The PDA Paradox: The Highs and Lows of My Life on a Little-Known Part of the Autism Spectrum

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Non-violence allows me to acknowledge the depth of my pain and disconnect with my son, as well as his with me, while also laying out a path towards reconciliation. He needs belt to re regulate, cleared instruction and expectation, help to overcome what has made him behave as he is 😢. As a result, they must do all they can to ensure that their children also follow this code of conduct. For example, Thompson remembers one young PDA girl he worked with who went for weeks without showering, until she saw her older sister using a curling iron. In short Thompson is not critiquing an accurate representation of monotropism theory; see Woods (2018b) for a more modern overview of it that explains DAP in its entirety.

We are a year clear of CAHMS now and will consistent support and learning together my son and I are moving forwards. Provide information, representation, emotional and social support to autistic people and their families. May have a ‘special interest’ in a certain person, people, society, social systems, studying and understanding people, e.The term “non-violent” has thus become a compelling invitation to change my own behavior, moving me on a deeper philosophical level than words like “gentle” or “child-led” parenting. I can’t articulate how beneficial it is to have a greater understanding of the autistic experience for those who have an autistic child.

Image description: Alisha found a heart shaped gum leaf on her walk this morning while trying to clear her head.

net/publication/329001126_An_Interest_Based_Account_Monotropism_theory_explanation_of_anxiety_in_Autism_a_Demand_Avoidance_Phenomenon_discussion (Accessed 24 November 2018). But that does not make it impossible for us to become aware of these risks, identify the challenges in our own lives, and acknowledging the pain we ’ve caused in the past or continue to cause in the present.

In some, may have a pattern of fluency and comfort in verbal and non-verbal social communication including talkativeness and humour; which may be an expression of higher masking/overcompensating. With autistic speakers and those with autistics in their lives, it gives you a much more accurate understanding and glimpse into an autistic’s experience of the world. Thompson is using their lived experience to explain the difference between autism/ DAP/ ADHD, this is problematic for numerous reasons. Many people I meet in this profile have dug themselves deep into a pit of their own self-shame and struggle to validate the very real, and very unique experience it is to be a PDAer. When I first started contemplating holding a conference, I was asked by a few different people whether I had been to conferences before and, after I said that I have been to many, asked why I go to them.

If DAP is a form of autism, no-one will have DAP, it would instead be viewed as a different way being human. So if you or your family member is on the pathway to diagnosis or even if you believe there are traits and are in the early stages of understanding autism, you are welcome here. But when I met her, she was just an ordinary person, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes while we talked in the town square, trying to find a way out of her personal pain. Of course, PDA kids aren’t bad — and parenting them doesn’t have to turn your home into a war zone, Henderson says.

Harry Jack Thompson, the “ naughty autie taking the neurotypical world by storm” known for his advocacy work in awareness for Pathological Demand Avoidance ( PDA) and [ former] director of Neurodivergent Education Support and Training ( NEST), a common profile among autistics and other atypical neurotypes, has recently had his harmful and manipulative behaviors come to light, resulting in his disappearance from the digital space. I used to just jump in and out of characters and roleplay, mimic accents, method-act even,” says Thompson. Every laugh they elicit from peers validates this mask by proving this is an effective coping strategy.But please take comfort that the issue isn’t that your child can behave like an immature and hurtful adult, but instead how an adult can indiscriminately behave so much like a child. Finally, a good way to reduce stress at home is to simply reduce the number of battles by reducing unnecessary asks, Henderson says. It made absolutely no sense to me why I would go against what he was clearly communicating that he needed; regardless of the constant comments and advice given to us.