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| Ladyhawke speaks about Asperger's | |
| (4 days later) | |
| By Greg Cochrane Newsbeat music reporter | By Greg Cochrane Newsbeat music reporter |
| Ladyhawke aka Pip Brown released her self-titled debut album earlier this year | Ladyhawke aka Pip Brown released her self-titled debut album earlier this year |
| Sometimes it can go undiagnosed. Sometimes it can go ignored. Sometimes it can go unnoticed. | Sometimes it can go undiagnosed. Sometimes it can go ignored. Sometimes it can go unnoticed. |
| Asperger syndrome - a form of autism characterised by difficulties dealing with people and social situations - affects close on one in every 100 people in Britain. | Asperger syndrome - a form of autism characterised by difficulties dealing with people and social situations - affects close on one in every 100 people in Britain. |
| With 500,000 people in the UK alone having the condition, it's a lot more common than the disability's current profile would suggest. | |
| "People with Asperger syndrome often have a unique way of experiencing the world," explains Mark Lever, chief executive of the National Autistic Society (NAS). "Many express this with great success through creativity and the arts." | |
| "Without the right help and support [it] can have a profound effect on people's lives." | "Without the right help and support [it] can have a profound effect on people's lives." |
| 'Private person' | 'Private person' |
| One high profile sufferer is New Zealand songstress Ladyhawke aka Pip Brown - currently enjoying extensive airplay with her latest single My Delirium. | One high profile sufferer is New Zealand songstress Ladyhawke aka Pip Brown - currently enjoying extensive airplay with her latest single My Delirium. |
| Pip was only diagnosed with Asperger syndrome a couple of years ago. She is, understandably, still a little wary of speaking about the subject. | Pip was only diagnosed with Asperger syndrome a couple of years ago. She is, understandably, still a little wary of speaking about the subject. |
| "I guess in myself it's not in my nature to open myself up to people and I feel quite exposed." | "I guess in myself it's not in my nature to open myself up to people and I feel quite exposed." |
| "I'm a really private person - I don't really go out often," she says. "I sort of regret opening myself up to the public that much." | "I'm a really private person - I don't really go out often," she says. "I sort of regret opening myself up to the public that much." |
| "On the other side of things I am glad that I've been able to talk to people in a similar situation." | "On the other side of things I am glad that I've been able to talk to people in a similar situation." |
| Indeed, since revealing her diagnosis she has been regularly contacted by other people for advice. | |
| Pip Brown live onstage | Pip Brown live onstage |
| "I hear from a lot of people on MySpace who have Asperger. A lot of people I can relate to write me messages and stories about themselves." | "I hear from a lot of people on MySpace who have Asperger. A lot of people I can relate to write me messages and stories about themselves." |
| "I only have a very mild form of it and there are some people who have it so bad that they find it too hard to even write me a message to me - I love that I've been able to talk to people and be able to relate like that." | "I only have a very mild form of it and there are some people who have it so bad that they find it too hard to even write me a message to me - I love that I've been able to talk to people and be able to relate like that." |
| 'Hidden disability' | 'Hidden disability' |
| The condition itself can often go completely undiagnosed. Termed a "hidden disability" it can instead be attributed as shyness, social awkwardness or depression. | |
| "People shouldn't be scared of it or anything," explains Pip. | "People shouldn't be scared of it or anything," explains Pip. |
| "Some people don't even realise that they have it. I went through my whole life not knowing until only a few years ago, when it was just doing my head in and I had to get help. " | "Some people don't even realise that they have it. I went through my whole life not knowing until only a few years ago, when it was just doing my head in and I had to get help. " |
| Early reviews of Ladyhawke's live performances noted her meekness and reluctance to interact with her audience. | Early reviews of Ladyhawke's live performances noted her meekness and reluctance to interact with her audience. |
| She is though, still learning how best to cope with her condition. Her commitment to a touring lifestyle means she continues to confront challenges on a daily basis. | She is though, still learning how best to cope with her condition. Her commitment to a touring lifestyle means she continues to confront challenges on a daily basis. |
| Some people don't even realise that they have it. I went through my whole life not knowing until only a few years ago Ladyhawke | Some people don't even realise that they have it. I went through my whole life not knowing until only a few years ago Ladyhawke |
| "I have real moments, quite often in sound check, when I just don't feel like I can perform," she admits. | "I have real moments, quite often in sound check, when I just don't feel like I can perform," she admits. |
| "I don't feel like I can sing. I have these voices in my head telling me that I suck and I can't do it." | "I don't feel like I can sing. I have these voices in my head telling me that I suck and I can't do it." |
| "There's one side of me saying suck it up and do it. And there's another side that says everybody's looking at you and they're judging you." | "There's one side of me saying suck it up and do it. And there's another side that says everybody's looking at you and they're judging you." |
| "It happens to me every single show without fail, so I'm getting used to it." | "It happens to me every single show without fail, so I'm getting used to it." |
| In many senses the condition itself is invisible. Symptoms are often subtle, if noticeable at all. For example those it affects might find comfort in routine or possess a unique focus on special interests. | In many senses the condition itself is invisible. Symptoms are often subtle, if noticeable at all. For example those it affects might find comfort in routine or possess a unique focus on special interests. |
| "I'll hone in on something like a game and I'll end up being obsessed with it for a long time," Pip concludes. | "I'll hone in on something like a game and I'll end up being obsessed with it for a long time," Pip concludes. |
| "So at the moment I'm just playing Lego Batman on the Wii. I play it so much that I fall asleep and end up dreaming that I'm destroying things and turning things into Lego money." | "So at the moment I'm just playing Lego Batman on the Wii. I play it so much that I fall asleep and end up dreaming that I'm destroying things and turning things into Lego money." |
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