Episode #354: Why Even Your Own To-Dos Feel Like an Attack: The Explosive Reality of Adult PDA

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Kendahl Damashek

About This Episode

If you’ve ever thought, “No one can tell me what to do… not even me,” this episode might feel like someone finally turned the lights on.

This week, Kristen sits down with Kendahl Damashek — parent coach, Director of Content and Curriculum for At Peace Parents, and a PDA Autistic mom of four PDA kids — for a groundbreaking conversation about Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in adults.

Together, they explore:

  1. How PDA actually shows up in adults (and the subtle signs many people miss)
  2. Why everyday tasks like “just start the laundry” can trigger a full-body nope
  3. What’s happening in the nervous system when internal or external demands feel like a threat
  4. How to work with your nervous system instead of fighting it
  5. Practical first steps for anyone thinking, “Wait… this might be me.”

If you’ve struggled with “self-sabotage,” shutdowns, avoidance spirals, or a lifelong pattern of resisting pressure — even your own — this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and a completely different way forward.

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Changed Everything

Hi, I’m Kristen Carder—ADHD expert, podcast host, and certified coach who’s been exactly where you are. Diagnosed at 21, I spent years cycling through planners, courses, and systems that never quite worked. Everything changed when I discovered the power of understanding my ADHD brain and the transformative impact of community support.

Now, after 15+ years of research and experience, I’ve helped thousands of adults with ADHD thrive. I’m here to show you how understanding your brain can transform your life, just like it did for mine.

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