Explore the concept of demand avoidance and PDA brain patterns, with strategies to navigate challenges. Discuss ways to tackle bedtime resistance and prioritize self-care. Discover new approaches to overcome avoidance behaviors and build a supportive community for ongoing support.
Recognize early signs of demand avoidance and address with new sensory details.
Use honesty and non-shaming self-talk to navigate demand avoidance and promote self-care activities.
Deep dives
Understanding Personal Demand Avoidance
The podcast emphasizes the concept of personal demand avoidance based on sensory input and pattern recognition. It discusses how individuals, particularly those with autism and ADHD, can exhibit demand avoidance behaviors as a protective mechanism against perceived harm or discomfort. By recognizing the early signs of resistance and addressing them with new sensory information or reassurance, individuals can navigate demand avoidance more effectively.
Navigating Bedtime Demand Avoidance
The episode delves into a personal experience related to bedtime demand avoidance. The host shares how using honesty and non-shaming self-talk helped address the discomfort of transitioning to bed. By allowing flexibility and being genuine in intentions, the speaker found success in managing the inertia and moving towards self-care activities, leading to a more comfortable evening.
Practical Application and Experiments
Lastly, the podcast encourages listeners to experiment with addressing demand avoidance in their own lives by recognizing avoidance patterns and reframing actions as choices rather than obligations. The speaker suggests applying a small language and attitude shift to navigate demand avoidance without pressure or tricks. The approach highlights the importance of self-trust, honest self-dialogue, and experimenting with different strategies tailored to individual needs.
While she suggests introducing new sensory details, I'm going the route of sincerely telling myself that we don't need to do the final thing. We're just gonna do this step.
Note: even if this or Kristy's suggestion works for you, there's a good chance you'll get used to it in some form eventually! And that's okay. Sometimes we just have to keep finding new ways to work with our pattern-seeking brains.