PDA (Pervasive Drive for Autonomy)

PDA known as Pervasive Drive for Autonomy or more pathologically defined as Pathological Demand Avoidance is a is a nervous system disability that can overlap with autism, but as of yet has not been determined to be exclusive to autism. In it, the demands of everyday life, even self-imposed demands, can create intense anxiety. These responses are driven by the individual’s nervous system, not by choice.

The window of tolerance (see definition below) for PDA folks is much smaller, and the demands of daily life, for example “small” tasks such as brushing teeth, can internally feel like intense, large demands that can illicit a threat response due to a perceived loss of autonomy. Sometimes these threat responses are externalized in meltdowns, or what some in the PDA community call panic attacks. Other times, the threat response is internalized and can look like self-shaming or restricting the intake of food.

As the parent of two PDAers, I am here to validate your experience as real, whether as a the parent of a PDA child or a PDAer yourself, as well as help you develop a system of sustainable living.

WINDOW OF TOLERANCE:

a concept that describes the optimal level of stimulation or arousal that allows a person to function in their daily life