what does high functioning mean?
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the reason why I ask is cos I hear this word used a lot among autistic community and here. When I had my autism assessment, I asked about my level of functioning but apparently they don’t give those levels here (In the uk).
My nephew has low functioning, went to special school for learning disability and he cant bathe himself hes 20 yrs old and he doesnt speak to anyone other than immediate family hes painfully shy , barely speaks and is severe
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When I first got sick at age 19 I was put in a support group. After the group, I was talking to this lady who was the leader and she asked how I was getting home. I told her I was going to take a bus. She relied “Oh, you’re high functioning.”
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I think high functioning autism or schizophrenia must mean you can be independent and wash yourself, cook for yourself or at least do minimal things for yourself.
Low functioning must mean lacking severely and incompetent in many things
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i think doing basic self care skills and even using this website means high functioning cause you have to have insight to use this website. so i think im high functioning.
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I’m considered high functioning even tho i don’t work. I pay my own bills, feed myself, and operate a motor vehicle. Sometimes when I’m in the hospital i would consider myself low functioning, but even in there i bathe, eat, and attend groups. I think the ability to advocate for oneself should be considered in functionality assessments.
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I think its on a spectrum. I’m low functioning when I’m psychotic and I can barely do anything. I do ok when I’m not. I drive, do stuff on my own or with a couple friends/family, manage to hold down some jobs, able to keep up with food shopping and hygiene. IMO high functioning people with MI are able to hold down full time work, have careers and manage relationships like neurotypicals.
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unfortunately I struggle with holding down work - let alone have a career. cannot even get a job stacking shelves. im embarrassed for myself. I can do better than this. I have had jobs in the past and this is the longest I have been unemployed.
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Same here, I got derailed like most of us do when we get sz/sza. I stopped my last job about a year ago, but I’m going to start looking again even though idk if I’m ready to.
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You’re definitely high-functioning, @Ish
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I’m a high functioning SZA person or a low functioning Bipolar person
You are definitely considered high functioning @Ish
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I define high functioning as working and living independently. I was only able to pull that off collectively for about 4 of the 13 years I’ve been sick. I would say functioning well as a schizophrenic would include being able to keep up your own hygiene, cooking for yourself, getting yourself to your own appointments. Basically being able to take care of yourself inside someone else’s system. I also think this disease is brutal. Even the milder forms of it. Performing on any level with this disease is a feat to be proud of.
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Without the ASD and the toxic effects of the bullying related trauma, just the schizophrenia/schizoaaffective, I’d be a lot more high functioning. Comparatively speaking the schizophrenia/schizoaffective has always been quite mild. Not by itself a major barrier to functioning well.
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