Why Demands Feel Unsafe — A Nervous System Lens on Demand Avoidance

In this episode of 'From Burnout to Balance', we explore the challenges faced by neurodivergent children regarding everyday demands and how these can feel overwhelming or unsafe. Tanya discusses the importance of understanding the nervous system's role in these experiences, the distinction between demand avoidance and pathological demand avoidance (PDA), and offers strategies for parents to support their children with compassion and awareness. The conversation emphasises the need for lowering demands, recognizing the cumulative effect of expectations, and fostering a safe environment for both children and parents.Join our parent community:⁠ From Burnout to Balance ⁠Chapters00:00 Understanding Demands and Neurodivergence05:20 Demand Avoidance vs. Pathological Demand Avoidance09:35 Supporting Children with Demand Avoidance12:13 The Role of Parents' Nervous Systems17:52 B2B Outro.mp4