What is PDA?
PDA (Pervasive Drive for Autonomy/ Pathological Demand Avoidance) is an emerging area of research. PDA is not a standalone diagnosis but instead it considered to be a behaviour profile of Autism and can describe specific challenges that affect Autistic individuals. 

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Individuals presenting with PDA may avoid everyday demands simply because they are demands. They may even avoid things that they want to do if this perceived as a demand.

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Sometimes the expectations associated with demands leads to a feeling of lack of control which leads to anxiety. The avoidance can vary, depending on an individual’s capacity for demands at the time, their level of anxiety, or the environment.

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PDA can present as:

- Externalising – where demand avoidance may be overt, physical, aggressive or controlling. 
- Internalising – where demands may be resisted more quietly, anxiety is internalised and difficulties are masked. Many may have a variable presentation, depending on other factors like how well they are managing at the time, their age and the environment.

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PDA demand avoidance isn’t a choice but with understanding and support from others and coping strategies, it can become more manageable.

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