Look Me In The Eye Analysis

Look Me in the Eye, a memoir by John Elder Robison, describes Robison’s life in detail growing up with Asperger’s, a form of autism. Ever since he could talk, Robison displayed unusual behaviors: often times Robison made inappropriate comments and was intermittently prone to violent outbursts. Since Asperger’s was not recognized in the 1960s, Robison was not diagnosed until the age of 40. However, Robison was able to overcome his label of “social deviant” and developed a knack for engineering, successfully maintaining a career and a family (Robison). John Elder Robison did not receive any form of treatment; he developed alternative ways to cope with his cognitive issue. Maybe there is something to be learned from Robison’s experience in relationship

Prescription drugs pose many health risks including both short term and long term side effects. Every prescription information sheet from any local pharmacy lists a plethora of warnings, cautions, and possible side effects. In many cases, the patient is forced to wonder if the prescription drug will help their illness, or cause further medical issues. Side effects that are considered “mild” are still troubling. Side effects such as drowsiness, sleeplessness, muscle pain, dizziness, nausea and bouts of depression may not appear to be harmful but can cause serious consequences. Dizziness, for example, can cause falls and broken bones, especially in elderly patients who are already unsteady on their feet. Even a side effect such as muscle aches can affect one’s ability to work. In addition to common side effects, many drugs can cause dangerous side effects. These risks include heart attack, stroke, cancer, and suicide. Patricia Barry, a healthcare columnist, points out that medications can lead to completely separate health problems. Barry insists that when patients consult with their doctors about the side effect, they are only treated with yet another drug; this is known as a drug “cascade.” She goes on to claim that tens of millions of people suffer each day due to the side effects of drugs. Also, she acknowledges that adverse side effects cause for 4.5 million emergency room and doctor’s office visits per year. Moreover, Barry acknowledges that serious drug reactions are the fourth leading cause of hospital deaths, only topped by stroke, cancer, and heart disease. The facts Barry offers are notable because of the cyclical effect drug use imposes on patients: a patient takes drugs, the patient has side effects which land him or her in the emergency room or hospital, the patient is prescribed new or “better” drugs, the patient continues to have side