Pretending to be Normal

Pretending to be Normal PDF Author: Liane Holliday Willey
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN: 1846422108
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 177

Book Description
`This accomplished author demonstrates incredible insight into her AS, and how it has shaped her life. She is courageous in sharing with the reader moments clearly painful to recall, which offers parents a rare peek inside the world of their children. At times mesmerized by her poetic style, Willey is the first AS author to effectively convey the emotion and isolation experienced by these individuals.' -ASPEN Newsletter `For families living with "Aspies" and professionals working with them, this is highly recommended to further understand the challenges of Asperger Syndrome' -Joan Wheeler, CoOrdinator, Regional Services `This autobiographical narrative details the life of a woman with Aspergers Syndrome (AS), a mild form of autism. It focuses on the obstacles she confronts, her means of overcoming them, and her ultimate recognition and acceptance of her status as an "aspie"...The book will be an aid for people who have AS and it may be even more useful for those who do not have it, but who are close to someone who does.' - Disability Studies Quarterly `The book will be of great benefit to everyone concerned to help children and adults with mild Asperger's syndrome, but most of all to the people who are themselves affected.' - Child Psychology and Psychiatry `The author is a university lecturer who found that many of the puzzles of her own life fell into perspective when, after several years of knowing one of her twin daughters was different from the other, she eventually found someone who listened and explained Asperger's Syndrome. She vividly describes her own difficulties and emotions as she herself grew up with Asperger's Syndrome...Her story is told simply and through it we gain insight into what it is like to lose your way in your own home town, be assaulted by your heightened senses and attempt to unravel the mysteries of social communication. In the appendices she describes the strategies that have been of most help to her. This book is a testimony to the exceptional qualities of those who have Asperger's Syndrome.' - Therapy Weekly `Before reading this book I had some academic knowledge of the symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome which had stimulated my curiosity about what it might be like to suffer from the condition. I looked forward to reading the book to see if it would help me to understand how a person with Asperger's might think and feel. I was not disappointed. The book is well written and easy to read and I found it hard to put down. I felt the author's descriptions of her struggles to communicate with others and cope with sensory overload gave me a real insight into how Liane thinks and feels. It also gave me food for thought about conformity pressures in our society and how we treat people who seem different from the norm...This is a hopeful and optimistic book. Liane is a doctor of education and she is happily married with three children. I used the words "suffer from Asperger's syndrome" deliberately in the first paragraph as that is how I saw it. Liane has a different view - she does not minimise the difficulties she has had to face but she does not wish she was different. She challenges us to think about what we mean by the word `normal' and to be less rigid in our thinking about `normal' behaviour. I believe this is a valuable read for all counsellors and will give them much food for thought. Asperger's syndrome occurs with varying levels of severity. Hopefully, reading the book will help counsellors to work more effectively with clients who may have the syndrome to some degree and to avoid labelling them as difficult. It would also be very useful for clients where they or one of their relatives might have Asperger's Syndrome.' - Relate News `Liane's autobiography will allow others to understand the world as perceived by a person with Asperger's Syndrome ... I strongly recommend this book for teachers as it will provide the previously elusive reasons for behaviours that were considered unconventional or appeared to be abnormal. Specialists and therapists who diagnose and treat such children will find the book a treasure trove of information and insight ... [this] book will be an inspiration for thousands of people throughout the world.' - From the Foreword by Tony Attwood `This accomplished author demonstrates incredible insight into her AS, and how it has shaped her life. She is courageous in sharing with the reader moments clearly painful to recall, which offers parents a rare peek inside the world of their children. At times mesmerized by her poetic style, Willey is the first AS author to effectively convey the emotion and isolation experienced by these individuals.' - ASPEN Newsletter

Pretending to be Normal

Pretending to be Normal PDF Author: Liane Holliday Willey
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN: 1853027499
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 177

Book Description
Pretending to be Normal tells the story of a woman who, after years of self-doubt and self-denial, learned to embrace her Asperger's syndrome traits with thanksgiving and joy. Chronicling her life from her earliest memories through her life as a university lecturer, writer, wife and mother, Liane Holliday Willey shares, with insight and warmth, the daily struggles and challenges that face many of those who have Asperger's Syndrome. Pretending to be Normal invites its readers to welcome the Asperger community with open acceptance, for it makes it clear that, more often than not, they are capable, viable, interesting and kind people who simply find unique ways to exhibit those qualities. The last part of the book consists of a series of substantial appendices which provide helpful coping strategies and guidance, based on the author's own experience, for a range of situations. This positive and humane book will provide not only insight into the Asperger world which will prove invaluable for the professionals who work with people with Asperger's Syndrome, but also hope and encouragement for other people with Asperger's Syndrome, their families, and their friends.

Pretending Normal

Pretending Normal PDF Author: Mary Campisi
Publisher: Mary Campisi Books, LLC
ISBN: 1938786025
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 218

Book Description
Pretending Normal, formerly Lies Imitating Life, was a past quarter finalist in Ray Bradbury’s New Century New Writer Award contest. It was also a past semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. 1976 Before-Sara Polokovich wants out of Norwood, Pennsylvania, population 4,582, where the undertaker and the butcher are the same person. All she has to do is earn a scholarship. Just two more years…but until then, she pours over classics to strengthen her comprehension skills, reviews for the SAT, and continues to request college brochures from every school in the northeast. Sara’s just buried her mother, her father drinks too much, and her kid sister won’t leave her alone. Why can’t her life be normal? Even half-normal? Why does Frank, (she refuses to think of him as her father anymore), spend all of his time in the garage with that damn ‘57 Chevy? And why does he have to hide bottles all over the house; in the red metal cupboard in the garage, behind the faded orange curtain in the kitchen, under the sink in the bathroom? Why can’t anybody talk about what’s happening? As Sara struggles to free herself from a life of dysfunction and disease, she will learn the true depths of a parent’s love and the ultimate sacrifice given— and taken— in the name of that love. Pretending Normal follows Sara Polokovich’s coming of age as she discovers the truths about family with all of its flaws and weaknesses as the bond that holds one to another, in love, loyalty, even death. BONUS: Included with this ebook is the emotion-filled short story, The Death of Mary Alice Olivetti.

Why Are You Pretending to Be Normal?

Why Are You Pretending to Be Normal? PDF Author: David Basil
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780957599901
Category : People with disabilities
Languages : en
Pages : 136

Book Description


Faking Normal

Faking Normal PDF Author: Courtney C. Stevens
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062245406
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 277

Book Description
An edgy, realistic debut novel praised by the New York Times bestselling author of Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys, as “a beautiful reminder that amid our broken pieces we can truly find ourselves.” Alexi Littrell hasn’t told anyone what happened to her over the summer by her backyard pool. Instead, she hides in her closet, counts the slats in the air vent, and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does—and deal with the trauma. When Bodee Lennox—“the Kool-Aid Kid”—moves in with the Littrells after a family tragedy, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in this quiet, awkward boy who has secrets of his own. As their friendship grows, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her summon the courage to find her voice and speak up about the rape that has changed the course of her life.

Pretending

Pretending PDF Author: Holly Bourne
Publisher: MIRA
ISBN: 1488077150
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 400

Book Description
“It made me cry and laugh and rage…A really important, timely book. Sheer brilliance.” —Lucy Foley, New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List “Thoughtful, smart and painfully true.” —Cosmopolitan UK He said he was looking for a “partner in crime,” which everyone knows is shorthand for “a woman who isn’t real.” April is kind, pretty and relatively normal—yet she can’t seem to get past date five. Every time she thinks she’s found someone to trust, they reveal themselves to be awful, leaving her heartbroken. And angry. Until she realizes that men aren’t looking for real women—they’re looking for Gretel. Gretel is perfect—beautiful but low-maintenance, sweet but never clingy, sexy but not too easy. She’s your regular, everyday Manic-Pixie-Dream-Girl-Next-Door with no problems. When April starts pretending to be Gretel, dating becomes much more fun—especially once she reels in the unsuspecting Joshua. Finally, April is the one in control. It’s refreshing. Exhilarating, even. But as she and Joshua grow closer, and the pressure of keeping her painful past a secret begins to build, how long will she be able to keep on pretending? “The most freeing, reassuring book on dating after #MeToo I’ve read. Perceptive. Hilarious. Brilliant.” —Laura Jane Williams, author of Our Stop

Safety Skills for Asperger Women

Safety Skills for Asperger Women PDF Author: Liane Holliday Willey
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN: 9780857003270
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 160

Book Description
Life with Asperger's Syndrome can be a challenge at the best of times, and trials and tribulations that neurotypicals take in their stride can leave Aspies perplexed and unsure of how best to solve problems and keep themselves safe, both physically and emotionally. This book explores difficulties that those with AS may face, and suggests practical and helpful ways of overcoming them. Liane Holliday Willey's positive and encouraging advice teaches people with Asperger Syndrome how to appreciate their differences and work from their strengths, by being honest about and coping with challenges. By setting realistic expectations, she shows how it can be possible to live on your own and take care of yourself, touching upon everything from banking and housing to roommates, friendships, and relationships. Jobs and the workplace are explored as advice is given on interviewing, performance, and getting along with colleagues, and the importance of setting boundaries is explained. The focus throughout is on keeping yourself safe, and this extends to travel, cultural awareness, and generally organising yourself. Personal hygiene and the body are also covered, along with nutrition and illness. The advice all adds up to show that people with AS can safeguard themselves from emotional and physical harm and live happy and independent lives, as long as the right guidance is available. This book will be of interest to people with Asperger Syndrome, their friends and families, and professionals working alongside ASDs.

The Art of Autism

The Art of Autism PDF Author: Debra Hosseini
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780983983408
Category : Art and mental illness
Languages : en
Pages : 144

Book Description


Let's Pretend This Never Happened

Let's Pretend This Never Happened PDF Author: Jenny Lawson
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0425261018
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 385

Book Description
The #1 New York Times bestselling (mostly true) memoir from the hilarious author of Furiously Happy. “Gaspingly funny and wonderfully inappropriate.”—O, The Oprah Magazine When Jenny Lawson was little, all she ever wanted was to fit in. That dream was cut short by her fantastically unbalanced father and a morbidly eccentric childhood. It did, however, open up an opportunity for Lawson to find the humor in the strange shame-spiral that is her life, and we are all the better for it. In the irreverent Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson’s long-suffering husband and sweet daughter help her uncover the surprising discovery that the most terribly human moments—the ones we want to pretend never happened—are the very same moments that make us the people we are today. For every intellectual misfit who thought they were the only ones to think the things that Lawson dares to say out loud, this is a poignant and hysterical look at the dark, disturbing, yet wonderful moments of our lives. Readers Guide Inside

Pretending to Be a Normal Person Day After Day Is Exhausting

Pretending to Be a Normal Person Day After Day Is Exhausting PDF Author: Suzy Toronto
Publisher: Blue Mountain Arts
ISBN: 9781598428704
Category : Conduct of life
Languages : en
Pages : 44

Book Description
Suzy Toronto puts an end to thinking you have to be, act, or look a certain way in order to fit in. Life is too short for that and, besides, it's exhausting trying to be something you're not day after day! With this light-hearted book, Suzy and her wacky characters show us that it's okay to break the rules sometimes, so long as we stay true to who we are and can learn to laugh at our mistakes. You'll be inspired to reach outside your comfort zone, embrace every moment with passion and enthusiasm, and always, always color outside the lines!