"Dont tell me what to do" - everyones said it (or thought it!), but for the PDA brain its a tenet that makes everyday tasks a constant challenge. Whether its a request from a friend or a social expectation to do something, pathological demand avoidance can throw a bucket of ice water on your motivation, or create anxiety that builds up and boils over as a meltdown.
In this essential primer, PDAers Sally Cat and Brook Madera explain what PDA is, how it manifests, and what you can do to minimise its impact. They explore its interaction with other forms of neurodivergence, potential misdiagnosis as a multitude of other conditions and disorders, and how it actually feels in reality. They also highlight the positives of PDA life, as shared by other PDAers and their loved ones.
Whether youre a PDAer yourself, or know one and want to support them, this Insider Guide will help you understand what PDA is and how to live with it.
Sally Cat is a consultant, speaker, and leading expert on internalised PDA. She is the author of PDA by PDAers, Pathological Demand Avoidance Explained, Sleep Misfits, and Calendar Girl. Sally runs the Sally Cat Facebook page, which supports over 40,000 PDAers. Brook Madera (No Pressure PDA) lives in Oregon and is PDA North Americas liaison for PDA lived experience and social media. Brook runs the Facebook groups No Pressure PDA and PDA USA: Pathological Demand Avoidance. Brook was a key speaker at PDA North Americas 2024 conference in Chicago. Both authors are PDA with PDA children of their own, giving them first-hand insight into what being PDA is.
It was a privilege to read The Insiders Guide to PDA by Sally Cat and Brook Madera. They are both such talented individuals and leaders in the PDA community. They share their experiences and beliefs about PDA in this well-named book that covers so much. -Diane Gould, Founder & Executive Director PDA North America
This guide is essential for anyone who wants to move beyond outdated, behavior-based interpretations of PDA. It fills a crucial gap by revealing the nervous-system roots of PDA and offering an affirming, relationship-centered path toward safety, connection, and growth. -Chris Wenger, a.k.a. Speech Dude, neurodiversity-affirming speech-language pathologist
Id like to give this book a HUGE standing ovation! It is a beautiful, straight forward and timely exploration of PDA that honors our community, guides professionals, and can educate our loved ones with the hope of facilitating neurotype affirming community and care for us all. -Kathleen Duncan, LMFT, An Autistic Guide
