For a much better explanation of any of this, do look at the PDA Society website.

PDA - pathological demand avoidance - is an Autism spectrum disorder, but it’s an awkward one! PDA-ers aren’t “typical” autistics; you may not even notice that we’re Autistic. What you will notice is that the everyday social and personal demands of life are incredibly difficult for us. Any demand - from being asked to do something by a teacher; to eating or looking after our bodies; to being on time for work or following rules; to writing a blog that you chose to do and no one else is making you (sigh) - triggers feelings of loss of control, anxiety and panic.

Depending on how we’re doing, we can respond by managing the demand (that takes effort and energy), or being incapacitated by it, or anything in between.

If you’re starting to wonder how that’s going to fit with a walk of hundreds of miles where we have to get up each day and walk until we reach our next campsite, well. So am I. This far things are going really well; this is something Roo and I have chosen to do, together and everything we choose about the hike we choose together. I’m the supposedly socialised adult and can manage more demands that Roo, which helps. But there are compromises, which take time and energy and patience. And we haven’t actually started the hike yet.

A good example of this is this entire blog. The title, method of publishing, content of posts and photographs are all approved by Roo. Which will make for interesting reading…!