Pathological Demand Avoidance — or PDA — is suddenly everywhere. Once a niche term used mostly within autism communities, it’s now trending across TikTok, showing up in therapy rooms, and sparking ...

Sophie, a 10-year-old, avoids straightforward tasks like getting dressed or doing homework. When her parents press her to comply, she might have a meltdown or withdraw to her room. At school, Sophie ...

We know PDA and anxiety travel together—just as they do in ADHD and ODD—but what if anxiety is the exhaust, not the engine, ...

For some children, everyday demands such as "brush your teeth" or "time to get off of your computer game," can trigger intense anxiety and extreme resistance. When this type of response affects ...

Imagine you’re at work and your boss emails you about the status of a report she asked you to start writing weeks ago. Many of us might feel a tinge of anxiety at the sight of her name, then relief ...