Confused about my diagnosis

I’ve been diagnosed both bipolar and schizo (lol) too. Who knows

So in the same year I was diagnosed with bipolar and Schizo effective disorder. I’m confused how I could have gone from one to the other so quickly in a month. (This after being in the mental hospital for god knows how long.)

I was diagnosed with bipolar and then diagnosed with this months after. This was within the same year of my first hospitalization and first time trying meds. It was like my whole life was different every month. As it turns out I was psychotic that whole summer so I have no doubts about it now lol. But the general diagnostic criteria is the bipolar mood issues, in addition to psychotic symptoms (which vary), and also negative symptoms- those are what my psych caught on to when she changed the diagnosis. I really like my psychiatrist she has always done me right, but I know other people who have had bad ones. Maybe talk to them more about it and ask questions. You can always get a second opinion

You can always go to another doctor for another opinion!

Schizoaffective disorder is a disorder that causes you to have symptoms of schizophrenia and a mood disorder, such as bipolar disorder. It could very well be that the medical professional who first diagnosed you only caught on to the mood disorder aspect of the disorder.