How writing has set Paul free

A YOUNG man with a form of autism, who was once locked up for threatening behaviour, has written a book about his experiences.

Paul Grayburn, from Derby, was sent to a young offenders' institution after threatening to kill one of his support workers and spent a further seven years in psychiatric hospitals around the country.

The 28-year-old now lives in a home for people with learning disabilities in Mansfield and has written a book about his struggle to come to terms with his condition.

The book, called Walking on Broken Glass, tells how Mr Grayburn learned to live with Asperger's syndrome, a developmental disability.

Mr Grayburn's condition was not diagnosed until he was 19, by which time he was struggling to control his temper and had been sent to custody at 17 for his behaviour.

From there, where he says he was intimidated and abused by other inmates, he spent time in a number of secure psychiatric units under the Mental Health Act.

His book charts his journey as he learned to control his temper and channel his energies into creative writing.

Mr Grayburn said: "I wanted to share my experiences to help other people with Asperger's and hopefully prompt them to make better life choices than I did.

"Asperger's and other forms of autism can be positive. We can be very creative, intelligent and concerned with details.

"Personally, I love writing and am planning on going to college to take A-levels in English, history and media studies."

Asperger's is a lifelong disability that affects how a person makes sense of the world, processes information and relates to other people. It affects people in many different ways and to varying degrees.

Mr Grayburn said that before he was diagnosed he struggled to cope with social situations and stress, which led to outbursts of confusion and anger as a teenager.

He said: "My book details the frustrations my family faced in trying to find professional help for me, whilst due to my own behaviour I was excluded from almost every avenue of society.

"Looking back and reading my book now I shudder to think of some of the things I have said and done."

Mr Grayburn said his diagnosis was a turning point and with expert help from support workers and mental health specialists he has learned coping mechanisms.

He said: "I feel like my story has got a really positive outcome, which I would like to share with other people with Asperger's and their families.

"These days when I feel stressed I go for a walk to calm down. I love travelling and visiting new places, I have a good sense of humour, a close relationship with my family and am able to form friendships with others.

"The future is bright and my ambition is to do some more creative writing and perhaps one day be a published fiction writer."

Walking on Broken Glass has been published by Olympia and is available from the company's website, www.olympia publishers.com, priced £9.99.

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