Affective disorders: depression, bipolar, etc.

I wish I could remember what they call it, but I recently read about a very mild type of autism that they say is prevalent in those artists and musicians who are really great at what they do and like to throw tantrums and walk off the set and stuff. It's like the vision in their head is so specific that when they miss or someone messes with it they can't handle it and freak out.

 

asperger's?

 

I think that's it, thanks!

 

My grandson is autistic, so it's an issue I care passionately about. Naturally I've been trying to learn as much as I can about it.

Two fairly recent books I've read about the experience of autism from the autistic's point of view are excellent: Animals in Translation, and Songs of the Gorilla Nation. Also, the novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime is written from the point of view of a 15-year-old autistic boy; and brilliantly done.

I find it fascinating that high-functioning autistics seem to have such an affinity for animals. The view of both the authors of those first 2 book is that their perceptions of the world around them are more similar to animals' perceptions than to more typically human ones--far more detail-centered, for example. They find so many sensory stimuli confusing, frightening, & even physically painful.

I'm grateful that autism is becoming so much better understood & treated with greater effectiveness.

 

AK-

I never tell you enough how much I enjoy your posts and how cool I think you are, so I'm gonna tell you that someday when I can find the words

 

Back atcha, plu You make me think, & you make me smile.

 

You know, AK, I've been thinking -- you truly are one of the "lucky" ones. Consider how many folks you see whenever you enter a room who have never been diagnosed -- or treated....

 

I absolutely agree! And I do think about that often. I went through years of struggle before I was properly diagnosed & treated, & I think that's very often the case.

If I hadn't made it a point to educate myself on depression & bipolar, I would have lost a great deal more of my life to ignorance; because the only person really looking out for your needs is yourself. That's a major reason that I am so offended when people say that depression is some sort of cop-out to avoid taking responsibility for one's life. I'd say part of taking responsibility is finding out what you need & going after it--including seeking medical & psychological help.

I make it a point, when I encounter people who say they are dealing with these things in themselves or their families, to be open with them & recommend resources that I've found helpful--& to encourage them. I feel it's my obligation to "pay it forward"--to pass on the things that others gave to me when I needed them.