Personal resilience when caring for a PDAer – part 2

Part of the PDA Society podcast series. Part One of each podcast is free to access with our free subscription, while Part Two offers a deeper dive and is available exclusively to paid monthly and annual subscribers.

Deep Dive Subscriber Episode
This episode is available exclusively to our monthly and annual subscribers. It offers extended discussion, extra content and further insights into building resilience as part of the PDA journey.

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In this exclusive Deep Dive episode, following on from part 1, Rachel shares more about her journey of building resilience while parenting her son, who has a PDA profile of autism. Drawing on both personal experience and professional expertise as a teacher and trainer, Rachel opens up about the real-life challenges parents and carers face, and the approaches that can make a difference.

We go beyond the introduction to resilience to explore how it works in everyday life: from navigating diagnosis and education battles, to managing family criticism, balancing the needs of siblings, and advocating with professionals. Rachel talks honestly about moments of self-doubt, the pressure of constant hyper-vigilance, and how she has found ways to recharge and keep going.

Topics Covered:

• Early challenges in the diagnostic journey and the need to trust your instincts

• Coping when parenting strategies are misunderstood or criticised by others

• Balancing the needs of siblings and managing guilt as a parent

• Building resilience during school struggles and advocating for the right support

• Practical strategies for staying calm during meltdowns and distressed behaviours

• Managing your own anxiety in public situations and with family members

• How friends and relatives can provide the most meaningful support

• Staying strong through medical appointments, assessments and treatment decisions

• Everyday tools for resilience: rest, self-care and finding joy in small moments

• Remembering who you are beyond being a parent or carer, and why this matters for resilience

Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the PDA Society. While we aim to provide balanced and inclusive discussions, individual experiences and perspectives may vary. The PDA Society is committed to using language and terminology that reflects the preferences of PDA/autistic people, but sometimes our guests may use language and terminology which differs. Appearance on our podcast is not an endorsement of an individual, and not all of our guests will align with our position on the issues discussed.