Audience questions, and the Treatment Online Interview
I did an interview with the folks at the Treatment Online website.
And in other news . . . .
Last night I spoke at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vermont. We had a good crowd, 75 people or so, and two questions from the audience stood out. I'd like to repeat them here:
A fellow in the front asked, "Are there places in the world where Aspergians are treated better?"
As it happens, there is such a place: Australia. For some reason, the Australians have a very high level of awareness when it comes to Asperger's and autism issues. It's probably no coincidence that Tony Attwood, one of the leading "Asperger doctors" is from down there.
What can we learn from the Australians? Can their teachers and mental health people show us something?
And the second question was, "My Aspergian grandson comes to our farm and he seems a lot better when he's outdoors as opposed to being in the city. What do you think about that?"
I think the same thing is true for me. I find the constant background noise, the lights, the people, the smells of a city distracting and stressful. I do find it relaxing to be in nature where it's simple . . . just trees and grass, simple sounds (water, wind, rain), old familiar smells (dirt, plants) . . . I love being outside and I think it is very theraputic for folks like me.
So I have a question for my Aspergian and autistic readers . . . do you find it peaceful to be in nature? and the reverse . . . do you find cities stressful?
The more people I meet on my book tour, the more I see that things I thought were peculiar to me are actually typical of Aspergians as a group. Neat.
I really want to thank all of you who come to see me at these readings. As much as you come to see me, I go to see you, to hear your stories and listen to your insights. Thank you all for coming.
And in other news . . . .
Last night I spoke at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vermont. We had a good crowd, 75 people or so, and two questions from the audience stood out. I'd like to repeat them here:
A fellow in the front asked, "Are there places in the world where Aspergians are treated better?"
As it happens, there is such a place: Australia. For some reason, the Australians have a very high level of awareness when it comes to Asperger's and autism issues. It's probably no coincidence that Tony Attwood, one of the leading "Asperger doctors" is from down there.
What can we learn from the Australians? Can their teachers and mental health people show us something?
And the second question was, "My Aspergian grandson comes to our farm and he seems a lot better when he's outdoors as opposed to being in the city. What do you think about that?"
I think the same thing is true for me. I find the constant background noise, the lights, the people, the smells of a city distracting and stressful. I do find it relaxing to be in nature where it's simple . . . just trees and grass, simple sounds (water, wind, rain), old familiar smells (dirt, plants) . . . I love being outside and I think it is very theraputic for folks like me.
So I have a question for my Aspergian and autistic readers . . . do you find it peaceful to be in nature? and the reverse . . . do you find cities stressful?
The more people I meet on my book tour, the more I see that things I thought were peculiar to me are actually typical of Aspergians as a group. Neat.
I really want to thank all of you who come to see me at these readings. As much as you come to see me, I go to see you, to hear your stories and listen to your insights. Thank you all for coming.
Comments
I'm much happier and at peace when surrounded by the sounds of nature.
Maybe my autistic nephew Travis is blooming in his little house in the north woods for that exact reason.
He is slowly learning from his mistakes, but it's painful to watch.
I just realized recently that I feel more at home in urban/suburban places. I grew up around Cleveland/Akron, and I find that certain cities feel much more like home than anywhere else.
Cities like Cleveland, especially, whose soul is as informed by its architecture and history as by its geography. And oh yeah, the people ain't that bad either. ;)
In short, I definitely understand the urge to be surrounded by nature, but that's just not who I am.
yet helping fluffy get outside has always been a bit of a challenge--he's more of an inside kid, neither country nor city. once we entice him outside, he seems to really enjoy it.
Woof!
So the need for wide-open spaces and seclusion is a trait that all people share. Mother Nature is calming and centering because it exists in harmony. The need for balance is a basic biological necessity that is hard wired into our brains. Moreover I think that this need for logic and order is perhaps a more distressing requirement for an Aspergian. Neurologically typical people can withstand more chaos and confusion. (We have a higher threshold.) The mind universally has a need to organize all stimuli into patterns of meaningful order. This is difficult to do in the city. The brain is always seeking in all of its thought processes a state of weightless, fixed, motionless balance… absolute balance. That is why being in nature is so important; it allows our mind to rest. That is also why we love beauty and art. Our minds are constantly striving for equilibrium and to project meaning onto the external world to obtain closure, to create order out of chaos…
I also think that Aspergians are better-treated in Asian countries. Many Aspergian traits are highly respected in Asian cultures. My husband is Chinese and is considered "normal" by Chinese standards, but "odd" by Western standards. And Asian cultures have little to no concept of Western-conceived "mental illness" or psychology in general.
Thanks for checking out my blog. :)
I think yes, that nature has a calming effect on most beings (not all). There is something comforting about trees, rocks, sand and hills that cities cannot provide. Trees, rocks and sand don't stand to judge nor stand for anything but what they are. But on the other hand, I think they do crave social interaction, so if they can get it with someone who shares this interest, and maybe later find their niche by working around it, all the better.
Anyway, I wanted to tell you 2 things:
1. The Writerly Pause wants to book you in for January for a conference call. Are you available?
2. Former baseball pitcher Jim Gott has two sons with autism. He could've spent the rest of his life as a talk radio show host, but spends his retirement teaching social skills courses at a school just for autistic children. Read the article --it's a good one.
Hope you are well.
Sorry I haven't been around, but I've been super busy.
I agree about Australia about the ten deadliest everything but I don't know if I'd put "men" in that category, though you are a girls and I am not, so perhaps that explains it.
Jill, that's interesting what you say about Asperger's in Asia. I had not heard that before, but it was a surprise about Australia too.
I find that nature can be calming, but as one other person mentioned, I find myself getting lonely for contact with others.
Personally, I have found that the place I live now with its wooded suburbs on a mountain gives me the best of both worlds. It allows me to be more out in nature, but the big city is just a few minutes away at the base of the mountain.
I'll email you, or do you want me to run this through your publicist?
We're trying to line up people for '08. If you know anyone, let them know about us.
Give me a big city, an apartment, a cozy spot in a huge library or restaurant or coffee shop, surrounded by the white noise of sound - and I'm in heaven. Peaceful. Perhaps I am the anti-Aspergian.
My daughter fares well in either setting, but prefers nature and animals, especially the calm of her grandparent's home in NY.
I'll ask everyone to go buy your book!
By the way, my daughter and I saw your book in the store. I took a photo. I"ll post it in a bit.
I was born and raised in west London, yet I like the space of the countryside, however I dislike the loneliness and lack of cosmopolitan trappings in the countryside.
Finding the right balance continues to be really difficult.
I'm really with you on your comments, Muse.
I'm sorry to say that my experience so far has been horrendous - with his school and the diagnosis, but also with his kindergarten before his diagnosis. Hopefully that will change as I find out more and make connections with other Aspergians.
When the diagnosis was first suggested, my first thought was to read all I could find. It was wonderful to find your memoir, which gave an insight into how the Aspergian mind works - and was entertaining, too. My son is mad about rock, and was very impressed when I told him about you and the flaming KISS guitar - and quite comforted.
Sorry this is so long!
PS. Yes, I often crave a retreat to nature to recharge my batteries.
Thank you for the most interesting post.
Born 50 years ago with Aspergers Syndrome caused by an accident of birth (lack of oxygen) he was the most accommodating, considerate person. Typically he had no luck in his life. I am sure he would have made a great success in his life but for this form of Autism.
He lived in a world of his own of course - and for many people he was a real handful. I will touch on his life a lot more in future weeks but for now I will just say he passed away in Portugal last year - suddenly - when he suffered a heart attack (pulminary oedema to be exact) - he never regained consciousness. We all flew out, in the middle of the night, to Lisbon.
Somehow he knew he was going to die. He said as much to my aunt. But he was frightened of strange situations - like the doctors - so he paid for this fear with his very life. He was on a cruise holiday with my mum (who passed away over Christmas). Full of life to the end he said it was the best holiday he had ever been on and that "he didn't want it to end". Regretably, for him, it never did.
It is difficult to understand the meaning of love: Certainly in my lovely brother's world there was little time for demonstrative shows of affection, simply because he wasn't capable of showing the same sort of emotions as most other people - but I will never forget him or fail to love him all the same.
Gary Miller 19 May 1956 - 21 August 2005
Your laugh mattered
Your love mattered
But, above all, it mattered that you were loved