Susan Boyle, the Scottish singer who became an overnight success after starring on "Britain's Got Talent" in 2009 told The Observer she was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome last year.
Asperger's syndrome is defined as a developmental disorder that's a form of autism by the United States National Institute of Health. Those who live with Asperger's Syndrome are characterized by poor social skills, physical clumsiness and narrowly focused interests, meaning they dedicate their entire focus to a sole purpose or act.
In the interview with The Observer, Boyle said after being told she had brain damage as a child, she went to a specialist in Scotland because she didn't know what to make of the condition she was diagnosed with. The specialist told her she had Asperger's and an above-average IQ.
"I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label," Boyle told The Observer. "Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong and I feel relieved and a bit more relaxed about myself."
The 52-year-old just released her fifth album comprised of Christmas songs, and her debut album, "I Dreamed a Dream," sold more than 8 million records, placing it at the top of 2009 music charts, CNN reported.
Boyle told The Observer she hoped revealing her Asperger's diagnosis will lead people to "understand and treat her better," adding she thinks it's important for her to have a support team.
"I am not strong on my own," she said. "When I have the support of people around me I am fine."
With learning difficulties as a child, Boyle struggled in the classroom and said she was bullied by the other children, according to The Observer. After being put in the spotlight in 2008, Boyle began to struggle with fame and had to be treated for nervous exhaustion, according to CNN.
"I would say I have relationship difficulties, communicative difficulties, which lead to a lot of frustration," she said. "If people were a bit more patient, that would help. Asperger's doesn't define me. It's a condition that I have to live with and work through, but I feel more relaxed about myself. People will have a much greater understanding of who I am and why I do the things I do."
