Your daughter faces a very serious condition. I have Schizoaffective Disorder and have had for a long time. I was undiagnosed for many years and didn't understand my symptoms. 23 years ago I started on medication. I been off and on with my meds but have taken them now for quite a while. I would say they help. At the least they help to prevent or dampen the manias.
I am here for you if you want to ask any questions.

If you love her just accept her. My parents had to learn that. I was dx with schizoaffective depressed type when I was 15 years old. My parents didn't know what to do. Nobody did. But I was okay knowing they accepted and supported me. I don't have learning difficulties from birth but I have problems from having ECT when I was 18 years old, so I can kind of relate. I am fairly stable now on about 8 different meds, 3 antipsychotics, 2 anti depressants, an anxiety med, sleep med and one to counter the side effects. I have trouble with my sleep pattern....it is all messed up. I am trying to regulate it with Ambien at night to sleep but is doesn't always work. I never had a manic episode so I don't know what to say about that but it must be hard to be bipolar sza. I tried to complete college but couldn't handle the stress. I also worked several jobs but couldn't handle the stress. I currently don't do either. It is all I can do to get up, shower and keep my room clean (I live with my folks). I paint and draw or go on the computer for entertainment. I also get disability (SSDI and SSI). If your daughter is not on disability now I would suggest getting her started on it. It will come in handy as she grows older. I am now 42 years old. I go into the hospital about once a year for a "tune-up" of my meds because I start to get depressed or psychotic about that often. My meds are changed around sometimes because they seem to stop working after awhile. The "cocktail" I am on now has been the best I have been on though. I just have to take it one day at a time. Be patient with your daughter, love her, support her, keep her life as stress free as possible....that is about all I can say. Sounds like you are a good parent though and so that wont be a problem. Remember to take care of yourself too because having someone with a mental illness living with you can be stressful for the caretakers as well.

Thank you both. Here is the wrinkle. I am bipolar, so braincandy, I relate to your cocktail...my goes kaput about once a year too, but I can't be hospitalized because I have 3 kids at home to care for. So I make do.Hubby has helped through some really scary times.

Stevebhopes, I understand your manias, as well. I feel for you.

Thanks for letting me know I am not in this alone.

(((hugs)))

I have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type too. It began when I was 12 and every year since then I have worsne on my soul that I would not make it to another birthday another christmas. This illness would just kill me. BUT I am almost 27 now. I graduated high school in the national honor society and with a 3.97 had gotten into all the colleges I wanted to. Then I got to college (6 hours away from home) and things got dramatically and exponentially worse in a matter of three years. Had to medically withdraw in my senior year because I spent almost three months in a psych hospital. Since I only had 3 classes left I found some easier ones that were available near my home and my mom helped me get there and pass the class. So I did graduate, have a bachelors in molecular psychobiology. My whole life I wanted to go to med school and have the pre requistes for it all but will never go. Since then (it's been 4 years) I worked part time as a research assistant last year but got so psychotic Iended up in the hospital I was researching at and so sick that I didn't even remember I was into that. I got disability maybe 5 years ago (it takes a long time, start now) and am happy for that because some of the time I live on my own now. I got a dog last year and she has been a real help. Sometimes, like lately, all I can manage to do is feed her take her outside walk her and keep her company but you can say anything you want to her and she will listen and give you a hug and a kiss. I rescued her froma high kill shelter and she rescued me from suicide last year. She can sense when I am having a bad moment, day, week, month and she tries to make me feel better. I swear I don't deserve her! Right now I am on 5 psych meds, two antipsych, one mood stabilizer, one antidepressant and one antianxiety. A good note that I agree with is to just accept her and make her life as stress free as possible because you can't imagine the stress that happens in our minds! Message me if you need help!

Thank you. I am taking baby steps...