Pathological Demand Anxiety 3

Teachers: think carefully about what really matters. Does it really matter if a pupil underlines his title and date? For a child with Pathological Demand Anxiety, this is just another demand being put on him. If you tell him that you like to see your date and title underlined as it's clearer for you that way, he may copy but it won't be a big deal if he doesn't. I heard of a pupil who was put in detention for not underlining her date and title and this was a girl who was just struggling to get into school. Yes, you may need to treat the pupil with PDA differently from the other children in your class but, in my experience, children are very accepting of difference; it's we who struggle.