Pervasive Drive for Autonomy / Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
What is Pervasive Drive for Autonomy (PDA)
Pervasive Drive for Autonomy (PDA) is often referred to pathological demand avoidance. However, the neurodivergent community prefers pervasive drive for autonomy. Most PDA-related behaviors stem from lack of autonomy. If you’re interested, read on! You can also check out some great information about PDA from Melissa Neff’s neurodivergent insights blog, linked below.
PDA has been well recognized in the United Kingdom since 1980s. It is characterized by symptoms driven by extreme anxiety related to controlling demands and expectations. PDA is the symptoms that are driven by extreme anxiety towards controlling the demands and expectations (Moore, 2020). Although PDA is recognized as a subtype of autism, some individuals with ADHD also exhibit PDA traits. This can be explained by the fact that 80 % of autistic individuals get diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Bercovici, 2024). Extreme anxiety can be triggered by various factors, such as, it can be caused by sensory sensitivities, executive functioning fatigues, a desire for autonomy, or a daily stress (Neff).
What Does it Look Like?
A person who experiences PDA often camouflages their true self in order to fit into neurotypical social norms (Bercovici, 2024). Due to this constant camouflage, the person may experience high anxiety. The person tends to resist or avoid daily tasks or routine, even when the tasks seem relatively simple (Neff). Additionally, the person may display emotional dysregulation.
Because of all those traits, the person may have difficult time with sensory processing and executive function-related tasks. The person may desire autonomy without judgement from those around them. Even though they display emotional dysregulation, they may be the biggest people pleaser. (Neff).
Personal Experiences
I have had quite a few experiences with PDA in my life. I was diagnosed with ADHD combined type as an adult. Looking back on my life, PDA has both saved or haunted my life. Because I was experiencing PDA, I was not always good at accepting advice or criticism. I often took them as attacks. My nervous system was constantly on alert. I was either fawning or fighting, depending on my relationship with the person. I ruined some friendships because of that. In the meantime, I protected myself from harm. It is not easy to navigate, even as an adult. I hope that people who experience PDA have a strong support system of empathetic individuals.
Possibly Helpful Tools for People around Individual Experiencing PDA
There has not been much research around PDA, however, listed below may be helpful.
- Supporting emotional well-being – they often feel high anxiety. It is good to have space for them to drop the mask, so they do not have to camouflage all the time. Co-regulate with them. Coregulation can build trusting relationship with PDAers.
- Supporting their sensory needs – PDAers sensory needs may not be met. It is good to create a sensory safe environment to reset their physical needs.
- Supporting communication and social interaction – PDAers may experience a difficulty forming sentences. It is good to have alternative way of communication, including communication cards, AAC, texting, etc.
- Reducing demands – reflect if the demands really necessary.
- Safe space for PDAers to show their passion – safe space for PDAers to infodump without judgement!
Resources you may want to explore
- Low Demand Parenting by Amanda Diekman (There are some YouTube videos with Amanda Diekman)
- The Whole-Brain Child by Dr. Dan Siegel (Also, there is a lot of YouTube videos)
- Co-Regulation (Co-regulation: What It Is and Why it Matters)
- Neurodiversity Podcast (What We’re Learning About (Pervasive) Pathological Demand Avoidance)
References
Moore, A. (2020). Pathological demand avoidance: What and who are being pathologised and in whose interests? Global Studies of Childhood, 10(1), 39-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/2043610619890070
Bercovici, D. (2024, November 11). Pathological demand avoidance, autism, & ADHD. Embrace Autism. https://embrace-autism.com/pathological-demand-avoidance-and-autism/
Neff , M. (n.d., a). What’s the difference between PDA and demand avoidance? - neurodivergent insights. Neurodivergent Insights . https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/pda-or-demand-avoidance/
Neff, M. (n.d.). Autism PDA explained: The core characteristics of pathological demand avoidance - neurodivergent insights. Neurodivergent Insights . https://neurodivergentinsights.com/autism/autism-pda-explained/