How is schizophrenia different than bipolar disorder?

I have states that are incredibly intense when I have nonstop racing thoughts that I can't stop.

I found Zyprexa helps, which is also prescribed for schizophrenia. The closest term I heard is that I have mixed episodes; but it's truly terrifying; like a bad acid trip.

Schizophrenia doesn't involve mood swings. Practice one of the relaxation methods in sections 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris

Bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are addressed in sections 10, and 40, at ezy build.

(The following is a variant of EMDR therapy, which has been used successfully for those people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, insomnia, and anxiety: it is easily learned, quick to use, yet can be very effective. It is easy to be dismissive of such a seemingly unusual technique, but give it a good tryout, for at least a few weeks, to see if it is effective in your case.). Prior to using either of the methods in the above paragraph, first sit comfortably, and take a deep breath. Then, without moving your head, move your eyes from the left, to the right, and back again, taking around a second to do so (say: "a thousand and one": this takes approximately a second). Repeat this procedure (without the words, although you can count, subvocally, if you like) 20 times. Then close your eyes and relax. Become aware of any tension or discomfort you feel.

Then open your eyes, and take another deep breath, and repeat step one, closing your eyes, and relaxing afterwards, in the same manner. Then, repeat the procedure one last time. Some people may find that this is all they need do. With experience, you may find that you can practise this in public, with your eyes closed, which greatly widens the window of opportunity for its use, and avoids attracting unwanted attention. I have found that the 2 - 3 minutes spent using the EMDR markedly reduces distractions to the relaxation process, and is repaid many times over.

Consider taking classes in t'ai chi, and/or yoga. Chamomile tea may help.

With schizophrenia, you tend to be much more paranoid, and you hear voices that are not your own.

With bipolar disorder, you don't generally get paranoid, but sometimes you do when you're really in a depressive stage. The voice that you hear, if any, is your own, and it is talking down to you instead of giving really fantasy-like suggestions. However, there may be similar delusions of grandeur in bipolar manias as in schizophrenia.

And yes, mixed episodes really do suck @ss. One of my good friends has bipolar disorder, and she says that there is nothing more terrifying in her life than a mixed episode, because she has the self-hatred of the depressive episode but the energy of the manic episode.

Schizophrenia implies having visual or audio hallucinations, or otherwise having a delusion that something is real which isn't. I've heard it described as though voices/images and thoughts or ideas come to the mind from the outside, and they are believed.

Bipolar, as I'm sure you know, refers to an abnormal extreme of mental activity, alternating between uncontrollable "manic" happiness and energy and uncontrollable depression and/or anxiety.

I can see how some of the affects of a severe bipolar disorder could have similar affects to schizophrenia. A really intense emotional or mental state like the "peak" or "valley" of a bipolar episode could be strong enough to feed irrational beliefs much like schizophrenic delusions. I don't think that means you have schizophrenia--maybe it's just treating that particular effect which happens to be similar to part of schizophrenia.

On a neurochemical basis, I don't really know how Zyprexa works. Maybe similar processes are involved in creating the hallucinations and delusions of schizophrenia as are involved in the strong emotions of bipolar episodes, and they just manifest in different ways. I have no idea, I'm totally guessing on that one.

hrm. maybe im schizophenic....

Due to the many possible combinations of symptoms, there is debate about whether the diagnosis represents a single disorder or a number of discrete syndromes. For this reason, Eugen Bleuler termed the disease the schizophrenias (plural) when he coined the name.