I was trying to explain the whole concept of lack of cognitive functioning and the concept of low functioning to my brother and I couldn’t. Probably because I was able to hold a normal conversation with him.
Has anybody found a good way to explain their condition? I’m looking for ideas.
you don’t…,.,.1212, try to avert the conversation
I think it’s very difficult. A lot of people can’t see beyond cognitive difficulties= intellectual disability.
Sorry can’t offer a solution, just agree with the other posters.
If you have sz then you can say “I have a severe mental illness.”
Will probably leave him mystified too.
That’s part of the fun of having sz… no “normie” can understand it…sorry best I can do.
Most people falsely believe it has to do with talking, like you are not supposed to be able to talk.
I tell them it is like alzeheimers. They can relate to that more than explaining.
I’ve heard one person from this forum say they have “minor retardation.”
It’s not a nice thing to say, and you should find a better explanation, but it’s pretty accurate.
I can’t function ‘in real time’ and it does appear if I’m retarded. I’m not I have above average intelligence but… yeh I appear retarded.
I tell them - I’m not dumb but my meds affect my memory + ability to think.
I’ve tried that Pob but they don’t believe me… they want to believe I’m an idiot, and will do so whatever I tell them.
I’m happy enough to just offer my explanation.
Perhaps you should just punch your brother in the face if he questions you again? Brutal but it works, the world is ruled by violence did you know… 
Now if I could just remember that line…
I believe I have brain damage. For one thing, it takes me longer to hear words and go to figure out what those words mean.
Jayster
Don’t we all? The medicine line is more socially accepted.
Of course, if you have cognitive deficits, you are not going to be able to explain anyway. You can buy into the researchers’ explanation, or proudly, defiantly disregard such twaddle. You feel put down. Why put yourself down? Maybe you don’t have such a thing. Maybe you’re just repeating what the researchers say because it’s a plausible explanation. You should come up with a defensive explanation of your own? You know something is wrong, but what is it?
Try making notes on topic u would like to talk to.!!
just short notes…it will maintain ur self confidence…
I prefer things written down to peruse at my leisure than verbalised at me . It’s especially difficult if 2 or 3 things or more are being said .
I have my moments of what the shrinks call “thought blocking”, and “circumstantiality”, and “fancy words for ■■■■ they don’t even really know”
Just say you have brain damage, that is technically true, and also implies some pity, which is not as bad as more stigmatizing views. The goal is “parity”, or equality with normal people, but I mean ■■■■ it, it is obvious when someone has a debilitating brain disease and it just is what it is. It is not a lie to address cognitive impairment as “brain damage.” Hell, I abused substances so well that half of what I have could be seen as caused by the abuse. I mean I am one of multiple cases on this community of over the counter exercise ■■■■ and energy drinks triggering friggin psychosis, and I am one of too many who smoked weed and then became even more psychotic, then kept doing all of the above plus alcohol and came out the other side in love with antipsychotic medications.
Just say you have brain damage. When some people ask me if I am alright, which I really most of the time am, just dealing with some ■■■■ but dealing well, I often say I have PTSD which is like 80% true because I was flagged as meeting criteria when I told the evaluator a fraction of my crap, so I know well that my MMPI red flag (psychological test on a PC which is a diagnostic tool, it can help tell what is wrong) was true and that maybe the chronic nightmares and high arousal and weird fears I have all follow suit.
Just be like “I got hit in the head when I was a kid.” I had that happen like 100 times too.
See, just say whatever you want. It’s your identity, yours.
its a hard one to talk about i think, how your cognitive functioning is affected, the only thing i think i know about it is like my memory is poor and my concentration is dulled down bc i am sedated but idk if this is just side effects from medication or not, its difficult to judge i think.
I tend to say my brain doesn’t cooperate with me like it used to.
i said my friend was brain damege on a holiday and we got a better room bc of it.
she wasn’t actually brain damaged although she has a mental illness but she was annoying me so much i just said to the reception that she was brain damage lol