What’s PDA?
This is what PDA stands for.
What is Pathological Demand Avoidance?
Someone with PDA might use this to distract from or avoid a demand.
What is humor or distraction?
Instead of giving direct instructions, try offering one of these.
What is a choice?
People often wrongly think PDA is just this kind of behavior problem.
What is being rude or oppositional?
When someone tries to make me do something, I often feel this.
What is overwhelmed, trapped, or angry?
PDA is often considered a profile of this neurodevelopmental condition
What is autism (or autism spectrum disorder)?
This kind of role-play or pretending might be used to feel more in control.
What is fantasy or imaginative play?
A calm, flexible, and non-judgmental approach helps reduce this emotional state.
What is anxiety?
PDA isn’t a choice — it’s a way of responding to this.
What is extreme stress or anxiety?
One way I avoid demands is by doing this.
What is procrastinating, escaping, or shutting down?
People with PDA often avoid this, even if it's something they like.
What are demands?
People with PDA often avoid things that make them feel this way — even if it's brushing teeth or texting back.
What is out of control or pressured?
People with PDA often feel better when they have more of this in their day.
What is control or autonomy?
You’re just being difficult” is an example of this kind of unhelpful reaction.
What is invalidation?
One thing that helps me feel more in control is when people do this.
What is give choices, ask nicely, or respect my space?
PDA is not about being lazy or defiant — it's a response driven by this emotion.
What is anxiety?
Instead of saying “no,” someone with PDA might do this to delay doing something.
What is ignore it, give excuses, or pretend not to hear?
When helping someone with PDA, instead of “Do this now,” try using this kind of suggestion.
What is a casual or indirect request?
PDAers often have big feelings, but may struggle with this kind of control.
What is emotional regulation?
A time I surprised someone by avoiding something I usually enjoy was when
Open-ended response — for discussion)
This kind of approach, often used in schools, usually doesn’t work well for people with PDA.
What is strict discipline or behavior charts (like rewards/punishments)?
True or False: Someone with PDA can seem super confident and shy at the same time.
What is True?
True or False: It's important to avoid all demands for someone with PDA
What is False? (Demands can still happen — they just need to be handled differently.)
True or False: All autistic people have PDA.
What is False?
True or False: It's okay to ask for support when things feel too much.
What is True?