Daryl Hannah Reveals Autism Diagnosis That She's Tried to Hide Her Whole Life

donderdag 26 september 2013

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Jill Baughman 2 hours ago

Here's some surprising news coming out of Hollywood today: Daryl Hannah revealed she was diagnosed with autism as a child. She also had struggles with "debilitating shyness" as a result of the disorder. Kind of unexpected, right?

Known for her iconic roles in Kill Bill: Volume 1 & 2, Splash, Blade Runner, and Wall Street, she said that she's been able to stay under the radar when it comes to her diagnosis and quietly manage her symptoms. Considering no one has any kind of privacy in Hollywood anymore, the fact she has kept this a secret so long is quite a feat.

Also once making headlines for dating John Kennedy Jr., she admitted to People magazine, "I’ve never been comfortable being the center of attention." You can see the interview in Friday's issue, when she also said, "It’s always freaked me out."

At times that she'd become so shy, she'd rock back and forth constantly. As a teenager, when she started to become famous, she had to hide her autism diagnosis in her professional life and couldn't do promotional appearances or talk shows. She said it was "not because I was above it, but because I was terrified."

Wow, what a brave thing to finally admit after all these years! Especially for someone who confesses that she is petrified of the spotlight. She went on to say, "I’m a grown up now. I’ve learned a couple of things that really would’ve made my life easier if I’d known them 20 years ago .... I wasted so much time scared, self-conscious, and insecure."

It's rather inspiring that woman who enjoyed so much success in Hollywood was once diagnosed with autism and couldn't even go around promoting her own work as a result, which is such a major factor when it comes to a movie's success nowadays. The 52-year-old beauty should also serve as an example that people who are diagnosed with autism or fighting chronic shyness can go on to have amazing careers and fulfilling lives. Good for her for coming out with her autism and opening up about how she was able to overcome her symptoms while still being able to let her guard down and perform in front of a camera and crew.

Now she's enjoying life with her boyfriend of three years, a pig they rescued name Molly, and a farm she's living in near LA. She's also an environmental activist who's been arrested a couple times during protests. Regardless, she's a true inspiration for anyone with autism or battling shyness, and we wish her even more continued success in both her private and public lives.

Are you surprised to hear that Daryl Hannah was diagnosed with autism?

Image via World Travel & Tourism Council/Flickr

Click "Like" for more about parenting kids on the spectrum. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jill Baughman

is the copy chief of The Stir and geeks out over all the nuances and weirdness of the English language.

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'RHONJ' Recap: Did Teresa Giudice Imply That Jacqueline Laurita's Son's Autism Is Due to Bad Karma?

maandag 26 augustus 2013

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Julie Ryan Evans 10 hours ago

It was off to Arizona for the entire Real Housewives of New Jersey crew this week. It was Melissa Gorga's birthday, and they were determined to celebrate, relax, and continue the healing that began after their last group getaway.

The big confrontation between Penny and Jen and Melissa last week had stirred things up a bit. The Gorgas were more wary of Teresa Giudice and her involvement in the whole mess. "Something's fishy," Joe said. Still they decided to try and see if Arizona could bring about more resolution and bonding. 

For awhile it did. Rosie Pierri told Teresa she'd jump in front of a coyote for her, and they all were moved after an energy healer brought both Rich and Kathy Wakile to tears with messages from their deceased parents. 

As everyone but Melissa (who was sick) was out hiking, they stopped for a ceremony in which everyone was asked to write down something they wanted to let go of and then burn it. As one by one they all wrote down something seemingly related to Teresa, I was worried it was going to get ugly then. When it was Teresa's turn, she said, "I’m just really emotional listening to everyone who had a problem with me."

I thought that was going to be the beginning of a big brawl once again, but surprisingly, instead of her usually defensive attack, she called them all up to stand with her. Then she told them she was happy with how things were going with all of them, and that she wanted to keep working on things. It was very Kumbaya. 

Then she and Jacqueline stepped aside. Jacqueline had admitted how much she'd missed Teresa, and there was a hugfest coming on. Then with just a few words, Teresa put a screeching halt to the rekindling of their friendship. She said:

My thing is I never want to do anything to hurt anyone else because karma might not only come back to me but to my daughters.

Jacqueline's face froze, and previews for next week show her ranting about how Teresa was perhaps insinuating that her autistic son's problems were a result of her bad karma. Honestly, I'm not sure I would have made that leap had it not been for Jacqueline's reaction. Teresa really couldn't be that cruel, could she?

But the more I think about it, why else would she say that? We know she has a propensity for getting words and phrases wrong, but this seemed perhaps a little more well thought out. It could be one of those things that she's been dying to say, but can throw out there in this manner and claim total innocence. I can just hear her now calling Jacqueline crazy for even thinking she meant that. 

I'm honestly torn here. I don't want to believe anyone would go that low, but as we've learned time and again with these ladies, you just never know.

Do you think Teresa was making a dig at Jacqueline and her son with her remark about karma affecting your children?

Image via Bravo

Click the "Like" button below if you're a fan of Real Housewives. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Julie Ryan Evans

can be found writing from coffee houses wherever she may be. The quality of her days is largely influenced by the seat she nabs and whether a protein plate is available.

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New Study Linking Autism and Anorexia Could Make All the Difference for Teens With Eating Disorders

woensdag 7 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Jacqueline Burt 4 hours ago

As someone who struggled with anorexia for my entire adolescence and a large part of my childhood, I've always felt that the way in which the condition is treated generally misses the mark. Sure, society's unrealistic expectations for women's bodies and the fashion industry's glorification of emaciated teenagers aggravate symptoms, but anorexia is first and foremost a disease, not the byproduct of a beauty-obsessed culture. Which is why I was interested to learn about a recent study that could change the way doctors and therapists view anorexia entirely: Researchers at Cambridge University have found that girls with anorexia "possess traits that echo characteristics of autism." 

Prior to now, anorexia was considered an eating disorder, primarily. And while the study's lead researcher, Simon Baron-Cohen (hmm, any relation to Sacha Baron Cohen?), calls this a "reasonable" approach because of anorexia's obvious food/body image associations, there's a lot more going on ... 

Apparently, traits shared by both anorexics and those with autism include difficulties in the areas of social interaction, empathy, and communication, plus tendencies towards repetitive behavior and rigid interests. The difference, according to Baron-Cohen, is that in anorexics, these tendencies manifest "as an obsessive focus on food intake, weight, and body shape."

What this means for treatment going forward isn't yet clear, but I'm hopeful this finding is a step in the right direction. The "obsessive focus" really strikes a chord ... I know that when I was at my worst, I felt, more than anything, like I was trapped in some sort of obsessive-compulsive hell: I was less concerned with my actual appearance than I was with the precise location of the needle on the scale or if the skin on the apple I was about to eat was sufficiently uniform in color or whether one day's calorie count came to the exact amount as the day before. 

I learned to manage my symptoms years ago, but one of my worst fears is that my now 12-year-old daughter will someday fall prey to the same disease that overshadowed everything else about my growing-up experience. Hopefully she'll never go through what I went through, but for the sake of all the girls who will, I pray this new information leads to a breakthrough of some kind.

Are you surprised to hear about the link between anorexia and autism?

Image via Paul H/Flickr

Click "Like" for more about parenting kids on the spectrum. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jacqueline Burt

has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, and websites. She is easily bored and often tired, so she requires constant entertainment to keep her awake. Dance, Monkey! Dance! 

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Powerful Video Shows What the World Looks Like to Someone With Autism (VIDEO)

dinsdag 23 juli 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Ericka Sóuter 3 hours ago

Autism is a perplexing disorder, even to parents of children on the spectrum. Try as they may to understand exactly what their child is going through, it can seem like an impossible feat. Well, 18-year-old autism activist Carly Fleischmann wants to help us all understand how she and others like her see the world. She has created a video that provides a shocking snapshot into her life and the frustrations she feels when her body won't let her voice be heard. I promise, you have never seen anything like it.

The video depicts an outing to a coffee shop with her father and sister. Carly, who was diagnosed with severe autism, cognitive delay, and oral apraxia at age 2, has opinions that she just can't express. As she describes it, "Autism has locked me inside a body I cannot control." This shows you her perspective of what is happening and her interactions with everyone, including the weary barista and the perplexed customers.

Heartbreaking, isn't it. Carly and so many other kids with autism have so much to say, but they simply can't say it. This video certainly sheds a profound light on what they go through. It breaks my heart they have to endure this. It's so important for the rest of the world to be aware of their frustrations and struggles.

What is your reaction to Carly's video?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ericka Sóuter

is a veteran pop culture and celeb news writer. That experience boils down to two things: she knows way too much about the Kardashians and she dominates on Trivial Pursuit's arts and entertainment questions.

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