PDA, Neurodivergence & the Perpetually Determined Advocate

This episode I am joined by my kiddos' dad, Shane, to talk about working together as parents and how to get on the same page.  We also talk about keeping continuity in parenting from two households.  

This episode looks at the burnout that parents feel and ways to combat that.  It also stresses the idea that feeling burnout does not make you weak or any less of a parent.  As parents to neurodivergent kiddos, sometimes we feel like we aren’t supposed to feel these things. That it is somehow seen as weak or inappropriate to feel the weight of our lives. We have to remember that we are human, and humans experience burnout. The other thing to remember is that even parents to neurotypical children experience burnout, so there is absolutely no shame in having a normal human reaction to something that is happening in your life.  

We are a bit late posting this episode due to Covid making a stop by our house.  Still, I took it as a learning moment (like any good teacher), and decided to talk a bit about the snags of navigating quarantine with a PDAer.

As always, a transcript of the episode can be provided.  Simply email perpetuallydeterminedadvocate@gmail.com

This episode looks at school refusal, some of the potential triggers and some things that parents can do to help ease the anxiety that can cause refusal.  I'm also including some links to great resources I found about school refusal below.

https://schoolrefuserfamilies.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/nfis-parents-guide-v-2-april-2018.pdf

https://itmustbemum.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/what-to-record-and-how-to-store-it/#more-4009

The episode we discuss different parts of parenting a child with PDA.  This episode was made possible with the help of my awesome PDA group, and I am grateful to them for their input and suggestion of so many great topics.  We talk about things like flexible schedules, impulsive behavior, Plan B parenting, shutdowns, and not forcing PDAers to comply with demands.  Mentioned in this episode is Dr. Ross Greene's website, which can be found at https://livesinthebalance.org/.

In this episode we talk to Dr. Jessica Myszak from the Help and Healing Center in Glenview, Illinois.  She shares with us some of the classic signs of PDA, and how to go about the assessment and diagnosis process as well as how to work toward getting accommodations for individuals with PDA in schools.  For more information, or to contact Dr. Myszak, visit www.helpandhealingcenter.com.  Also mentioned in today's podcast was PDA North America.  For more information on them, visit www.pdanorthamerica.com.

As always, a transcript of the episode can be provided.  Simply email perpetuallydeterminedadvocate@gmail.com

This time I wanted to combine the podcast with a love of mine, books.  The books presented in this episode look at PDA from varied persepctives, and are also aimed at a variety of audiences.  So, whether you are looking for a way to see PDA through the lens of a PDAer, understand it as a parent or teacher, or provide understanding of PDA to a child, I have something for you.  I would like to point out that I am not affiliated with any of the authors, and am not receiving any commissions from promoting their work.  I merely list them here because I found them to be useful and insightful.  As always, a transcript of the episode can be provided.  Simply email me at perpetuallydeterminedadvocate@gmail.com.  The books discussed in this episode are: 

PDA Paradox by Harry Thompson 

PDA by PDAers compiled by Sally Cat

My Daughter is not Naughty by Jane Alison Sherwin

 It's a PanDA thing! - A Visit to my world of Pathological Demand Avoidance by Rachel Jackson

The Teacher's Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance: Essential Strategies for the Classroom by Clare Truman

Can I Tell You About Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome? by Ruth Fidler and Phil Christie

Pretty Darn Awesome: Divergent not Deficient: Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance on the Autism Spectrum by Lauren O'Grady

Me and My PDA: A Guide to Pathological Demand Avoidance for Young People by Glòria Durà-Vilà and Tamar Levi.

This week, we are joined by Adreanna, a former educator and future superhero for kids as she opens up about her childhood trauma and mental health journey that led her to consider a diagnosis of ADHD, and the overlap of neurodivergence and PTSD.  Adreanna plans to begin a master's program in psychology and eventually get her PsyD to be able to help children who have experienced trauma and help them begin the healing process.  

A transcript of the episode can be obtained by emailing at perpetuallydeterminedadvocate@gmail.com

In this episode, we will look at the main signposts of PDA used in diagnosing, as well as talk about some of the ways that PDA can be misdiagnosed.  We will also talk about sources for more information about PDA.  The sources mentioned in today's episode can be found at the following links:

PDA Society: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/what-is-pda-menu/identifying-pda/

PDA North America: https://www.pdanorthamerica.com/resources

Aucademy: https://aucademy.co.uk/

Fight & Fawn podcast: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/fight-fawn-kristy-forbes-fan-GoYby3Mc9Wa/

Harry Thompson - PDA Extraordinaire: https://www.harryjackthompson.com/

This first episode explains what Pathological Demand Avoidance is in a broad sense. Discussed in this episode are PDA Paradox by Harry Thompson, also the link to the PDA Society's website www.pdasociety.org.uk and PDA North America www.pdanorthamerica.com. These websites provide excellent information as well as articles that you can read to gain insight into the origins of identifying PDA as a separate part of the spectrum and discoveries since then.

The transcript for the podcast can be provided free of charge upon request at perpetuallydeterminedadvocate@gmail.com