressive" only type. however, do note, that this is largely speculative, research in general ( actual clinical studies ) are variable, inconsistent or lacking, but nevertheless, i wanted to give my own input of my experience with it.

and so from what i've encountered myself through going online, forums such as here, and mainly in person is that the majority of people i've met with schizoaffective disorder diagnosis were the "bipolar" types, maybe not the way you explained of being happy like 95 percent of the time, but they were the same in the "bipolar" part AND if you are of the ones who have the delusions and / or hallucinations aspect, then bingo, you fit like the rest of them, if not, then, well you may be a little different.

as for me, the most recent psychiatrists i saw had diagnosed me as fitting schizoaffective disorder, although we didn't go much in detail on why she did with more detailed explanations, supportive explanations, evidence, etc, i have left that part for my next session for her. i saw here twice, though was unsuccessful in getting her to explain more but hopefully some new light will be shed next time.

as for what symptoms i may relate to or what "Type" i may fit, i have never received any diagnosis of manic depressive or bipolar disorders, so i would not be the "bipolar" type, as for the "depressive" type, i do have major depression and so that would be the type i guess i'd fit for now. i do not have hallucinations or delusions of any kind, but in terms of meeting the criteria, i seem to meet the criteria if we are using the catatonia and disorganized thinking descriptions, albeit, both of the these traits can be attributed to other things such as the depression itself, trauma, emotional / psychological disturbances and / or other causes such as from what research mentioning medical / biological causes such as food intolerances / sensitivies, digestive problems, parasites, viruses, etc.

i think sluggish cognitive tempo can be related to these entities as well as that it something i relate to.

i've been formally diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder ( secondary diagnosis ) and major depression ( primary diagnosis ) and those have been consistent the last several years, but the schizotypal PD like the sluggish cognitive tempo description is vague and broad ( SCT isn't even a diagnosis but rather a researched pathology so far ), and i can say the same with schizoaffective disorder.

Hello, sorry it took me so long to reply, I had forgotten I joined this forum. So, as far as traits that help to identify myself as Schizoaffective, I have delusions of many different types and if I don't take any meds they are constant. For whatever reason I have never experienced a hallucination in my life, however the delusions are very bad and albeit totally involuntary. They get into the realm of what I refer to as false memories. Where you are just sitting there remembering occurrences and scenarios that never did happen and are currently being created in your mind. Although you have a feeling attached to them and believe that it was so. Example. I was delusional one time to the point where I remembered an alien abduction in great detail, all while the whereabouts and safety of my person was totally accounted for. So the delusion is so strong sometimes it comes to you and you believe it was so beyond a shadow of a doubt. When in this state I would readily speak most oddly as my main preoccupation mentally was the delusional content, So I was noted as having disorganized speech and thought. I would all culminate when the mood symptoms revved up and I would perform what I referred to as chitter chatter. Which was a highly excited word salad that was an expression of my delusional content. In the bipolar aspect I would continually become excited till I had a psychotic break and then sob for 5 minutes rather and start the cycle over again. This extremely short and depressive period would only happen about once a week. So therefore I fit pretty much all the criteria for Schizoaffective Bipolar except for hallucination which I have been told is a harrowing experience, although I have never seen or heard anything to the point where I can truly claim that symptom.