What does "high functioning" and "low functioning" mean?

[BlondeRunner]

Hi everyone 

What exactly does it mean for a pwBPD to be "high functioning" or "low functioning"?

I have been pondering whether my dBPDexbf was high or low functioning but am confused... . I see it mentioned a lot but what does it mean? I was hoping to find a checklist to compare against!

BR x

[MustangMan]

Being functioning means being able to do what normal people do.   Keeping your appartment clean to a minimum, keeping a steady job, keeping a social life, etc... . My BPPgf is low functioning mainly because of her alcoholism.   All she does all day is watching tv, not doing any choes and not going to work we they call, while me, the functioning non-BPD does all this stuff.   Some BPD can still do all this stuff like normal people do, they just can't control their emotions properly.

[MustangMan]

Sorry for the typos... .

All she does all day is watching tv, not doing any chores and not going to work when they call

[BlondeRunner]

Being functioning means being able to do what normal people do.  Keeping your appartment clean to a minimum, keeping a steady job, keeping a social life, etc... .

... . Some BPD can still do all this stuff like normal people do, they just can't control their emotions properly.

Aha! Thanks Mustang Man 

Hmmmm, that’s actually very interesting! I thought my dBPDexbf would be considered “high functioning” purely because to the average person he passes on the street he looks like your Average Joe but giving it closer thought as per your comments I think he might be low functioning!

He does keeps his apartment clean to the (very bare) minimum but despite being extremely talented in his field of work and getting great positions at fantastic companies he either gets fired or walks out on a whim or gets bored and moves on, he was also often late for work (something totally alien to me!). He has few friends and a relatively limited social life, virtually no contact with any family, is beyond disastrous with his finances, his personal hygiene often left much to be desired and he had very erratic sleeping and eating patterns. Wow.

[BlondeRunner]

I changed my mind. He is "medium functioning". I think I just coined a new term!

[MustangMan]

Being functioning means being able to do what normal people do.  Keeping your appartment clean to a minimum, keeping a steady job, keeping a social life, etc... .

... . Some BPD can still do all this stuff like normal people do, they just can't control their emotions properly.

Hmmmm, that’s actually very interesting! I thought my dBPDexbf would be considered “high functioning” purely because to the average person he passes on the street he looks like your Average Joe but giving it closer thought as per your comments I think he might be low functioning!

People with BPD can still look like your Average Joe on the street and keep a high level of "functioning" with their day-to-day stuff.   BPD is not written on their forehead.  Sometimes it is even very hard even for psychiatrist to come to a BPD diagnosis, because they usually are not the ones triggering the bad behaviors, fear of abandonment and low self-esteem.

[Danie14]

I’ve wondered this myself about my uBPDstmxH (gosh that’s a lot of letters!) because it confuses me. Too look at him he’s basically a normal guy, like everyone else. Other’s view him as wonderful a real family man. Living with him is difficult but no one really knows this because he just acts normal. He holds a good job in this little community, he has history here, family, sits on community committees….he’s got ‘friends’ but not best friends…he says I’m his best friend and he doesn’t need anyone else…

You know a few months ago we were arguing so badly, things were awful…I seriously asked him ‘do you love me or do you hate me?’ because I really don’t know. I can’t look to his actions for this as a true indicator because he literally is pushing me away with one hand and pulling me closer with the other hand.

High functioning? Yes, because I’ve been here to help him in a way he couldn’t help himself. But I really don’t kid myself anymore... . it’s never ever been about me…never….I’m just filler for his void. Its about him, everything is always about him….frustrating…no matter what I say his response (if he decided to respond) is about HIM somehow some way…I can try and talk to him seriously about our son’s high school grades and he’s going to say ‘well when I was in high school….’ and so I bring the convo back around to our son or I try to do that anyway….

WOW, and another thing….no matter what I am not allowed to show negative emotion, at all in any form or he’s freaking out. Even if I get after the kids for not doing dishes he’s freaking out on me (Oh like you always do the dishes!) If I try to address his bad behavior (in an adult way) oh you’d think I’m asking him to cut off his left arm….but I’m ranting here, sorry…

Yes, high functioning vs. low functioning. I guess the concept is similar to high functioning alcoholics or individuals on the autism spectrum or other such things.

[BorisAcusio]

Almost every workplace involves some degree of human interaction so it inevitably triggers them sooner or later. Mine could be classified as low functioning, even parasitic but she could perform quite well for a short time when the stars aligned, then regressed back to the base level or below.

The same dynamic applies to those who are labeled as high functioning. Maybe different socioeconomic background, marketable skills, more impulse controll.

[BlondeRunner]

High functioning? Yes, because I’ve been here to help him in a way he couldn’t help himself.

This! This is what confuses me. He has things relatively together at the moment but only because I was there to bail him out. He almost ended up homeless! I organised his finances. Sorted his job issues. He would be on the street right now. I know he has been homeless twice in the past when he didn't have anyone.

[BlondeRunner]

The same dynamic applies to those who are labeled as high functioning. Maybe different socioeconomic background, marketable skills, more impulse controll.

Hi Boris 

Thanks. That's interesting. My dBPDexbf had zero impulse control. Literally zero! He gets agitated with a co-worker and he will grab his stuff and walk right out, never to return. Unbelievable.

[Tausk]

From what I understand, it's important to realize that there is very little data regarding therapy for BPD who are "high functioning."  And the "high functioning" description as has been mentioned really applies to daily life such as work, police, cutting, suicide attempts... .  It does not mean increased success with interpersonal relationships.  

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY... . IT DOES NOT MEAN MORE LIKELY TO HAVE POSITIVE RESULTS FROM THERAPY.

The Disorder is relationship based.  When a pwBPD is functioning in society, they are often in the Detached Protector schema.  That's why no one else on the outside can see we what we see.  But with us, for the most part, they are either abandoned child, angry child, or punitive parent.  

Many of us on this side of the board might hold out malignant hope when our exes are able to function and be successful in the outisde world that therapy might work for them because they are more functional.  My ex has a Ph.D in Social Work.  Believe it or not, a ton of therapist are BPD as well.   But there's some data and conjecture that high functioning pwBPD may be even more resistant to real change because they are high functioning enough not to have to change.

When someone has committed suicide attempts, or have their arms cut open like shaved beef, or has been repeatedly beaten up and raped by the different men they leave with at the bar, then there's a chance that the pwBPD migh be forced to look at themselves.

But as my ex gfwBPD screamed at me, "Why did you say I might have a Disorder.  :)oes a person, who's a professional, with a graduate degree have a disorder?"

In response,  I could only be silent and cry to myself in sadness.

The Disorder exists to deny itself.

[Skip]

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY... . IT DOES NOT MEAN MORE LIKELY TO HAVE POSITIVE RESULTS FROM THERAPY.

It is my understanding:

"High functioning" and "low functioning" are about functioning in society - steady employment, paying bills, avoidance of high risk behaviors, ability to handle stress, etc.

High functioning and low functioning relate to the severity of the disorder. High functioning is less severe.  Generally, the younger and the higher functioning, all other things equal, the easier the road to recovery.

Seeking recovery tends to be lower for higher functioning individual in all areas of mental illness.  People generally enter into treatment when they are in crisis.

The difficulty in relationships does not directly translate to overall severity as severity is measured in 4 dimensions, and relationships are but 1.  A higher functioning person may be less problematic on most days and then do something devastating where as a lower functioning person may have more problematic days.

[Blimblam]

I was with an overall Higher functioning. 

what it means to me is once you are discarded she will excel while you fall apart.  That's been my experience.