Review of 'Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome - My Daughter is Not Naughty' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
I read this because there is child who has been diagnosed with PAthological Demand Avoidance (PDA) that may join a Cub pack I help lead. I wanted to get an understanding of PDA and how it affects a child. This book delivered that and more.
Perhaps the most striking thing about this book is that Sherwin goes to great length to present PDA from the pint of view of the child. She often takes Mollie’s (her daughter who has been diagnosed with PDA) perspective. Whether it’s trying to recreate a situation from Mollie’s point of view or simply allowing Mollie to tell her own tale, this is done again and again.
The overall effect is that the reader can put theirselves in the shoes of the child. Seeing the world through their eyes turns behaviour that is baffling and sometime frightening into something that is understandable (though still occasionally scary). …
I read this because there is child who has been diagnosed with PAthological Demand Avoidance (PDA) that may join a Cub pack I help lead. I wanted to get an understanding of PDA and how it affects a child. This book delivered that and more.
Perhaps the most striking thing about this book is that Sherwin goes to great length to present PDA from the pint of view of the child. She often takes Mollie’s (her daughter who has been diagnosed with PDA) perspective. Whether it’s trying to recreate a situation from Mollie’s point of view or simply allowing Mollie to tell her own tale, this is done again and again.
The overall effect is that the reader can put theirselves in the shoes of the child. Seeing the world through their eyes turns behaviour that is baffling and sometime frightening into something that is understandable (though still occasionally scary).
This is invaluable. My only encounter with the child who may join our Cub pack was a baffling one. After reading this book, the behaviour I saw is understandable. More importantly, I now know how I could have ha does the situation in a more empathetic and way.
What wasn’t expecting to get from this book is an insight into what families with a child diagnosed wtb PDA experience. This is what makes this book worth reading for anyone who needs to interact with someone diagnosed with PDA. It’s not just the child that needs to be considered, but their family. From asking for advice on strategies that work for that child to being understanding of what the family is going through, this book will change you perspective.
If you know anyone diagnosed with PDA, I can’t recommend this book highly enough.