Different Does Not Mean Defective

Here at Different Functional, we truly believe this.  We understand that trauma, neurodivergence, and mental health struggles can all interfere with our ability to function.  But we also know that being different comes with many strengths, as well. 

Being different simply means that we must find ways to function, grow, and live that are as unique as we are.  That is what Different Functional is all about: sifting through all the pieces of who you are to create your own personal definition of functioning, healthy, and happy. 

We are not mental health professionals, licensed therapists, doctors, or counselors. We are simply two neurodivergent sisters who lived through a traumatic childhood.  We have spent our lives creating meaning from our past, understanding our current selves, and learning to grow toward our own light. 

Join us on this journey of learning to become Different Functional!

Ivy (the younger sister)

After growing up in the rural Ozarks, Ivy tried her hand at being a hippie-hipster in Seattle. She was bad at it. She is currently planning to put down roots in a rural area near the Appalachian Mountains with her rugged and loveable boyfriend. For now, she kills time working as a self-employed massage therapist, tarot reader, astrologer, and podcaster. She is fond of camping, foraging, off-roading, hiking, and other wilderness-involved activities with her boyfriend. She also needs an absurd amount of alone time, which she mostly spends drinking coffee, cooking, weightlifting, reading manga, trying to remember why she walked into a room, and yelling at people in traffic even though they can’t hear her.

Autumn (the older sister)

Autumn resides in Eastern Montana with her two adorable dogs and her equally adorable boyfriend.  Living in the country on a piece of land she is slowly turning into a homestead, she enjoys the perks of the off-grid lifestyle: namely not having to pay for plumbing, sewage, and electricity.  She spends her time working for others, working on the Different Functional brand, and working to create and maintain her rural paradise.  When not working, she enjoys playing with her dogs, playing with her boyfriend, reading, eating, and sleeping.  Her favorite color is LED light blue.