Parenting PDA

[PDAView]

Hi,

My son has been diagnosed with PDA. We are still getting our heads around it but the reality is that we have known for a while and been adapting our approach to parenting for quite some time now.

I am struggling with the comments and views of close friends of mine. Recently I’ve been told he “doesn’t look autistic” and “just needs telling what’s what” because I am a soft touch. What they don’t see is the careful planning for each and every day, the anticipation of what might happen next… and this is before we get on to the state of my own mental health and the worry I have for my child.

How do you deal with it? I think they mean well, but it’s so hurtful and I feel very alone. There is very little support locally for his needs so I am trying to navigate my way through. It would be great to speak to some like minded parents.

💐
plenty of online groups (Facebook mainly) if you search pda (odd too) that will give you support initially and then I’m sure you’ll find more support in your area through them.
Lots of Adhd kids are diagnosed with pda too so look for adhd support groups too.
WhAt sort of area are you?

You don’t need the extra stress of that “friend”
well that’s my view as life with a pda child is exceptionally hard. I wouldn’t invest much time with her - you need people who reduce stress not people who are increasing the stress.

I love Eliza fricker book on Amazon - the family experience of pda - if you don’t have it buy it read it and then give it to your “friend” maybe it will help her understanding. It’s really easy reading as half of it is pictures.

how old? At school or not?

I’ve got a 8 yr old boy pda diagnosed.

Very hard condition to live with …. And it creates a massive amount of stress and worry within the family - hope today is ok for you OP 💐

Hi,

Still feel flat today. My son is 6, and so far doing well at school though he masks most of the time and we have the fall out at home.

I will have a look online for some support groups. I haven’t met anyone with a similar experience yet

Hi @PDAView, sorry you are feeling flat. I v much understand the isolation when close friends/family don't see your child's (extreme) difficulties. I have sadly let some friendships go, because I couldn't manage the mismatch between what my life was like on a daily basis, and what they saw/believed.

But I've also come to realise that the majority of people won't/can't understand.