I always look for new books on Learning Disabilities, Autism, or ADHD to add to my reading list. Sarah Kurchak’s memoir, “I Overcame My Autism, and All I Got Was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder,” has intrigued me. I have heard that it is a personal account of the author’s life as an autistic person, and it shows the harmful effects of pretending to be “normal” in society. This is an important topic, especially since autism is often misunderstood and misrepresented in the media.
My reading list is very long, but the book will be on that list. I wish to understand better autism and anxiety disorders, which are frequently linked. Books like this can offer us valuable insight into the experiences of those with different abilities and help us grow more empathetic and mindful as a society
What is Sarah Kurchak’s memoir all about?
Sarah Kurchak's memoir, "I Overcame My Autism and All I Got Was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder," is a personal account of her life as an autistic person. The book explores the detrimental effects of pretending to be normal and the need to redefine what is considered a successful life. Kurchak describes her step-by-step process for navigating an autistic life, from growing up undiagnosed in small-town Ontario in the eighties and nineties to becoming a writer whose work has appeared in The Guardian, CBC, Vox, and Electric Literature.
Kurchak experimented with careful masking techniques to fend off bullying daily but found that it was a one-way ticket to burnout. Kurchak experimented with careful masking techniques to fend off bullying daily but found that it was a one-way ticket to burnout. She began feeling this burnout from maintaining a non-autistic facade and working two jobs. In her twenties, this finally led to a diagnosis.
As Kurchak entered the world of freelance writing, she began asking why eye contact is still forced when so many autistic people have pointed out that the effort and discomfort involved make them less capable of performing well. As Kurchak entered the world of freelance writing, she began asking why eye contact is still forced when so many autistic people have pointed out that the effort and discomfort make them less capable of performing well.
Kurchak's memoir highlights some issues that older autistic people could face with age. For example, menopause can do a unique number of older autistic people with uteruses; few medical resources are available to help them through that.
Her memoir also sheds light on the difficulties that autistic people face in a society that often doesn't understand or accept them. It also highlights the damaging effects of masking and pretending to be "normal" to fit in. Through her personal journey, Kurchak brings attention to the need for greater understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity in society.
Suppose you want to learn more about autism and anxiety disorders or better understand the experiences of those with different abilities. In that case, I highly recommend checking out Kurchak's memoir. In addition to her book, there are also several articles available online that provide further insights into Kurchak's work and experiences.
I’m looking forward to reading this book someday! It sounds like an informative book to learn about her autism and how she coped with the anxiety disorder.
Check out articles from pastemagazine.com, published in 2020; cbc.ca, published in 2018; and medium.com, published in 2021.
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