A Wild Demand Avoidance Appears!

Tired of having a to-do list that feels like it's evading and taunting you at the same time? Well then, I think it's time we talk about the little pest called 'Pathological Demand Avoidance' together... stick around while I spill the beans on what it is, how it can throw a speed bump in your plans, and how one of my fabulous clients outsmarted this neurodivergent productivity-fiend.

What the Heck Even Is Demand Avoidance?

So, demand avoidance – what's up with that, right?

Demand avoidance is the resistance our brains exhibit when faced with completing a task or responding to a directive. It often manifests as an overwhelming sensation of reluctance or a sudden loss of motivation, even for activities that we were initially enthusiastic about.

Neurodivergent individuals, such as those with autism or ADHD, may experience demand avoidance more intensely due to the unique wiring of their brains. This can contribute to difficulties in maintaining focus, sustainably engaging in tasks, and meeting external expectations.

Here let me help paint the picture for you... You're 15 and planning to wash the dishes, but your mom asks you to do it before you can get started - and now, you just hate doing the dishes all of a sudden. It's such a bizarre phenomenon! The moment someone tells you to do something, even if it was on your to-do list, the brain puts up a giant neon sign reading, "NOPE!" There goes your motivation, out the window. Skrrt skrrt!

Dusting Off the D20: Gamification to the Rescue!

How do you get any neurodivergent to do anything? 

Make. it. fun.

A great way to distract the brain from dreading the 10,000,000 demands life has to throw at it is to turn it into a game for an irresistible dopamine hit. If you're a nerd like me and you have a D20 lying around somewhere, then this will be a cool thing to try.

Make a list of 20 things that include your top 'need-to-get-done' tasks, some easy side quests like watering your plants, and then to sweeten the deal, throw in 6 super fun things you'd love to do (a visit to the craft store maybe?).

This approach injects an element of excitement and novelty into the process, thus distracting the brain and bypassing the PDA response.

FREE: Download my D20 Play List to try this tactic out for yourself!

Key Points, Quotable Sass, & All That Jazz

Time to bring the fireworks with some seriously sassy key points and memorable quotes from episode 83:

"One of the ways to distract the brain from this demand avoidance thing is to turn stuff into a game because if you gamify it, you get a little bit of the dopamine. We love the dopamine! The dopamine is a neurodivergents’ catnip." - Caitlin Fisher

"I just make a list of 20 things, 20 things that I could do in roughly 10 minutes, and then I roll a D20, a 20-sided die, and then I do the thing that's on there! That's why my plants aren't dead, because occasionally I roll the number that makes me water my plants." - Caitlin Fisher

#Facts

What does the research say about Pathological Demand Avoidance? PDA first appeared in a journal article in 2003. The last five years have seen an increase in the number of research papers written about PDA or EDA. However, the research remains extremely limited. (Source: National Autistic Society UK)

'Pathological demand avoidance' has been criticized as a name for various reasons including the negative connotations some confronted with the word 'pathological' might have,[14] and alternative names like RDA for 'Rational Demand Avoidance'[15][16] or 'Pervasive Drive for Autonomy'[17][18] have been proposed and used. (Source: Wikipedia)

Episode Mic Drop

While demand avoidance can be a pain in the butt, you are not totally helpless against it. Remember, demand avoidance is just another puzzle to solve, and let's face it, we neurodivergents are masters at finding creative solutions. Especially not when you've got a D20, a hyperactive imagination, and this podcast in your arsenal! (peace)

Now, go and be free! Love you!

Download the episode transcript here!

Are you a neurodivergent creative aching to dismantle societal myths and pave the way for more inclusive, flexible, and fulfilling experiences through artistic expression? 

Join the conversation and connect with others like you by subscribing to The Neurodivergent Creative Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Let's embrace neurodiversity and celebrate our unique journeys together!

Hang out with Caitlin in the Neurodivergent Creative Pod, where folks make weird art AND talk about it!

Also, don’t miss the FREE MASTERCLASS >>> Art is Revolution: Reclaiming Your Passion Under Capitalism