Emotional Outbursts And Acute Anxiety
Susan Boyle was under the impression for the entirety of her adult life that some of her behavior was due to the alleged “mild brain damage” she sustained at birth. This was something that she believed to be true. But all of that changed when she was finally given answers that helped explain her “emotional outbursts” and “acute anxiety” after she was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. According to a report from The Scotsman in 2013, she stated that when she was a child, she was given the incorrect diagnosis. “I was told that I had damage to my brain. I’ve always been aware that it was an unjust designation. Now that I’ve got a better idea of what’s going on, not only do I feel relieved, but I’ve also started to feel a little more at ease with who I am.”
As a result of Boyle’s public commentary about her condition, there has been a resurgence of interest in Asperger’s syndrome in the United Kingdom. Robert MacBean, campaigns and policy officer for the National Autistic Society Scotland, stated that Boyle’s revelation had altered the course of the discussion. “By revealing her diagnosis, Susan Boyle is helping to highlight that there are older people with autism in all of our communities who need our support and care,” said MacBean. “By revealing her diagnosis, Susan Boyle is helping to highlight that there are older people with autism in all of our communities.” Boyle insisted that receiving her diagnosis did not alter her in any way, but rather provided her with a much deeper comprehension of who she is.