At Peace Parents Podcast Ep. 124 - PDA Child's Equalizing Triggers My Trauma
Aug 26, 2025
Delve into the world of parenting children with Pathological Demand Avoidance. Discover how parental trauma and emotional triggers affect caregiving dynamics. Explore the balance between nurturing a child's unique needs and managing personal challenges. Hear insights on effective coping strategies, emotional resilience, and self-care. The discussion emphasizes transforming parenting hardships into growth opportunities while fostering trust and connection. It's a heartfelt exploration of love, support, and the complexities of raising neurodiverse children.
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PDA As A Safety Lens
- PDA is best viewed as a lens that explains behavior through perceived threats to autonomy and cumulative nervous system activation.
- Using that lens helps parents reframe behavior as safety-seeking rather than personal rejection.
Parenting Triggered My Own Trauma Work
- Christine describes starting intense inner-child and neuroplastic work triggered by parenting her PDA daughter.
- She connects rising physical symptoms and activation to cumulative equalizing behaviors over five years of parenting.
Farm School Led To Lockdown
- Christine recounts trying farm preschool and removing her daughter after toileting withholding and panic attacks emerged.
- The school caused severe activation for both child and Christine, leading to a withdrawal from that setting.