I also thought Ami spoke a lot of sense re: diagnosis and symptoms. I don't think psychiatry's got it all worked out by a long shot, and everyone's complex in their own rights.
Some people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia may find it almost debilitating. Others may find this, and then find they can cope with it better (John Nash?) and others still may find they can function highly regardless of the diagnosis. I remember when I was told briefly about psychosis, and they said that some people have just one episode, others have episodes that repeat but there is better functioning in between, and others really suffer with it most/all of the time.
Well done to you for stabilising as well as you have. I imagine that the medication and your concordance with it have had a part to play so be proud of yourself for that. What is important is that you are aware of yourself, things that trigger you or things that might class as "early warning signs", so you can get help if things even start to slip a little beyond your control. And also importantly is to continue communicating re: your present struggles and getting support for that.
You may have heard (to paraphrase) "Recovery happens when you can live a meaningful life in the presence or absence of mental illness".
I have been misdiagnosed. I'm not actually aware of all my diagnoses as I've never asked or had them formally discussed with me. I was once assessed by a psychiatrist over three two-hour appointments and she told me I had "early-onset schizophrenia". Another specialist psychiatrist told me I had "delusional disorder". Further, I have been told I have BPD and C-PTSD, and other diagnoses too.
There was much debate between psychs when the schiz/delusional disorder/BPD diagnoses came about.
It has taken me about four years to fully determine that I don't have either of the first two. But despite that, psychiatrists and doctors who don't know me still make a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia after speaking with me. (I find that a bit rude).
Whether I have BPD... I don't know. I'm not a textbook case. We don't talk about my diagnosis in my care team, it's just referred to as "the illness". My psychologist said she thought BPD was a load of rubbish! Yet I have spent a year in a PD unit and they said I had a PD. So it depends on the professional too.
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