FEATURE:
sleep at night
Cat Burns and Her ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Diagnoses
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THE more that artists are open…
and they bravely discuss mental health issues and other illnesses, the more we get an understand of the industry at large and what many artists go through. Many artists have struggled with touring and the demands it places on them. Lewis Capaldi is one of the most recent musicians to do so. He also revealed the struggles of his Tourette’s Syndrome. Other artists have anxieties that mean they cannot tour a lot. It is hard today because there is so much competition for relevantly few gigs and radio playlists. Maybe that feeling that, post-pandemic, there is catching up to do. To get seen and keep a momentum going, so many artists play on through clear struggles and obstacles. The fabulous Cat Burns has been hailed as an immense talent to watch closely. A breakthrough talent who many hope will bring us an album soon, she has recently discussed her ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnoses. The BBC reports on what the situation is:
“If you're a Cat Burns fan, you'll know her lyrics are honest.
It's something she wants to extend to her personal life too - which is why she's opened up about her recent ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis.
The singer tells BBC Newsbeat the diagnosis has left her with a better understanding of herself, saying life now "makes sense".
But like lots of people, Cat's route to being diagnosed wasn't straightforward and she's sharing her story in the hope it helps others.
In 2021, the 23-year-old was told she had ADHD and then in April this year she tweeted to say she had also been diagnosed with ASD.
In the days after her ADHD diagnosis, Cat says she did a lot of reflecting on life leading up to it.
"It was non-stop, thinking about experiences in school like revising and studying and all the other things I struggled with daily," she says.
ADHD affects people's behaviour, resulting in symptoms like restlessness and trouble concentrating.
Although Cat's diagnosis was one step further to understanding herself, she still felt her brain was "different".
"I knew I had ADHD but I still felt there was a difference in my brain that I wanted to understand and explore.
"So once I got my autism diagnosis that helped me understand myself and just how much I've had to do in order to get to where I am."
Cat believes her road to diagnosis was harder because she's a woman and person of colour.
"I think it comes from the research that's out there and the idea lots believe women can't have autism, and then on top of that adults can't have autism," she says.
"It [research] needs to be across the board, but especially with women and black women."
Like most conditions, there are lists of symptoms for ADHD and ASD but Cat says they'll present differently depending on who you are.
One sign of autism is fidgeting, but, she points out, how a black woman fidgets will be different to a white man for example.
"I guess being a black woman, there's certain experiences we have that people won't be able to pick up on.
"For a black girl, it could be taking out her braids and putting them back in or something else to do with her culture that's overlooked."
Another way autism can manifest is a feeling of being overwhelmed when exposed to bright lights or loud noises.
You might think that would make performing difficult, but that's when Cat goes into "auto-pilot".
Many other artists, fans and those in the industry will either have a similar diagnosis or they have symptoms – and Cat Burns’ revelation will get them to get an official diagnosis. It is commendable that she has revealed her ADHD and ASD. I wanted to write about it, as someone who feels very similarly to Cat Burns and it has a big impact on my workload and life in general, it is very encouraging and inspiring to read her words. Of course, she will have to adapt slightly when it comes to gigs. Having recently written about Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual by Tamsin Embleton, not only is that a very useful and relevant guide for so many right now. I wonder if there is a documentary or podcast that reacts to artists taking time from the stage and revealing illnesses. Time was when many would either live with something like ASD or Tourette’s and that would either be part of their ‘art’ or it would be dismissed. Now, there is healthy conversation about a variety of conditions. That honesty is very brave and refreshing. It also means that many fans who might be similarly affected find the courage to open up. I think that there is perhaps a stigma or pressure cancelling gigs.
Maybe artists feel like they are letting fans down or will lose too much. Actually, I am not sure whether Cat Burns will cancel gigs or take things down a bit. At the very least, she understands her better and it puts a lot of things into context – which, in turn, will affect her career and songwriting (for the better) going forward. If there does need to be dispensations for some artists depending on their illnesses, there is this movement where more are either seeking a diagnosis and/or discussing it with the media. I think there is this ideal or perception that artists power through and do not have vulnerabilities. Everyone wishes Cat Burns well. I think that she is going to be one of our most celebrated and successful artists for years. Burns revealing her ADHD and ASD, I think, gives the listener and wider world a new perspective on her music and lyrics. I don’t know whether her touring will be affected, but there is going to be some impact at the very least. It will be fascinating to see…
WHERE she heads next.