What is PDA?
PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance, also commonly referred to as Pervasive Drive for Autonomy. It describes a neurodivergent profile where everyday demands are experienced as overwhelming or threatening, leading to avoidance that is driven by nervous system stress rather than defiance, laziness, or lack of motivation. At its core, PDA is about autonomy, safety, and nervous system regulation. When autonomy feels threatened, the body responds. What can look like avoidance, resistance, or shutdown from the outside is often a protective response on the inside.

PDA was first identified in the UK in the 1980s by Elizabeth Newson. In recent years, awareness has grown in the US and Canada, particularly since the establishment of PDA North America in 2020.