Being Julia - A Personal Account of Living with Pathological Demand Avoidance

Ruth Fidler author Julia Daunt author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Published:19th Aug '21

£12.99

Available to order, but very limited on stock - if we have issues obtaining a copy, we will let you know.

Being Julia - A Personal Account of Living with Pathological Demand Avoidance cover

An insightful memoir by an adult with PDA, written in collaboration with a professional specialist in the area, reflecting back through early childhood to present day

Engaging memoir from a 37-year-old woman named Julia with pathological demand avoidance (PDA), co-written with specialist Ruth Fidler. Covering childhood and adolescence, friendships, communication and meltdowns, plus an insightful chapter from her long-term partner, this is an unflinchingly honest look at Julia's inspiring life and the challenges she has overcome.

Diagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) at aged 12 and writing this memoir at age 37, Julia Daunt depicts the ins and out of PDA and its symptoms, while maintaining a positive outlook on what is possible to achieve. Co-written with professional specialist Ruth Fidler, it covers how PDA impacts Julia's life, including meltdowns, sensory issues and communication in relationships.

Including examples of school reports and handwritten letters, a chapter written from Julia's partner's perspective and even an example of Julia's favourite recipe, this warm and personal look at living and thriving with PDA is informative and inspiring.

This is a unique personal insight into PDA, following Julia and her family from early childhood to present day adulthood and relationship with her partner Paul. Julia is honest about the challenges throughout, with the benefits of a positive approach and acceptance shining through. PDA individuals, family members and professionals will all benefit from reading this book. -- The PDA Society trustees
Being Julia is a hugely insightful and eye-opening account of living with PDA. Honest, from the heart and with humour, this book is very informative and will give hope to parents who are wondering what happens when their children become adults. Being Julia is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand more about PDA. -- Steph Curtis, parent of a PDA girl and blog writer at www.stephstwogirls.co.uk
This biography has been put together so it describes PDA like a text book whilst simultaneously telling Julia's individual story, making clear that it's her personal experience, and other PDA experiences will be different. Being a fellow adult PDAer, I had been excited to read Julia's biography, and quickly discovered astounding similarities between us, as well as differences, revealed in her honest account. I think this is what makes Being Julia so important: it shines a clear light, from the inside outwards, onto what PDA is. -- Sally Cat, adult PDAer author and illustrator

ISBN: 9781849056816

Dimensions: 228mm x 152mm x 18mm

Weight: 220g

192 pages