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James Durbin and Ariel Small star in powerful new documentary 'Different is the new normal' that takes aim at the stigmas surrounding the disorder
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The principal -- there had been this incidentally my heart just instantly dropped.
I was contemplating things like in suicide or running away and I was determined to never had.
Experience -- I wouldn't you wouldn't advocate myself.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I just got off -- shows week after we just performing.
-- -- That's different is the.
Look I'm not joking I have chills right now OK -- goosebumps.
Because.
Not enough people talk about things like this this is such an honest portrayal.
And I'm really really honored to have both of you here first -- -- I'll introduce you first because you are probably the most recognizable by you have your hat on there.
James Durbin -- in ten American Idol not just participant folks finalist.
And you're in this documentary as well and we really appreciate that you're doing this especially because you have this platform.
To talk about it and -- joined by Arial small.
Who also stars in the PBS new documentary not to be missed.
Different is the new normal there is a web site different is the new normal dot com and I'm gonna ask you guys to check it out a -- you -- these two.
They bonded over this experience an -- you first your mom.
Turn the camera on you.
You were for this project from the beginning you have to Iraq.
-- -- Tell us well at first a little apprehensive she's really just filming everything we're doing I was going -- began -- schools and shoot.
Come over and and film then.
It really started to pick up steam when she started filming everything rather than just the students schools and we didn't really -- word go but we knew go somewhere and it would help someone somewhere and so how long.
I was fifteen.
An issue -- threats mild or severe.
Well threats it is it's kind of a spectrum and when I was younger -- more severe when I was going through puberty in middle school.
I was kind of at its peak and as -- as I've gotten older right now it's a lot less severe but obviously when it's stressful times it comes out more and wax and -- -- time.
At James how.
Did you do what you did he said thirty million people saw you perform.
That's stressful.
And it's very stressful.
I there was definitely.
Platform.
And -- and definitely an experience forward for me you know as a person.
-- but also having.
-- and -- and also Asperger's was the high functioning autism and those are some who live learn and learn about myself and just learn how to handle it learned how to deal with that and.
It's -- are you feeling when your family that sort of spectrum.
We think that my dad had.
But we'll never know he's not with us and -- And what if you learned about having.
Having Asperger's you say high functioning thank goodness.
There are some that are not as lucky.
Directs.
More physical manifestations.
For you or verbal.
Both definitely both how hard is it for you to do this right now.
It's not too fired got more sleep than it is the man before.
And and I found sewing helps really does keep me calm.
I was Obama's willingness and this stuff.
They're fabulous.
I -- -- harmless you know why because you're both relatable.
To people who don't understand.
What to -- and other.
You know look it's a gift really it innocents is not a disease it's very disorder in a sense it's something that you will give it to.
To function way and you are both highly functioning.
What's your message -- at this -- what do you want people to get from the documentary because there's a lot of misunderstanding about this.
-- only understand it better.
I think.
-- a -- better about the the message that I really want people that this is that.
Disorders are just challenges that people are gonna face in life than.
Other half of the images that you back in and they really restore rule and want to get over that hurdle should look for the next hurdle because.
How life is about challenges in embracing them and that that makes us all stronger people.
Arizona is medication helpful.
I think that for some people can be very helpful I know for myself over this past summer at all medication because.
One -- -- really see.
Who I was without any extra help and I've been very successful -- -- And I think that it works either way it's a personal preference and really however you want to do for the.
James I want to know how you met but I want -- ask you that question as well because.
A lot of teenagers in particular -- that gets frustrated.
Medications can make you drowsy.
Your friends find out -- medication so a lot of teens in particular and self -- What's your message about that.
You know it's it's.
I'm so against you know you can and his vision for me you know -- -- -- And that's the stigma more statements that comes -- structural.
And it's just I'm I'm I'm here on this -- in in this world for.
Lose his natural -- -- there you know you don't -- -- to find you don't need to find it from some narcotic.
I was taking Zoloft and quantity and when I was younger and I stopped cold Turkey was the same with me and and that scenario is that and I just wanted to.
As you wanted to be mean if this is the way that god made me and so be it that's -- great reason.
Now I know what that reason is I'm supposed to share with other people and tell them my life story and and you know portion in this together and hopefully -- in the world.
Wolf when I got the boot vital.
Wrong folks.
Hey here's what it is -- -- It was it was the best time and only time that it could have happened.
-- -- PC -- people called my people.
And this is where they came to the hotel and we hung out -- and straight.
Great shot.
My understanding is that -- Boys slash men.
Have these challenges then girls.
And women.
Is it something million both said -- you've gotten older you've been able to get off medication we don't want to suggest that folks that needed and are on medication stopped cold Turkey certainly something that you should.
But -- your parents listened to your doctors on.
But does it get easier or Wayne in any way medically.
As a science behind the fact that it that it may -- Mariel over time what have you -- I've got the lessons over time I can't speak for all cases but I know that.
-- majority that as you get older -- decreases and I think that when you live with the disorder for so long you also learn strategies to deal with the disorder.
And so part I think is the medical side but also -- psychological and and understand yourself better and and knowing how to live your life with the disorder rather living your life against the so.
-- -- -- -- -- -- Team -- now policy ladies how how difficult is it to explain to somebody.
That you made eighty have a physical manifestation or verbal outburst or other things.
That may happen as a result of this.
Why I think that that when you find someone that you truly love you don't really need to explain to them.
I think that that's -- -- -- he's good.
He's he's gorgeous now.
James you you are -- -- I would certainly think that do you feel like the possibilities for you personally -- professionally are are infinite that anything you want at this -- -- Accomplish.
As long as I keep my heart in it.
And as long as they keep good mindset you know that's -- is for me is is -- And we're dealing with tourette is that a I just have to keep.
A positive mind and have to be very positive all the time and that's the -- diagnosed I was diagnosed when I was.
Ten.
I lost my dad.
To heroin overdose when I was nine and that was -- really.
Trying time for me.
It was going through a lot of changes.
I was also -- Every day elementary school middle school up to high school.
And so I was.
I was very stressed and that's when it really came out and we went to a child neurologist and right off the -- Was diagnosed.
And put on -- Saturday and -- right better than exactly.
That's a tough thing she went through with an extraordinarily difficult.
Experience.
Arial how about you when did you learn that you had.
This and and would have to make changes in your life to accommodate it.
Ultimately I was six I was diagnosed and I was playing in my -- want to -- got my parents -- -- -- -- -- doctors and pediatricians and of official and -- neurologist who got the diagnosis and -- wasn't really -- much older that I understood what it was because they -- secure thing you have threats as well all right cool.
All but it wasn't chosen.
Like fifth grade -- six -- -- -- sort of really realize -- talk a little different.
How did you are there other people other than to have you in the documentary and I haven't had the privilege of seeing it but I certainly will not miss it.
And I would encourage folks to -- or use social media to let.
Everyone know that it's going to be on.
PBS when does it debut.
And they admit this month it's gonna debut.
-- exactly sure of the -- -- -- we're gonna find.
We're gonna find it and folks should go to the web site different is the new normal I'm gonna put it up on my social media pages.
You brave your your folks are here carry out your mom turned the camera -- you.
Most kids would hate their parents for doing that.
But what you doing -- others is extraordinary I'm so privileged to meet both of you.
Think silence it's certainly personal interest in changing people's minds about all of this and I appreciate your honestly.
