Healthy Horizons

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Healthy Horizons

Laurie Lupold

Schizoaffective disorder being a part of my diagnosis left me clueless as to what was going on with me. Therefore I decided to do a bit of research on my own and find out what exactly this mystery illness is. Since there is so much information to cover this month I am going to break it down to the basics of what the illness is and the following month will go more in depth into the base of this illness.

Schizoaffective disorder is an illness in which there are both mood swings (depression or mania) and SOME of the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia.

Symptoms of depression: Poor appetite, weight loss or perhaps gain, insomnia, agitation, general slowing down, feeling of worthlessness, guilt, inability to think and concentrate, thoughts of death and/or suicide

Mania: Increase of socialization and/or sexual activity, increased/rapid talking, rapid or racing thoughts, Grandiosity, little need for sleep, agitation, inflated self esteem, distractibility, self-destructive activities

Psychotic: Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or thinking, grossly disorganized or catatonic (negativity, silence) behavior, total immobility, lack of facial expression, lack of speech motivation, negative symptoms, i.e., affective, flattening, alogia, avolition

What causes schizoaffective disorder? Possibly a mixture of biological, genetic and environmental factors.

Schizoaffective disorder is a lifelong illness for most. Most people have a flare-up periodically at times of stress. These periods are called relapses. Between relapses, most people have only mild symptoms.

Treatment: Accept that you have a prolonged illness. This is very important because if you cannot accept it you cannot and will not bring yourself into full treatment to cope with the illness.

Identify your strengths and limitations
Make clear, realistic goals
After a relapse, go slowly and gradually back into your responsibilities. Don't overwhelm yourself.
Keep a consistent, daily routine
Make your home as quiet, calm and relaxed as you possibly can.
Try to be active in treatment
Take medications regularly
Identify early signs of relapse
Get involved with a group of people you feel comfortable with
Avoid street drugs
Use alcohol wisely
Eat a well balanced diet
Get enough rest
Get regular exercise
If you are not sure your fears are based on reality, ask someone you trust
Accept that there will be setbacks at times
Medications: Antipsychotic

A person's appearance might change. His/her eye contact may become increased or withdrawn. Facial expressions may be come more noticeable or less obvious. Motor skills may decrease. This person may become less cooperative. Mood will vary. Attitude may become flat. Speech may show obvious change. Person may or may not become suicidal. Homicidal reaction may or may not be present. Orientation becomes confused. Delusions may be possible as well as hallucinations. Point of view or insight may vary.

This illness may sound quite frightening in its current format but in the month(s) to come we will continue to break it down and provide resourceful information and an inside view of living with this and other illnesses to which the reader can further comprehend as a means of hope and understanding.

I have dealt with mental illness for most of my years and beyond this I have lived a life filled with so much wisdom and emotion that needs and deserves to be expressed. Healthy Horizons is my place to do just that. It is my haven to educate and provide to my readers what life is outside their world and perhaps even on the inside.

It's a place where we may learn, laugh or even cry. It's a grasp into reality. Being my first column and closest to my heart, it has become an important part of my life and hopefully, one day, a part of yours.