Ladyhawke Asperger Syndrome

• 26th Nov 2008

Pip Brown, aka Ladyhawke, has been telling BBC Newsbeat about having Asperger syndrome and being in the public eye. AS, which affects approximately one in every 100 people in the UK, is a form of high-functioning autism which causes those with the condition to struggle in social situations. The Vines' Craig Nicholls also famously has Asperger Syndrome.

Brown said: “I guess in myself it's not in my nature to open myself up to people and I feel quite exposed. I'm a really private person – I don't really go out often. I sort of regret opening myself up to the public that much. On the other side of things I am glad that I've been able to talk to people in a similar situation. I hear from a lot of people on MySpace who have Asperger. A lot of people I can relate to write me messages and stories about themselves. I only have a very mild form of it and there are some people who have it so bad that they find it too hard to even write a message to me – I love that I've been able to talk to people and be able to relate like that”.

She continued: “People shouldn't be scared of it or anything. Some people don't even realise that they have it. I went through my whole life not knowing until only a few years ago, when it was just doing my head in and I had to get help”.