Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) represents a distinct profile within the autism spectrum characterized by an overwhelming anxiety-driven need to avoid or resist everyday demands. First identified in the 1980s by Elizabeth Newson in the UK, PDA affects both children and adults who experience ordinary requests as threatening, triggering extreme avoidance responses. Unlike typical autism presentations, individuals with PDA often display unique social and behavioral patterns that require specialized understanding and support approaches.

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