Understanding PDA Through a Gospel Lens

In this episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, Larah sits down with her friend Angie for an honest, VERY vulnerable, practical, and gospel-centered conversation about PDA, or Pathological Demand Avoidance.

Larah comes into this conversation the same way many parents do, with questions. What is PDA really? How does it show up in everyday life? How do you parent a child who experiences demands, correction, and ordinary expectations in a very different way? And how do you hold on to a gospel lens while learning new ways to understand your child?

Angie helps walk through the core traits often connected to a PDA profile, while also giving parents language, examples, and encouragement for the moments that can feel confusing, exhausting, or misunderstood. Together, they talk about nervous system survival, regulation, masking, parenting misconceptions, and why understanding how our kids are wired can help us better disciple them.

This episode is especially for the parent who has felt overwhelmed, behind, or unsure where to even begin. You are not failing by learning as you go. And learning your child more deeply is not moving away from discipleship. It is part of faithful stewardship.

In this episode:

* What PDA is and why many parents are still learning about it * How PDA can affect everyday parenting moments * Why demands, chores, and correction can feel so intense for some kids * The difference between behavior that looks defiant and a nervous system in survival mode * How to think about PDA through a gospel-centered lens

Links Mentioned: How to know if your child is PDA @ At Peace Parents: https://www.atpeaceparents.com/clarity

Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionaire: https://share.google/d7zSPbSOdN8vfBpze

New ESA-8 questionnaire: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/resources/extreme-demand-avoidance-8-item-measure-eda-8/

PDA North America: https://pdanorthamerica.org/