But this 16-year-old, who even uses her Asperger's as a "superpower," is still struggling to grapple with her newfound celebrité — Margaret Atwood once called her Joan of Arc. But with the foresight of someone wiser than her years, she still presses for the public to pay less attention to her and more attention to climate change. A self-described introvert, Thunberg was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome four years ago and also has selective mutism — a severe anxiety disorder in which a person is unable to speak in certain social situations. Thunberg credits both conditions for her tenacity as an activist. And for many members of Gen-Z, who love a good meme about anxiety, she is an inspiration.