I have a 10 yo daughter with PDA autism (and ADHD) who decided to refuse her medication in early January. We have noticed a big difference from when she took them so we really want her to get back on them, but nothing we have tried works. Anyone with some experience they want to share? We are grasping for straws at this point. Help

  • bionicjoey@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    9 months ago

    I don’t know anything about PDA, but I wonder if she’s thinking of it in terms of “winning and losing”, if there’s some kind of “win” you could trade her in exchange for taking the meds. Like it or not, Autistic brains (mine at least) often frame the world in a very transactional and utilitarian way. There may be something she wants.

    • spainball@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      3·
      9 months ago

      We have tried trading it for things she wants and tried giving her some kind of choice in for example when she wants to take the meds or how, to give her a sense of ownership of the situation. We have told her it is ultimately her choice if she wants to take them or not, hoping she would feel the difference herself and choose to start again.

      • SavvyWolfEnglish
        2·
        9 months ago

        I admire you you saying that it’s her choice (and she’s soon going to reach the level of maturity where she should be self-advocating if she isn’t already). But my question is, what will you do if she chooses to stop the meds and doesn’t want to go back on them?

    • moosetwin@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      1·
      9 months ago

      That’s not how PDA has worked for me, it’s as if the action has a -infinity attached to it, and no amount of rewarding or threatening works.