Dr. Phill show about AS today, 17th Jan 2005

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Dr. Phil 3 p.m. NBC 17th Jan: The doctor talks about Asperger's syndrome and Tourette's syndrome.

Anyone see the show, I’m in Ireland so I wont see it for a few weeks.

Was the show good or bad?

I read the Dr. Phil website. The show seemed to dwell on anger issues and AS, if it were a diagnostic criteria of AS. I’m worried it would give a narrow and incorrect idea of AS.

What timezone?

hm.

I wonder what he will say.


BeeBee

Most local stations will show Dr. Phil at 3pm EST, CST, MST and PST. Some other stations show it at 4 or 5pm.


This is Dr. Phil's local TV listings page

http://www.drphil.com/shows/listing/

and here is their message board for the Show on AS and TS

http://www.drphil.com/messageboard/topic/914

and this is their email contact

http://www.drphil.com/plugger/respond/?plugID=9164


You will need to register on their website

...

Here's my analysis of the show ... I didn't think it was *the* worst of the talk shows, but was just in the general group of all the very bad talk shows about neurological conditions. I thought his treatment of AS was FAR worse than the treatment of TS (because he exploited the parents' marital difficulties).

But mostly, I was very alarmed to see the doctor promoting brain imaging as a diagnostic and treatment tool. The mother of the AS boy appeared to take hear in the fact that she was going to get a useless picture of her son's brain.

http://tourettenowwhat.tripod.com/Dr._P ... ette's.htm

Okay, I've been to this site before, but as the mom of an Aspie, I didn't join until today.

What am I going to do now? My 9-y-o has been recently dx with ASD (probably Asperger's but this is a new doc and he's holding out until he really gets to know my boy).

I have family out-of-state that watched this. I have grandparents that watched this.

I know darn good and well that if we hadn't acted when we did my son would either implode (suicide) or explode if we didn't change. My Alex is not that Alex, but he could have grown into that boy. I am desperately trying not to be that Alex's mom even though I was raised that way and used to think that is the way it is - children do what they're told (and by God they better do it now).

I honestly feel that by trying to treat our son as a valuable, functioning human being and member of our family that we have turned the tide. He's smart, perceptive, intelligent, kind and even seeking out friendships - the difference has been amazing since we learned he's supposed to be this way.

Now, Dr. Phil has shown the world that we live in a home where our very lives could be in danger (yeah, I know, he needs ratings for advertising) - but how do we go to our family and show them _all_ of Alex?

I feel sorry for the kid that was on. It must be hard having to go through what he's feeling. But I am kind of miffed that Dr. Phil decided to be a sensationalist and choose someone with the "worst" aspects of aspergers. There are many people in this world with aspergers that have been able to lead normal lives, and some have not even realized that they had it until later in their life.

He also makes it sound like all aspies have violent tempers. I know that in my family, surrounded by NTs, I was actually the lesser-of-evils! And for me, things got a lot better when I was diagnosed with AS a few years ago. I was able to make huge improvements and both my family and friends say they notice it in me.

EDIT: I've decided that I was too harsh with what I've said and I apologize for that. I am sure many of the viewers of Dr. Phil are fine people. I would also like to add that having read the forums, the source of Alex's (the kid who was featured on the AS segment) violent mood swings is indeed a mood disorder, and NOT the AS itself. The mother mentioned it on the forums, but it was never said on the show. I am positive that the frustrations of not being able to understand nonverbal language from other people (*thus feeling left out) can cause mood swings, but the AS is not the primary culprit of it.

Very, very misleading.

i havent seen it yet but i think its about time people knew more aout AS cause i get sick of explaining my self to other people who cant be bothered understaning me any way.