At Peace Parents Podcast

In this episode, I outline the ways in which the description of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 overlaps with some of the surface-level indicators of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) or "Pervasive Drive for Autonomy." Although there are many things that look the same on the surface, if we dig deeper to discover the root cause of your ch...

In this episode we explore identifying with a particular neurotype - whether it is Pathologically Demand Avoidant (PDA), Autistic, Neurotypical, ADHD, or none at all- and the choices we have for ourselves and for our children. At the core, we discuss how autonomy is incorporated into the process of your child choosing an identity, and separating that from medical diagnosis and the nervous system m...

Why is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) so hard to understand as a parent and for therapists, pediatricians, teachers, and people looking in on your child's life? In this episode, I answer the following questions:  How do I know whether it is "defiance" or typical kid behavior or Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)? How do I know whether it is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)...

Why is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) so hard to understand as a parent and for therapists, pediatricians, teachers, and people looking in on your child's life? In this episode, I answer the following questions:  My child doesn't seem Autistic, can they still be Pathologically Demand Avoidant (PDA)? My child seems typical some of the time, can they still be Pathologically Demand Avo...

In this episode on Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Toileting, we discuss the impact that cumulative nervous system stress has on toileting, through two mechanisms:  The nervous system's fight/flight or freeze response and how it impacts the metabolism, cortisol, and adrenaline, all of which impact digestion and toileting, and  "Control coalescing" around toileting as a way t...

In this episode, I tackle the complex and often difficult topic of managing siblings and a PDA child at the same time, as well as the impact on siblings of raising a PDA child or child with a sensitive nervous system in the same home.  Please note: This is recorded from a live video and so often when I said "Accidentally" I used air quotes because it was not truly accidental.  To connect...

In this episode, I answer questions that parents submitted as "secret and inappropriate" about PDA.  I answer as honestly and objectively as possible!  The five questions were: ✨ Can you have “PDA Lite”? ✨ Is PDA always Autism? ✨What happened to an older generation of PDAers? ✨Can trauma cause PDA? ✨Do you think autism and PDA are more common now or do you think it is because we hav...

This episode describes the three stages of the journey that parents of PDA children and teens go through on their path to peace. First, the "Doing Everything" phase where you learn and do everything you possibly can to help your child. Second, the "Structural Change" phase where you make changes to your lifestyle and make difficult tradeoffs that reflect the fact that you are r...

This episode describes why allowing yourself an experimental mindset while trying new approaches and accommodations with a PDA child or teen is so important. So you stop judging or paralyzing yourself with a fear of "doing it wrong" or not following some set of rigid rules. So you stop seeking answers that are already within your intuition and capacity to observe in day-to-day life with...

In this episode I answer the question I get over and over on social media, in my coaching containers and in the programs I run: "Are you just rewarding bad behavior by using an accommodation approach with your PDA child?" It is a very valid question and one that I grapple with daily because we have all been conditioned to think like this. Here I give you four ways to think about this as...

This episode explores "high masking" in PDA children and teens, across both the introverted and extroverted expression. It discusses the importance of recognizing masking, both for the sanity of parents, your child's well-being, and getting access to the structural support (diagnosis, insurance coverage, support at school), that you need. Citations:  Rachel Dorsey, Autistic SLP (@do...

This episode teaches you a new way of thinking about how to approach the holiday season with a PDA child or teen. First, of course, you will want to think about accommodations and lowering demands, but you also need to set up a contingency plan, prepare for de-escalation, and then allow yourself to take this year's experience as "data" about what you can change structurally next yea...

This episode outlines four things to look for as a parent to help you determine whether your child is PDA or is Autistic with Demand Avoidance. Ultimately, I tell you that what matters most is not the diagnosis or lable, but the which lens wer are supporting our child through and whether it is helping!  To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For more resources for pare...

This episode explains the four things or "states" that naturally regulate your Pathologically Demand Avoidant (PDA) child's nervous system: 1. Screens 2. Another safe nervous system (likely YOU) 3. Special interest or "Flow" (citation: Harry Thompson , PDA Autistic Advocate and Author of "The PDA Paradox")  4. Dopamine, novelty or sensory-seeking opportunities I...

This brief episode explains what a "cognitive loop" is for a PDA child or teen, when they get stuck between their frontal lobe ("thinking brain") and their amygdala ("survival brain"). This is often when a child is experiencing an *internal* loss of autonomy because they can't do something they want or are trying to do.  I provide exampes from my son's life,...

This episode is a mix between a pep talk and some gently delivered tough love for parents of PDA children and teens, to get you unstuck, help you feel less alone, and realize that it's all gonna be OK.  I discuss the stages of grief, bargaining, and acceptance, and share examples from my own journey to illustrate and normalize the experience that parents go through. This was originally a part...

This epsiode provides the NINE key truths and mindset shifts you need to make aligned decisions as a parent of a PDA child or teen around limits and boundaries in the home. Sources of Inspiration and references for mindset shift #9:  "The Power of Now" by Ekhart Tolle "Radical Acceptance" by Tara Brach "When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chodron To connect with me, find...

This episode answers a question I often get from parents: If I can't use rewards and consequences with my Pathologically Demand Avoidant or demand avoidant child, how will they learn right from wrong? We talk about the long-game strategy for getting your child into their thinking brain (rather than the "survival brain" or Limbic System) so that they can learn, process information ra...

This episode provides five things you can do to support your Pathologically Demand Avoidant (PDA), Autistic, or otherwise demand avoidant child in their eating, espeically if more traditional behavioral, exposure, or play-based approaches haven't been successful. We talk about five things:  Understanding whether eating if your child's "Stickiest" basic need (vs. toileting, slee...

This episode is an excerpt from a free training hosted by the Miami Sudbury School about PDA and Self-Directed Education with Casey Ehrlich , Ph. D. of At Peace Parents, LLC and Je'anna Clements , an expert in Self-Directed Education. The excerpt is Casey's portion of the training and explains what Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) looks like in children from the outside looking in, as...