Looks like: Parents of autistic children getting in arguments with autistic adults about claiming a cure for their children. As a late-diagnosed autistic adult I watch parents and autistics argue and in some situations feel I see them talking past each other. Parents confusing behaviors for neurotype, autistics defending neurotype where parents claim “healing”. The […]
Lost In Translation #04; Autistic: Cured! Read More »
Looks like: Focused on single topics to the apparent exclusion of outside facts, perspectives, or the world around them. There are times when getting lost down the rabbit hole of research is an expression of dysregulation, but unless their emotional state looks distinctly effected, it’s very common for some to become so absorbed in topics
Lost In Translation #03; Autistic/ADHD: Obsessive Read More »
This is a short series examining the intersection of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs with both childhood development and neurodivergence. Hierarchy of Needs Intersects Childhood Development Through play, exploration, & comfort seeking, children develop each level into a structure that protects their “inner child” as they grow. Children naturally test and explore their environment. Relationships are
Hierarchy of Needs Part 1 Read More »
This month I didn’t make any goals. I stayed at exactly the same weight, which under the situation I consider a “win”. My family and myself personally underwent two unexpected traumas back to back. The first was when someone close to me threatened to kill me. The second was a week after when my best
PDA Weightloss Journey, Month 3.5 Read More »
That feeling of freezing, the brain locked up, unable to process alternative ideas, feeling pushed especially when the other person demonstrates an emotional reaction. Looks like: Doesn’t want to consider other points of view; argumentative, freezing others out. Unless this locked up position continues even after de-escalation, “stubborn” is not a choice but part of
Lost in Translation #02; Autistic: Stubborn Read More »
The start of an ongoing series to try to break apart misunderstandings in ND and NT behaviors. Looks Like: Doesn’t register the emotions of others going on around them I’ve been burned by this assumption many times. My instinct to compartmentalize my emotions so that I don’t feel like they take over looks like I’m
Lost in Translation #01; Autistic: Unempathetic Read More »
PDA is known as Pathological Demand Avoidance, a term coined by Elizabeth Newson in the 80’s when she first discovered a constellation of unique avoidant traits in a subset of autistic children, but in recent years an alternative was posited to try to more accurately describe the feelings for some behind their in-born aversions: Pervasive
Pathological Demand Avoidance or Pervasive Drive for Autonomy? Read More »
Even as a PDA adult I’m not immune from misunderstanding my PDA kids. My oldest I relate to the most as we both are sarcastic, cutting, blunt, but very subdued with our distress. My middle PDA child however is VERY expressive with his distress, passive with his words. A meltdown for him looks like running
Gently Parenting Ourselves Read More »
YouTube Video This is something I created for myself a couple months back to help me keep a closer eye on how much activity and responsibility I piled on myself after I recover from burnout periods. Because of my struggles with interoception it is very easy for me to feel good one day and assume
PDA Care Level Form (printable) Read More »
Created this Translated 10 PDA Behaviors list and shared on my Facebook a couple days ago in response to a semi-controversial post released by Dr. Attwood re: 10 Behavior Features of PDA. Attwood compiled his list from a survey created by O’Nions (yes, onions) 2016 to help identify PDA going off of some of the
Translated 10 Behavioral Features of PDA (printable) Read More »