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Headbanging

564763hygt

I've just been told that I have "high functioning" Asperger's Syndrome. I've never heard of this "high functioning" qualification for Aspergers (Autism, yes...but not Apsergers). I was told that it means that I am extremely intellegent, which explains many of my problems in life. I guess my daily life isn't too far from that of Wittgenstein's: one minute I'm contemplating suicide and becoming a monk; the next I'm throwing myslef into deep philosophical thinking about The Truth. I'm totally nuts but it's all good fun. Smile

I was wondering how people cope with this super-intense craziness? I try intense exercise, performing free jazz, headbanging (on a pillow), and even meditation. Sometimes this works; sometimes not. I've also found out that water sounds help me (I will buy a fish tank), rocking on my chair, walking with a walking stick, tapping my fingers and teeth in public places, and so forth. Does anyone have any advice on how to cope with the worst of this?

Have you ever seen the end of the film Pi (π)? I'm Faust gone mad! Laughing

...also, can anyone tell me what "high functioning" actually means? It sound like fluffly nonsense to me...any links to research?


Thanks

Parents

  • ''High functioning'' is a term that arguably exists to distinguish people with Aspergers from the  'classic' variety of autism: no language, no insight, severe learning disabilities, limited independence. So if you are ''high functioning'' you might have gone to University, be able to live more or less independently, can hold intelligent conversations, and have insight into your condition; you can probably camouflage your traits and control yourself reasonably well in public.

    However, the term ''high functioning'' is very woolly and vague - it does not mean much other than distinguishing one type of autism from another. It seems to me that Aspergers is classic autism's poorer relation: we are always defined in relation to it but rarely as a group of people with specific needs in our own right; different needs but just as disabling. We are not comparing like with like (a poor but useful analogy might be to compare Bipolar depression with Psychosis and to say that people with the former are more 'high functioning' and therefore less disabled).

    My guess is that due to your intelligence you are able to 'pass as normal', and you obviously have a lot of insight into your condition. I am similar: I have  an above average verbal IQ and have attained a 2.1 History degree, but I still need a lot of support every day in order to function, and if this support were taken away, I don't think I would function well at all!. 'High functioning' can be a very deceptive  label.

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  • ''High functioning'' is a term that arguably exists to distinguish people with Aspergers from the  'classic' variety of autism: no language, no insight, severe learning disabilities, limited independence. So if you are ''high functioning'' you might have gone to University, be able to live more or less independently, can hold intelligent conversations, and have insight into your condition; you can probably camouflage your traits and control yourself reasonably well in public.

    However, the term ''high functioning'' is very woolly and vague - it does not mean much other than distinguishing one type of autism from another. It seems to me that Aspergers is classic autism's poorer relation: we are always defined in relation to it but rarely as a group of people with specific needs in our own right; different needs but just as disabling. We are not comparing like with like (a poor but useful analogy might be to compare Bipolar depression with Psychosis and to say that people with the former are more 'high functioning' and therefore less disabled).

    My guess is that due to your intelligence you are able to 'pass as normal', and you obviously have a lot of insight into your condition. I am similar: I have  an above average verbal IQ and have attained a 2.1 History degree, but I still need a lot of support every day in order to function, and if this support were taken away, I don't think I would function well at all!. 'High functioning' can be a very deceptive  label.

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