PDA: A Generational Trauma Response?
Exploring Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) as Both a Neurological and a Generational Survival Response
At its core, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), or what some prefer to reframe as a Persistent Drive for Autonomy (PDA), is more than procrastination or simple resistance. It’s an intense, almost involuntary reaction to demands—whether internal or external—that feels like a threat to autonomy. For those with PDA, the pressure to comply can trigger deep anxiety and emotional turmoil.
As I reflect on PDA, I can't help but wonder how much of this resistance is rooted not only in neurological wiring but also in multi-generational patterns of control and compliance. This essay explores PDA, not just as a behavioral profile, but as a possible response shaped by both personal experience and inherited survival strategies.
Let’s start with an overview.