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CEASE Therapy

drewmunn

I was recently followed on Twitter by a company called CEASE Therapy. Having looked at what they do, and what they stand for, I decided to write them an open letter. In short, CEASE Therapy claims to cure autism using homeopathic treatments. Now, I'm neither a believer in homeopathy, nor in curing autism, so I wrote this letter to vent my frustration at such claims, and to see if they would explain themselves. Much to my surprise, they replied. They didn't say much, beyond the fact they don't share my belief that autism can't be cured.

I'm also interested in what people here have to say about their claims; do you believe autism is something that can be cured? Do you think it's something that should be cured? I think of it very much like race, gender, or sexuality; it's part of a person, not a disease or illness. In fact, I think autism can bring about greatness. I agree that it's not nice seeing people struggle with everyday life, but do you think it's worth the possible heartbreak? You can read my letter, and their reply, here. I'd welcome anything you have to say on the matter.

Thanks in advance. Smile

  • Thank you all for your comments and opinions.

    NAS5794 said:

    I'm in a state of shock. "Complete elimination"! They make us sound like fleas! Autism is not a "serious disease". Even if there was a cure, I'd avoid it like the plague. Living with Asperger's may be difficult, but I'm not ill, and I believe it makes me a better person than I would otherwise be. I wouldn't know who I was if I was "cured"!

    I have to say I totally agree, that's exactly what I thought when I first read their website.

    I'm not a believer in Homeopathy for use as a cure for anything, but it angers me when I read of someone trying to cure something that doesn't need curing. I'm also reassured by the number of you who have said that you wouldn't take that option; my worry would be that people who do can be devastated by the outcome.

    If there is a cure... why don't GPs and psychiatrists know about it?

    There was a part on QI last night where Brian Cox basically said a similar thing, and again, I completely agree. Having spent a good few years of my life sitting through science lectures, I fully understand the importance of double-blind randomised trials. I cannot see any flaw in this testing that would make alternative medicine both effective, and also invisible to the wider scientific and medical professions.

    Surely, if there were any evidence to prove a cure is accurate, then it would have been welcomed with open arms? Not by the autistic community, but by the government. Think of the amount they could save by 'curing' autism or other learning difficulties, rather than supporting them through their lives. I don't agree with that viewpoint, but I know it would exist if the cure did.

    I've asked CEASE to send me more information on their therapies, including any testing evidence, but they have yet to respond. I wonder why that could be...

  • I have only this to say to CEASE:

    Imagine a world where everyone on the planet has some form of ASD, all on varying parts of the spectrum. What would it be like?

    A quieter less judgemental place in my opinion. If everyone with any form or symptoms of ASD were to be 'eliminated' (seriously? Who runs this company, Hitler reincarnated?) what would the remaining 'normal' people do? Get drunk, drive at things, have petty squabbles and never bother progressing humanity?

    Sad people like that are out there really....can't they focus on a real threat, like cancer, children dying of starvation or even preserving the planet?

  • If there's a cure, (which apart from the sensory stuff, I don't want) why don't GPs and psychiatrists know about it? One of the first things I was told by my GP and psychiatrist was that there's no cure. You may get therapies for things like behaviour or speech difficulties; but these aren't cures.

  • hi drewmunn - thanks for taking so much time over this  My son's in his 20s now.  Over the yrs various people/organisations have said they can cure autism.  Others have said they can cure cancer.  Poppycock. In time these people's claims have been disproved.  Unfortunately each time someone says this some parents  hope they're right + follow these theories.  It doesn't help the child or the parents.  In fact it can be counterproductive all round, resulting in many negative feelings.  We all notice coincidences.  We think something caused something else to happen.  Sometimes we're right but often we're wrong.  Homeopathy, in my opinion, is irrational, altho if someone really believes in something it might make them feel more positive I suppose.  I would say to parents who discover these sites to beware.  Stick with the tried + tested.

  • This is a debate that arouses strong emotions on either side, but speaking as someone with Aspergers, I certainly don't think that Aspergers should be cured. People who think AS should be cured have the problem, not people with AS. Despite having AS, I enjoy my life and learning about the world, despite my struggles and ongoing battles with chronic anxiety and OCD behaviours. I have no need to do the 'normal' things like get married, have children, be fashionable, go to parties etc. I am happy being me, despite my eccentricities. Without AS, I would be a different person, and perhaps I would see things differently, not better or worse, just differently. And that is the key: we are all different and all get pleasure from different things. Is getting pleasure from watching a film over and over again really inferior to spending hours getting drunk at a night-club?!