I’ve recently returned from another wonderful writing sojourn in the Lincolnshire Wolds. Whilst there I spent time revisiting Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, and its considerable significance, value and importance in deepening our understanding the PDA presentation. For those who are yet to be familiar with Porges and his work, here is a brief visit to his work, and my thoughts about how it relates to PDA.
A major nerve in our Central Nervous System is the Vagus Nerve. More accurately it comprises of several nerves, hence Stephen Porges calls this his ‘Polyvagal Theory'(PVT). As part of PVT Porges has identified a really important process called NEUROCEPTION.
‘Neuroception is how our neural circuits distinguish whether situations or people are safe, dangerous, or life threatening. If our neural circuits perceive a threat, the principal human defence strategies are triggered.’ (Porges, 2004)
Interestingly, Matthews (2019) has written about how children with PDA seem to have highly sensitive neuroception. (See links below for fuller treatment of this topic.) So that got me thinking that when parents try to ‘encourage’ them into situations -such as a school environment- and the child responds with great resistance, refusal, and meltdown, it is simply the child’s neuroceptive response to a situation where they do not feel safe or secure, or cannot trust the people around them.
Matthews (2019) also states that ‘Because Neuroception is a neural, rather than cognitive process, when the nervous system detects threats, it does so unconsciously “triggering the body to engage defensively” (Porges, 2017). This means that when triggered to mobilize (flight or fight) or immobilize (freeze or fright), the child’s body is not choosing to react as it does, rather it is compelled to do so for its very survival and safety.’
For me, the resolution to this situation is not to force the child (against their sense and sensibilities) to remain in the environment, but to start by acknowledging that the child’s body knows best.
Knowing about neuroception, as part of polyvagal theory means we can begin to understand how, when the nervous system detects threat and danger within a demand, a survival response is triggered, prompting escape or avoidance. (See also Matthews, (2019) for fuller treatment of this topic).
Understanding Polyvagal Theory and applying the concepts to the PDA youngster has the potential to lead to much deeper levels of understanding of PDA and also to underpin more effective ways of supporting the child. Indeed Porges himself points us to the obvious benefits of applying his Polyvagal Theory in stating
“When neuroception tells us that an environment is safe and that the people in this environment are trustworthy, our mechanisms of defense are disenabled. We can then behave in ways that encourage social engagement and positive attachment.” (Porges, 2014)
And that, to me, and the PDA youngster, makes perfect sense.
References:
Matthews, J. (2019) Highly sensitive neuroception may be at the heart of PDA. Originally published online at: https://pathologicaldemandavoidanceaprofileofautism.com/
A documented copy of the original article Highly sensitive neuroception may be at the heart of PDA, taken by Dr. Wenn Lawson and hosted on his website is at : http://www.buildsomethingpositive.com/wenn/pda.html