Stephanie Brodie
I met Steph at the beginning of this year, and getting to know her has been nothing short of life changing. It’s always such a surreal and validating feeling for me to meet other autistic women, because our experiences are barley ever highlighted. Steph has been through some of the most unimaginable trauma, but throughout has remained kind and selfless, which, I think, is one of the rarest things in the entire world. Steph now works as a neurodiversity consultant, educating companies across the country on the nuances of neurodiversity, and the strengths neurodiverse brains bring to workforces. She also works tirelessly in advocating for victims of domestic violence, and speaks regularly as a survivor of domestic abuse. More of Steph’s incredible story to follow over the next few days.
‘My name is Stephanie Brodie, I’m 47 years old. Having been late diagnosed in 2018, after battling the system for 4 years to get referred for an ASD (autism spectrum disorder) diagnosis, has meant I’ve had to relearn who I am. In my late 20’s, I bought my 1st house, had a successful career and partner, but I was unable to maintain a work, life balance. I ended up losing everything, and subsequently got involved with the wrong people and communities. Even then, I still didn’t fit in. I was initially wrongly diagnosed, and sent to The Maudsley Hospital for an ADHD diagnosis, so the consultant could ‘prove me wrong’, as he didn’t believe I was ADHD diagnosis, only to prove the consultant wrong with a diagnosis of severe combination ADHD.
I have always been constantly misunderstood, even to the point that I was nearly sectioned under the mental health act. I was forced to go to CBT sessions, and was ‘taught’ coping mechanisms that just didn’t work, and left me in a state of being more confused and with a feeling of being inadequate/ inferior.
Unfortunately throughout my life, I’ve experienced some extremely traumatic situations, that thankfully most people will never experience. People always tell me how inspiring I am, and that despite all of the things I’ve been through in my life, I’ve still come out of the other end stronger than ever. However, I don’t see that, I just see how much I have had taken away from me. I’ll never have the opportunity to be a mother or a grandma. I don’t have the stability of marriage, a secure career or a committed relationship. Reflecting back, I see that throughout my life, I’ve always been perceived as the problem. I’ve not paid attention enough and have always been regarded as rebellious because I don’t fit into the typically socially accepted perception of what, and how, a woman should be. I’m often accused of being aggressive when, in fact, I’m assertive, or due to trauma, anxious. I have had to be assertive to survive.
For 17 years, I was consistently told I’d never be able to work again or hold down a job. I never stayed idle during those years - I set up a number of community projects and finished my degree. Life has been very much like learning to drive. You 1st learn to pass your driving test, once you get your licence, you then learn how to actually drive on the road.
Coming to terms with what should have been and how difficult it's been, has been a difficult journey, which I continue to travel on. Since my diagnosis, I’ve been slowly taking off my many different masks, that I have had to use to fit into today’s society, which is not easy, especially with the world being so judgemental and fixed in the idea of how women should be.
Being ADHD, autistic, dyslexic and PTSD, I experience additional conflicts. They often work against each other, never mind our hormones, which have a huge impact on the combination of neuodiversity. I’ve found I have a strong sense of injustice and love for law, especially as it has hard facts.
I want nothing that I have gone through to go to waste. I want to thrive. We all deserve that. My desire is to continue to champion women within neurodiversity and talk about my experiences in domestic abuse, along with the criminal and civil system. I will continue to speak at public events, tell my story and empower others.
Please don’t judge a book by its cover.’
