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Autism Behavior Resources: Insights, Strategies, and Support
Autistic behaviors are as diverse and unique as the individuals themselves, reflecting a wide range of ways people on the spectrum experience and respond to the world. Understanding these behaviors—such as stimming, routines, sensory sensitivities, and communication styles—can help foster empathy and create more supportive environments. These resources explores the nuances of autistic behaviors, providing insights into their meanings, the science behind them, and strategies for understanding and embracing these expressions. Whether you're a caregiver, therapist, or simply curious, these resources aims to deepen your knowledge and appreciation of the autistic experience.
Recent Articles
What Is Pathological Demand Avoidance? A Guide to PDA for Autistic Adults
Picture this: you come home from a long day at work, and become frozen by even the idea of cooking dinner, or cleaning up your home, or taking a shower. You know you have to be doing something, but even thinking about another task ratchets up your anxiety to the point you feel like you can’t function. If this sounds like something you’re dealing with, you aren’t alone: you might be experiencing demand avoidance.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a behavioral profile most often connected to autism, where demands trigger an intense need to resist or avoid. This can happen for different reasons: sometimes demands become genuinely overwhelming (like eating, sleeping, showering, or even turning off the lights), leading to freezing up or distress. But demands can trigger avoidance even when they're not overwhelming because they threaten autonomy or control.
While PDA isn't a formal diagnosis, it's recognized as part of a constellation of behaviors often associated with autism or other neurodevelopmental profiles like ADHD.
Other more affirming names for PDA have been suggested, such as Persistent Drive for Autonomy, Extreme Demand Avoidance (EDA), and Rational Demand Avoidance (RDA). However, for the purposes of this article, it will be referred to as Pathological Demand Avoidance, as this is the most common term in the US.
Read on to learn what PDA is, what it feels like, and why it’s often misunderstood.
How to Deal with Autism Anger in Adults: Effective Strategies and Techniques
Everyone experiences anger from time to time. For autistic individuals, anger can be more complex than for their neurotypical peers. Autism anger is often misunderstood or pathologized, which can lead to increased frustration for both the autistic person and those around them. Feeling misunderstood or judged makes anger management even more difficult than it already is.
To ease the added difficulties around autistic anger, it’s important to understand its causes, employ effective coping strategies and improve communication skills. Autistic individuals and their support networks can work together to build a toolkit for anger management.
Navigating Meltdowns: Effective Strategies to Support Autistic Adults
Meltdowns are an extremely overwhelming experience for autistic people. In the throes of total overload, it can be difficult to identify and meet one’s own needs. While preventing and managing meltdowns is a skill many autistic adults can and do have, knowing how to help an autistic loved one during a meltdown can be an important way to show support.
