81. S7, Ep1: The challenge of creating the life you want when you diverge from the neurotypical ‘norm’

Dr Kate Tomas is a Spiritual Mentor who lives in mid Wales in the UK. Kate developed powerful psychic abilities from an early age, and by 22 had built a thriving international practice as a witch, healer and psychic for individuals, multinational brands, governments and CEOs. She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Theology from the University of Oxford, and is a world expert in Mysticism and Catholic women mystics. In 2018 she started a program called The Spiritual Life Upgrade to give women and non-binary people access to the core teachings of her spiritual tradition. First diagnosed with the connective tissue disorder EDS, Kate was diagnosed autistic and ADHD in her late 30s, when, like so many of us, she found herself making sense of many aspects of her life. In our conversation, Kate and I talk about: ➡ How our concept of self can change with an autism diagnosis ➡ Masking, misophonia, texture issues, and re-watching the same TV shows ➡ Structural oppression and privilege and how these relate to neurodivergent people ➡ The joy of gradually unmasking with our partners  This episode of the SquarePeg podcast is sponsored by THRIVE, my live workshop series. In these workshops I invite late diagnosed autistic women and nonbinary people to come with me on a journey of self discovery around life, work, personal fulfilment, and figuring out what you want out of life, what you actually need as an autistic adult, and how to start creating the life you truly want. If you’d like me to let you know when the next live round of workshops is open for enrolment, go to squarepeg.community/thrive/. Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. I’m Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I’m now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn’t quite fit.   EPISODE LINKS: Kate’s website: https://www.drkatetomas.com/ Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katetomasphd/   If you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/  Or on my website: https://squarepeg.community/    THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS! A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast: Abi Hunter, Abigail J Moore, Amy Adler, Amy-Beth Mellor, Annette, Ben Davies, Benita Borchard-Thierbach, Caroline, Cat Preston, Catrin Green, Cindy Bailey, Corinne Cariad, Danielle Warby, Dawn Trevellion, Emily, Elizabeth Vezina, Elizabeth Williams, Galina, Gwyneth, Jackie Allen, Jeff Goldman, Jen Bartlett, Kate Faust, Katharine Richards, Katherine Lynch, Kenneth Knowles, Laura Battley, Lea Li, Leo Ricketts, Lilli Simmons, Lyb, Mandy Allen, Pete Burke, Rebecca Kemp, Sarah Cottrell, Sarah Jeffery, Sarah Ivinson, Sarah Swanton, Sioned Wynn, Suzanna Chen, Suzanne, Tessa Valyou, Tree Hall, Una Walkenhorst, Vicki Temple, Victoria Routledge and Zephyrine Craster. If you’re enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from just £3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast