When singer-songwriter Cat Burns opened up about her ADHD and autism diagnoses ahead of her appearance on Celebrity Traitors, her honesty struck a chord.

It wasn’t just a celebrity headline — it was a moment of recognition for thousands of people who have spent years wondering why they think, feel, or work differently.

Her words have sparked a wider conversation about what it means to understand your own brain — and why so many people, especially women and creative professionals, are being diagnosed later in life.

“I Knew I Had ADHD… But There Was Still Something Different”

Cat Burns has spoken openly about being diagnosed with ADHD years ago, describing how her brain never seems to stop. But recently, she revealed that she also discovered she’s autistic.

“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 … just how much I’ve had to do in order to get to where I am.”

Her words highlight something many people experience, the sense of always working twice as hard to fit in, but never quite understanding why things feel different.

For others, it’s about finally having language for something they’ve always known intuitively: that their brain processes information, emotion, and creativity differently.

Why Her Story Resonates So Deeply

Cat’s story goes beyond diagnosis. It captures the complexity of living in a world that often wasn’t designed for neurodivergent people and the relief that comes from finally understanding yourself.

For many people, particularly women, ADHD and autism traits are masked for years. They might appear organised and high-performing on the outside, but internally, they’re exhausted from overthinking, overworking, and overcompensating.

Hearing someone as talented and visible as Cat Burns talk about her experiences makes people feel seen — whether they’ve already been diagnosed or are still questioning.

And that’s the power of representation. It reminds us that neurodivergence doesn’t look one way. It can be quiet, creative, empathetic, restless, or deeply reflective.

The Bigger Picture: A Wave of Self-Understanding

Cat’s openness comes during a time when more adults than ever are seeking diagnoses for ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent conditions.

This isn’t because there’s a sudden “epidemic.” It’s because people finally have access to information, community, and language that previous generations didn’t.

Social media has played a huge role. People are recognising themselves in posts, videos, and shared experiences that show they’re not lazy, forgetful, or “too sensitive” they just process the world differently.

Diagnosis, for many, brings self-acceptance, but it can also bring grief for the years spent misunderstood. Cat’s story captures that perfectly — the relief and the reality that comes with knowing yourself more deeply.

What This Means for Everyday Life

Cat Burns’s story isn’t just about labels. It’s about finding better ways to live, work, and connect.

For those who relate, here are a few takeaways:

1. Understanding your brain is powerful

Whether you have a diagnosis or not, learning about neurodiversity can help you understand your strengths and challenges, from creativity and focus to social energy and sensory needs.

2. You’re not “too much” you just process differently

Neurodivergent people often internalise years of criticism for traits that are simply part of how their brains work. You might need structure, quiet, variety, or movement and that’s valid.

3. Support makes a huge difference

At work, simple changes like flexible deadlines, written instructions, or quiet spaces can help neurodivergent employees thrive. For friends and family, understanding and patience go further than advice ever could.

4. Awareness helps everyone

When workplaces, schools, and social circles learn about neurodiversity, they become better for everyone — not just neurodivergent people. Clear communication, variety, and empathy improve collaboration and wellbeing for all.

How Enna Fits Into This Conversation

At Enna, we believe stories like Cat Burns’s are changing the world of work for the better. Every time someone speaks openly about their neurodivergence, it pushes the conversation forward, from awareness to acceptance, and from acceptance to action.

We work with organisations across the UK to help them understand, include, and support neurodivergent employees through:

• Training for managers and teams on neurodiversity and communication.

• Workplace audits that identify hidden barriers to inclusion.

• Consultancy and strategy support to help leaders embed long-term change.

Because inclusion shouldn’t be about compliance, it should be about culture.

👉 Learn more about our neurodiversity training
👉 Explore our neurodiversity workplace audits

Final Thoughts

Cat Burns’s honesty about her ADHD and autism reminds us that neurodiversity isn’t rare — it’s everywhere. You might not always see it, but chances are, you’re working alongside it, raising it, or living it yourself.

The more we listen to stories like hers, the more we realise that neurodiversity isn’t something to fix — it’s something to understand, celebrate, and design better systems around.

And when workplaces, schools, and communities start doing that?
Everyone wins.