Hi
Just wondering if high functioning schizophrenia is a real thing? I’ve been told that’s what I have (I just about manage to hold down a job and live an outwardly normal life, but also have plenty of positive and negative symptoms…)
Thank you
PFL
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I’m considered high functioning. Most people don’t believe I have a mental illness.
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Yes, high functioning schizophrenia is a real thing, but some medical professionals try to deny its existence.
I was diagnosed with schizophrenia for several years while I worked full time and functioned.
The way that the psychiatrists deny its existence is to simply say that if you function that highly, you must not have schizophrenia. So, they will probably re-diagnose you with something else later, as they did me and @Ninjastar, and probably a few other people on this forum.
Elyn Saks has talked a lot about how medical professionals deny that high-functioning schizophrenia exists.
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If you have schizophrenia in remission and are on drugs to keep you there then you have sz. If you don’t need drugs indefinitely then you had psychosis
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Does this include schizoaffective? If s o, I am high functioning
I work and live alone. I manage quite well. I guess it’s high functioning.
One thing I found was the system was setup for me to be pensioned off on benefits and they even offered me a flat to live in. I pulled out at the last minute after being homeless for 6 months, and got a job and moved back in with my parents.
Best decision I made, and guess I was lucky with what happened. It’s not always easy but I got really bored with nothing to do.
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I was diagnosed with bipolar for a long time, then my condition worsened and after two hospital stays I was changed to schizophrenia. I work, but not to the same level as a few years ago…
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I’m barely in high school, and I’m considered a high functioning schizophrenic. So I do believe it is a thing.
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I am a high functioning schizophrenic.
That’s cool that you guys have it together working and living independently. I hope to do the same someday
They have always seemed to consider me high functioning. I guess because I live alone and can speak rationally when spoken to. But, I have a lot of problems I feel.
I function pretty well, hopefully on my way to high functioning… all I need is a car. I really think it’s dangerous to lift or change a sz or sza diagnosis after the patient improves because they still have history of it, and at least in my case, it’s still sort of ‘there’ in the back of your head. It peeks out now and then during tough times. It’s the same feeling, just more distant.
I really respect Elyn Saks, she gives me hope I might still be able to get married some day (she married someone later in her life) despite my diagnosis.
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Experiencing schizophrenia is unique to each individual. Some people can not do as much as other people. That’s a fact. Call it luck or a crapshoot, or high functioning or call it Frank. Whatever you call it, some people can do more than others.
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I’ve got a high functioning schizophrenia diagnosis and I’ve still been in the hospital a lot 
I think I’m considered high functioning because I am in graduate school. I’ve actually talked to Elyn Saks and she gives me SOOO much hope.
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thats true, people have varying stages of this illness and the meds react differently to each individual, I think lots of things can help recovery but it depends on the person, like i was pretty low functioning then my med changed, and i had a change of environment and this helped me to become more functional but there was more to it than that, i also had constant support from a good friend,
I’m not as high functioning as i’d like to be but i’m aiming for it, i was re-diagnosed but that doesnt mean anything.
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That’s all really interesting i’m probably high functioning but not as well as a few years ago - my condition seems to be getting worse… is this normal?
I’m perversely caught between being fascinated by where I might be on such a functioning scale , and ,on the other hand, thinking functioning is a far more complex thing.
For most of us ,I think , it is not a uniform case of ‘high functioning’(however one may chose to describe that) or not. We have areas of relative strength and relative weakness.
I am not that symptomatic ,but without the support I get would be up ■■■■ creek without a paddle . On the other hand I manage my finances quite well which some of us struggle with. Overall though my intellect far outstrips my adaptive functioning.
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Im High Functioning in the fact i can maintain a flat and bills. But some social situations and dealing with confrontation and standing up for myself - im severely lacking. I find it hard to maintain a conversation as well. But i do have more insight now.
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I blow hot and cold on that.
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I have a full time job and a husband and when I’m ok (all things being relative) people might not realise there’s much wrong, but to get to that level of functioning takes a huge amount of effort and support on a daily basis
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