Understanding & Managing PDA: The Ultimate Parent’s Guide to Managing Emotions, Meltdowns, and Everyday Demands to Help Your Child Thrive with Pathological Demand Avoidance

by Nicole Smith

Is your child constantly resisting everyday tasks—no matter how small—and reacting with intense emotions or outbursts? You’re not alone.

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a complex profile on the autism spectrum that can leave even the most loving and patient parents feeling overwhelmed, confused, or helpless. This book is here to change that.

Written by someone who knows the struggle firsthand—as a sibling of a PDA child and an advocate for neurodivergent families—Understanding PDA provides a compassionate, practical roadmap to help you truly understand and support your kid.



In this book, you’ll

✅ What PDA really is – and how it differs from other forms of autism and ODD
✅ Why demands—even everyday ones—feel threatening to PDA children
✅ The emotional root behind meltdowns, control-seeking, and avoidance behaviors
✅ How to identify signs of PDA early (and what NOT to do)
✅ Step-by-step strategies for reducing anxiety, building trust, and encouraging cooperation
✅ How to support your child’s sense of autonomy without losing structure and boundaries
✅ Tips for managing YOUR emotional responses as a parent or caregiver

Whether your child has a PDA diagnosis or you're just starting to notice the signs, this book will give you the tools, confidence, and understanding you need to create a calmer, more connected relationship.



👉 Grab your copy today and take the first step toward understanding your child’s unique world.

83 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 7, 2025

About the author

This is the disambiguation profile for otherwise unseparared authors publishing as Nicole Smith

See also:

Nicole Smith, author of the Sully Point series
Nicole Smith, author of Sideshow
Nicole Smith, author of Brand Your Instagram: How to Increase Your Followers and Generate Income
Nicole Smith, author of works on managing food allergies

Reviews

[Christiana Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

helpful guidance

Good read with lots of enlightening guidance on what PDA is and how best to support a child with PDA.