tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post116809201754595856..comments2024-01-24T11:20:46.055+00:00Comments on in regione caecorum rex est luscus: Actress & Composer's Daughter, Nikki Bacharach, Commits SuicideUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-27400866907729255322007-06-26T17:16:00.000+01:002007-06-26T17:16:00.000+01:00I have a 25 year old son recently diagnosed with A...I have a 25 year old son recently diagnosed with Aspergers. I understand him now, so much more than I did in the past. As a teenager he was frequently depressed. He had no friends growing up. And, he was completley focused on the weather all time. He watched the weather channel 24/7, when other kids were out riding bikes and etc. He felt so alone. Even though he at least always had me. <BR/Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00156199656401718424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-80217130700711820822007-04-24T22:38:00.000+01:002007-04-24T22:38:00.000+01:00I have always wondered what had happened to the Ba...I have always wondered what had happened to the Bacharach baby and was saddened at the news that Nikki Bacharach had taken her own life. I feel a connection with Nikki and her parents because my daughter was born the same day at the same hospital, in Glendale CA, and was also premature. I would visit the Bacharach baby at the same time I would visit my own daughter and knew the feeling of Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-1168280766896455882007-01-08T18:26:00.000+00:002007-01-08T18:26:00.000+00:00I have just written a letter to the Independent co...I have just written a letter to the Independent commenting on this article<BR/><BR/>http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2134839.ece<BR/><BR/>Mike Stanton has suggested I post a copy here<BR/><BR/><I>Dear Editor<BR/><BR/>As a person who has Asperger's syndrome (I do not like to say I "suffer") from it, I have been concerned at the reporting over the sad loss to us all of Nikki Larry Arnold PhD FRSAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05074432718592268750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-1168209738158006732007-01-07T22:42:00.000+00:002007-01-07T22:42:00.000+00:00On another list someone mentioned that she was bor...On another list someone mentioned that she was born premature and this may have contributed to her poor eyesight. Apparently she was depressed because poor eyesight, not Aspergers prevented her from pursuing her chosen career. <BR/><BR/>So she was ravaged by prematurity. Aspergers gave her a reason to live - her special interest in geology. An accident of birth deprived of the means to follow herAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-1168207017084361172007-01-07T21:56:00.000+00:002007-01-07T21:56:00.000+00:00I am so glad I found you guys. My 7 year old son h...I am so glad I found you guys. My 7 year old son has Asperger's and I would never describe his brain as "ravaged" with Asperger's. He actually enjoys his Asperger's and has fun with it. I have explained that the Asperger's is what makes his mind never be "quiet", but it's also what makes him SO smart, have such a remarkable memory, and be able to add up so many numbers in his head. <BR/><BR/>As aAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-1168184546895666542007-01-07T15:42:00.000+00:002007-01-07T15:42:00.000+00:00So far as I am aware the phrase comes from the pre...So far as I am aware the phrase comes from the press agency who handles the Bacharach's affairs.<BR/><BR/>I have emailed them about this phrase, but don't hold out much hope of a response.Larry Arnold PhD FRSAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05074432718592268750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-1168178958235023662007-01-07T14:09:00.000+00:002007-01-07T14:09:00.000+00:00I feel for Nikki.I have Asperger's syndrome and th...I feel for Nikki.<BR/>I have Asperger's syndrome and this is a very odd world to live in, if you see it differently from 99% of the people around you. But I would not describe my brain as "ravaged" with it. Most of us with Asperger's do not want to be cured. We want to be understood.<BR/>(Was "ravaged" her view, or that of someone else? It would be good to know...)<BR/>chris@x-track.demon.co.ukAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-1168126619975762422007-01-06T23:36:00.000+00:002007-01-06T23:36:00.000+00:00This is a great tragedy. I, too, would have thoug...This is a great tragedy. I, too, would have thought that someone with Aspergers Syndrome in a higher economic class, like Nikki Bacharach, would have had an easier time dealing with the difficulties. <BR/><BR/>However, the general public is so unaware of the actual issues of autism maybe it doesn't matter much what class one is in. The feelings of isolation, the misunderstood difficulties, areAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-1168116277401350072007-01-06T20:44:00.000+00:002007-01-06T20:44:00.000+00:00As I said I am sure there is a vast and untold sto...As I said I am sure there is a vast and untold story behind this. I wouldn't mind more money myself but there are some things it cannot buy me as entropy eats into my being (and my landie deteriorates in sympathy)<BR/><BR/>There are some things wrong in the story, for instance when was Nikki diagnosed with AS? the rather sparse press reports suggest that the dx existed long before it did in the Larry Arnold PhD FRSAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05074432718592268750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-1168114470753928812007-01-06T20:14:00.000+00:002007-01-06T20:14:00.000+00:00This also reminded me that money and comfort can't...This also reminded me that money and comfort can't insulate one completely from lonliness and isolation.<BR/><BR/>I hope technology will accelerate its advance to allow a much higher percentage of those disabled a social network that will not only foster a lot of shallow acquaintances, but also deep, meaningful relationships. <BR/><BR/>I often wonder if an engineer was to think of the lonliness Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-1168098804567420532007-01-06T15:53:00.000+00:002007-01-06T15:53:00.000+00:00I'm afraid this feeds directly into my own fears. ...I'm afraid this feeds directly into my own fears. When the children were first diagnosed one of the clinicians advised [apart from the issue of retardation] that drugs were a 'must' due to the high incidence of depression and suicide.<BR/>I also read that Temple Grandin found great relief in drug therapy.<BR/>If that statistical data is valid, then perhaps it is due to societal pressures rather Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22240007.post-1168097028523296022007-01-06T15:23:00.000+00:002007-01-06T15:23:00.000+00:00Indeed, and those external reasons cannot have bee...Indeed, and those external reasons cannot have been helped by a prevailing culture that claims that AS "ravages" the brain. It is that kind of emotive talk at the wrong time that can tip the scales.<BR/><BR/>The Bacharach family have kept very quiet about this up to now, but are they connected with Autism speaks in any way I wonder, the press statement ties in with there style of hyperbole.<BR/><Larry Arnold PhD FRSAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05074432718592268750noreply@blogger.com