Scottish comedian Fern Brady discusses her autism diagnosis, catholic upbringing, and the chaos prior to her diagnosis. She also talks about her odd jobs, including working at a student newspaper and lap dancing, and how her diagnosis has changed her. She shares her future plans and gratitude.
Fern Brady's autism diagnosis in adulthood shed light on her sensory overload and the importance of recognizing physical symptoms of stress.
Fern Brady's experience with her Catholic upbringing fueled her sense of mistrust toward authority figures and influenced her stand-up comedy.
Deep dives
Discovering Autism and Its Impact on Mental and Physical Health
In this podcast episode, Fern Brady, a Scottish Stand Up comedian and best-selling author, discusses her experience of being diagnosed with autism at the age of 34 or 35. Fern talks about the challenges she faced in her life before the diagnosis, including depression, anxiety, burnout, and an abusive relationship. After the diagnosis, she gained a better understanding of her sensory overload and the importance of recognizing her physical symptoms of stress. Fern highlights the need for better understanding and awareness of autism, especially in relation to the unique experiences of women with autism.
Growing up Catholic, Losing Faith, and Mistrust of Authority Figures
Fern shares her experience of growing up in a Catholic household and attending church regularly. She enjoyed the religious rituals and superstitions as a child, but as she grew older, she started questioning her faith. She recalls moments of doubting the authenticity of the teachings and began to see inconsistencies in the actions of authority figures in the church. This experience contributed to her sense of mistrust towards authority figures in general and influenced her stand-up comedy, which often highlights the gap between what people say and what they do.
Early Signs of Autism and the Importance of Diagnosis
Fern discusses the impact of her undiagnosed autism on her life, particularly during her teenage years. She shares experiences of meltdowns, struggling with social demands, and feeling like an outsider. It wasn't until she approached a doctor with suspicions of autism that she received her official diagnosis. Fern emphasizes the importance of recognizing the early signs of autism in girls, especially when they enter secondary school, as the social demands can become overwhelming. She also highlights the need for proper support and understanding from universities to help autistic students thrive.
Autism, Sensory Overload, and Challenging Misconceptions
Fern delves into the sensory experiences of autistic individuals and the misconceptions surrounding autism. She explains how different sensory profiles can lead to issues such as avoiding certain foods, sensitivity to touch, and difficulties with noise. Fern emphasizes the importance of understanding these sensory needs and the negative impact that a lack of awareness can have on autistic individuals. She also addresses the misconception that being autistic means being socially unaware or rude, highlighting that autistic people simply process and interact with the world in a different way.
In 2020, Scottish comedian Fern Brady was diagnosed with autism. Her award-winning Sunday Times Bestselling book ‘Strong Female Character’ is an incredibly honest and hilarious account of Fern’s life as an autistic girl and woman.
Fern regularly appears on comedy panel shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats and Taskmaster as well as touring her own shows all over the world. In this episode, she discusses her catholic upbringing in Scotland and when she realised that she was different to other people, the “unrelenting chaos” prior to her diagnosis (including her time working at a student newspaper and lap dancing at the same time) and how her autism diagnosis as an adult has changed her. There’s no holding back.
Fern is currently preparing for her worldwide 2024 stand up tour ‘I Gave you Milk to Drink’. Tickets are on sale now.
https://fernbradycomedian.com/
Buy a copy of Strong Female Character here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/strong-female-character-fern-brady/6460207?ean=9781914240447
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