“As someone who struggles with ADHD, it’s common to beat yourself up and push yourself to keep going harder and accomplish more,” explains Osborn. “Self-criticism is like a drug that drives you, but also ultimately drains you. So how do I manage my inner voice while working towards my next goal?”
“I’ve realized that it’s OKAY to struggle and be insecure, because in becoming a content creator, I found a community that accepts me for who I am, and that made me want to advocate more and educate more so I could help more people. My hashtag hit 200 million views last week, and the most constant feedback I get is, ‘I always thought I was broken/alone in this struggle’; that’s why I keep doing this, even when I’m exhausted and burnt out, because there are people hurting out there.”
Osborn admits that the OnlyFans platform is ideal for allowing her to advocate for intimacy and sexual health as a certified sex educator in Neurodivergent spaces in a way that feels ethical – “TikTok has strict and stringent policies on what you can and cannot say” – while offering her the opportunity to finance speaking engagements and a national tour.
She muses that she’s stopped listening to well-meaning friends and family that have repeatedly advised her to settle into a singular career or hobby rather than a series of them: “My hobby IS having hobbies; I’ve had nine different careers since graduating. It doesn’t make me a failure, it means that I got the experience I needed to become the thing that I am now. That idea HORRIFIES a lot of neurotypical people, but it’s absolutely what I built the cornerstone of my success on.”
ABOUT CATE OSBORN:
Prior to her advocacy work, Osborn held the position of Entertainment Director at Fairburn’s Georgia Renaissance Festival, and was an actor and teaching artist at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA. She holds two master’s degrees in Shakespeare and a BFA in Theatre, and, after a formal ADHD diagnosis at age 30, now prioritizes educating others on the importance of maintaining mental health while also struggling with the ups & downs of depression.
