Channel 4 star Guy Martin recently confessed on being dismissive of his Asperger's diagnosis before admitting it might have benefitted him while competing in motorsports.
The 39-year-old former motorcycle racer confirmed back in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome.
In a feature article he wrote for the Sunday Times, he expressed how conceited he had originally felt, prior to coming to terms with the news.
He wrote: “It’s true I’ve been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, but I would say: "What a load of tripe.
"They try to put names to it. 'Oh, he’s like that because of this.'
"Everyone’s different. We’re all different."
Guy went on to reveal that it was his longtime girlfriend, Sharon Comiskey, who had encouraged him to seek help with a psychologist as a result of "turning her crackers".
"It’s probably what helps me with endurance racing on my mountain bike," Guy said.
The motorsport junkie retired from motorcycle racing in 2017, following an accomplished career, where he had a total of 17 podium finishes at various TT events.
Despite breaking his back twice during racing competitions between 2010 and 2015, the sportsman made a comeback and joined Formula 1 car team Williams’ pit crew for the Belgian GP in 2017.
Asperger’s Syndrome, which is an autistic disorder resulting in poor social interactions, obsessions, odd speech patterns and limited facial expressions, can contribute to a person’s focus and persistence on a subject with an attention to detail.
"The way I look at it is that maybe having that is why I am the way I am,"Guy wrote.
He added: "Maybe that is all down to the autistic side. I don’t know.
"If there are any benefits to having it, it’s that you just get your head down and get on with things.
"I apply that to the way I work. If you’ve got an awkward job at work, you just get your head down until it’s sorted."
Like what you see? Then fill your boots…
There's MUCH more where that came from! Want all the jaw-dropping stories from the world of showbiz and up to the minute news from TV and soaps?
Well, we've got you covered with our showbiz, TV and soaps newsletters – they'll drop straight into your inbox and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.
We'll bring you the inside track from telly expert Ed Gleave and soap specialist Sasha Morris. Oh, and your daily fix of Piers, Katie Price, Demi Rose and all your other Daily Star favs.
You can sign up here – you won't regret it…
Reflecting on his diagnosis, the Channel 4 presenter admitted that despite his lack of rapidity, he was "good at getting his head down".
“I did an ultra-endurance mountain bike race — the longest mountain bike race in the world — across the Great Divide from Canada to New Mexico,” Guy wrote.
According to the National Autistic Society, Autism, including Asperger syndrome, is much more common than most people think, seeing there are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK, representing more than 1 in 100.
The diagnosis is a complicated and at times a lengthy process involving a multidisciplinary diagnostic team – often including a speech and language therapist, paediatrician, psychiatrist and/or psychologist.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Read Full Article
