Sarah Kurchak

Sarah Kurchak is a Canadian writer, martial artist and autistic advocate. She writes about autism, mental health, pop culture and the intersection of all three with candour, intelligence and a dry sense of humour. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and she is a vocal advocate for authentic autistic representation. I Overcame My Autism and All I Got Was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder is her memoir about the experience of being diagnosed as autistic and the complicated relationship between autism, anxiety, masking and the pressure to appear "normal." The book challenges inspirational narratives about "overcoming" autism, arguing that the real struggle is often the anxiety, depression and burnout that come from a lifetime of trying to fit into a neurotypical world. Available as both a book and an audiobook, this memoir offers honest and often funny listening and reading for autistic people, their families and anyone who wants to understand the reality of living as an autistic person in a world designed for everyone else.