Irish writer Stefanie Preissner has revealed that she has been diagnosed with Autism.
She shared the news on Instagram explaining how she didn’t realise Autism could “look like [her]”.
She wrote; “2021- the year I learned that I’m autistic. I’m still learning new things every day. I feel a bit like a child again. Thank you to those of you who tuned into Newstalk and have messaged. My DMs are a bit bananas.
“Some of you have been really perceptive and picked up on things- in my books, in my articles or just the bits I share on Instagram. you have all been so kind in your messages and I’m really grateful.
I’m still processing everything
“I’ll be writing a little bit about it in tomorrow’s @lifesundayindo in the main paper. And you can listen back to @newstalkfm with Anton Savage.
“Instagram is a bit overwhelming at the moment so I’m sorry if I’m inconsistent in using it.
“I’m absolutely the same person I always was, I have always been autistic. I just wish I had known that autism can look like me. My idea of autism was based on Rain Man, or a small boy who can’t make eye contact. It’s so much more than that. I am having to evolve my understanding of myself and the neuro-divergent community, and that’s a process I’m going thru at the moment.
“I’m learning so much from amazing organisations like @asiamireland and @thriving.autistic – they know infinitely more than I do and are an incredible support.
“Thank you for your support, grace and patience. Instagram has been such a lovely community for me in the last year.”
Stefanie had an extremely eventful 2021 as well as this diagnosis, she married her husband Noel Byrne in an intimate ceremony with just 30 guests.
Stefanie told The Independent “My priority is home and family. The fact I can gather together all the people I love and who love me to show them that I am introducing a new person to my family and for Noel to introduce me to his family is what our wedding is all about… This is like the release of a pressure cooker of 18 months of restrictions, lockdowns and loss — it has rejuvenated us all.”