Showing the reality.

Hey everyone 👋,

You might be thinking, what is PDA autism? What does an overly touchy couple have to do with autism? Well, PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) autism is a profile on the autism spectrum. People with PDA often:

- Have a strong need to avoid everyday demands and expectations

- Use social strategies to avoid demands (e.g., making excuses, distracting)

- Experience anxiety-driven need for control

- Have sudden mood swings and impulsivity

- Struggle with social boundaries

Some people might not have a problem with cleaning, but because my childhood trauma involved it, I do. Growing up, I had a pretty strict stepmom who believed in tough love. Cleaning was her go-to punishment, and let's just say, my childhood was filled with scrubbing and dusting 🧽. It wasn't easy, and it's left a mark on me.

Fast forward to now, and I've been navigating life with PDA autism. I’m not a doctor or expert, but I stumbled upon the term on TikTok and it was like a lightbulb moment 💡. I did some digging and realized how much it resonated with my experiences. The constant pressure and punishment around cleaning as a kid have made my PDA symptoms even more challenging as an adult.

In the photos, you'll see the reality of living with this disability: a messy room, piles of laundry, and dishes not taken back to the kitchen. This is my everyday struggle, and it's not easy to manage.

Learning about PDA has helped me understand myself better, and I'm on a journey to manage it day by day. If anyone else out there has similar experiences or tips, I'd love to hear from you! We're all in this together 💛.

#storytime #lemon8contest #pdaautism #autisticandproud #adhd #unfiltered #real #lemon8creator #Lemon8Diary #summerbod