Pervasive demand avoidance is most commonly known by the name pathological demand avoidance (PDA). Some advocates prefer the term “pervasive drive for autonomy.”
The causes of PDA are not known, but those with PDA experience a response in their nervous system – fight, flight, fawn, freeze. We all experience stress responses in our nervous system due to various triggers (such as being asked to speak in public). In a person with PDA, these stress responses are triggered by demands. Any demand, whether coming from other people, or from inside a person’s own body, can be a trigger for PDA.
Other PDA triggers may include:
Viewing PDA behavior through a “nervous system lens” can give parents and teachers more understanding and compassion when faced with what they may otherwise experience as extremely challenging behavior.
To learn more, see our full article about PDA.
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