My schooling history as a child with PDA part 1

[@RachelGerrard]

I'm crying listening to this. I suspect my son has PDA and hypersensitivity, and now it is all making sense - he must be so stressed out so much of the time, its heart breaking :(

[@bluebell570]

Same as my son since start of primary school 3 school refusals very hypersensitive thinks people stare at him as well hates busy or socialising cant concentrate yet professionals have made worse by not listening or believing so my son hasnt got the right help and support to support him in school the gp wouldn't allow referels to see occupational therapist community pediatrician but i will keep on and on still or go private like have had too in the past

[@123Jakobandersen]

Hi Harry. I would like to thank you for your honesty and your great videos. Im a schoolteacher fro Denmark, working with autistic people, knowledge and studies about education of pda profiles. I learn so much! Thanks a lot

[@Tiger-Baby]

I'm 44 and my friend, mother of two autistic boys, kept giving me links to PDA talks. After watching them, I realised it was me to a T! Well done for having the courage to make these videos. Keep it up x

[@christianagianni9965]

Thanks so much for your videos Harry! I am a teacher supporting a 12 year old with PDA and found your videos really helpful in understanding better how it feels to have PDA. Cheers!

[@julielawson9269]

I'm 51 and I'm been sitting here watching this and listening to myself say "yes, yes yes" out loud. Thanks so much

[@narinda108]

Thanks for your doing this mate,I have a 12 year old daughter Dx'd with Aspergers since 6 but now we realise she has a PDA profile as well and your experience is really helpful.Its being shared widely on our local parents group currently.My daughter is also fascinated with animals from dinosaurs to extremophiles,she wants to be an astrobiologist. Keep it up,first person experience is vital for understanding, both for parents and kids,not to mention that my ex recognises much of the PDA stuff in herself too,after being DX'd with AS after our girl.

[@HarryThompsonPDAExtraordinaire]

Narinda Sunyata this comment made me so happy! Thank you so much! :)

[@Natasha-li7su]

What you said about being hyper focused on one particular topic is so true. All of us in my house hyper focus on new interests. It is obsessive and deprives us all of sleep! It's great you're making these. :-) Can't believe all your travels! Congratulations. x

[@Jacobofthevalley]

Thanks Harry your videos have helped me more than I can express I've cried through so many of them they're helping me to understand and better express myself im thankful beyond what words can say

[@jaimedee2002]

Thanks for sharing. I can completely identify with your experiences and thinking.

[@SuperSamshooter]

Thank you! Thank you Harry! I have a diagnosis which includes traits of PDA and when you said “home is for play, school is for work!” I was like, I said those exact words! and I really do mean those exact words! Thank you again Harry I’m learning so much online about PDA since I found out - in February 2019 - that I had been diagnosed with it way back in the year 2000. I have long suffered neglect and abuse quite frankly from people who have not understood me and have just labed me rude, violent, a monster, agressive, lazy and the terrible thing is, some of those same people who are still in my life have refused to change their attitudes towards me even after they found out about my PDA! If that isn’t discrimination I don’t know what is? P.S. I apologise if my praise made you feel uneasy in anyway (I always feel awkward if anyone praises me, and I believe that can be due to the fact that I feel people expect me to do just as well the next time and that can feel like a demand to me so apologies Harry, and no demands intended.)

[@gigimonrose157]

Great video! Thanks for the info. I love how self aware you are now that you look back on these experiences. I can see its turned you into a knowledgeable person who can really shine light on this form of autism. Its great for those of us wanting to understand and learn more. Best of luck in the future! X

[@Crazyunicornsdollworld]

Thank you so much for this channel!!! You are describing my daughter to the T!!! Animals, astronomy, at the same ages, etc. Our homeschooling developed into unschooling, because i realised that's the only way she learns.

[@afellows7264]

It feels like we are headed that way too.

[@ferrariramsgobrrr]

Only recently have I realised the degree to which I practised malicious compliance through school. I'd do the activity, assignment, homework etc, but I'd find a way to subvert the intent of the activity in my completion of it. A few disjointed examples: - year 10 we were required to write a science fiction story as part of our studies of genre; I submitted a star wars fan fiction that I was already writing anyway. - year 7 we had to choose our favourite book to present at a book fair. I loved reading. I loved books. I read dozens and dozens of books a year. I refused to choose one to present, and instead presented my star wars fan fiction, somehow winning an award (??) - year 2 we had to write a party invitation to our friends; I wrote mine to fictional characters from - wait for it - star wars I also used to show up to costume parties where there was an aggressive expectation of being in costume and I would comply to the extreme, by going 'in character' for the whole evening and refusing to engage with people as my real self. Am I on the right track here? Just been assessed for autism, finally, at age 29, and my assessor is still writing the formal report but she told me she thinks I have a PDA profile of autism + giftedness. [your channel is among the resources she recommended]

[@michellezuzarte5385]

After my son being considered odd and defiant by various family members, I am starting to realize that he has PDA as your account seems to fit his anxious tendencies and meltdowns. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@CuddlyBear-100]

Hi Harry - I'd love to know more about your meltdowns - Obsessions - We all love your video's keep up with them (when you feel like it) they're so enlightening xx

[@Lou-xq9br]

Brilliant video and describes my 8 years old completely from going from diff obsessions to why do I need to do homework. I don't even bring up homework now to take that stress and demand away

[@helenmorris593]

You are amazing. I recognise so many pda traits in my daughter. I love hearing about pda from someone with so much experience.

[@gladyssanchez5928]

I'm so glad I found your video. We have been trying to find a way of dealing with my grandsons pda, to no avail. He is 15 with numerous diagnosis last being odd which fit but not entirely. You have made me understand him more than any Dr. Or book. For that I thank you so much.

[@samantharichardson3300]

Thank you soo much for your insight. We certainly need more awareness on PDA x

[@lianaakhileshvariferndale2648]

These videos are fantastic. Well done. Very helpful. May I suggest one small thing? If you hold your phone in landscape rather than portrait, your image will fill the whole screen.

[@fionamortimore1704]

Lol I'm exactly like you mate, PDA, private schooled but dropped out before GCSE'S and ended up just getting my maths and English language and lit with a private tutor. Was drinking and smoking loads of weed by the end of it. I'm 22 now and im only just kicking the habits I picked up. When I learned about PDA initially and read the overview of what it is exactly, I felt uncomfortable that my whole personality and identity was perfectly summarised in just a few paragraphs. It was unnerving tbh. I'm not really sure where to go from here..

[@queuing_jupiter535]

Fiona Mortimore go to the gp and ask for a autism form, they'll put you on a waiting list to see someone for a diagnosis. You'll need to take a parent as they ask stuff about very early childhood i.e. pregnancy. I'm almost 19 I was diagnosed at 18 6 months ago with autism (aspurgers) but I fit the pda profile way more. After this they should refer you to local mental health services, that's when you can chat with someone and see if you need therapy.

[@suziieelewis4783]

I started watching your videos today im a adult with pda myself and as a adult its still out of control thought i only got diagnosed at xmas time. I do struggle , worse part for me is never feeling like i fit in anywhere evem around my family. And i always feel like i kinda have one devil and one angel sat on eother shoulder one telling me i have to do something the other stopping me.. ur videos are helpfull just knowing there is others out there with it....

[@dollydagger8492]

This video.., is everything to me..already thinking how to get money together because like my whole family needs you lol. I followed on Facebook at first but definitely need a consultation and everything else.

[@steamstream777]

If you set your Palm Pilot to midnight and go into a dark bathroom, if you look into a mirror you'll see the ghost of the Apple Newton.

[@constellationexploration6019]

Thank you thank you thank you for this channel.

[@harrymint551]

Hi Harry, thanks for the insight to PDA. Did the ‘professionals’ ever recommend. Medication ?

[@strawsofftheneurodivergent4221]

Wow I can so relate to the introverted type of PDA

[@LoneJensenArt]

you are literally describing my youngest son, he's 9. I have been desperate to get him into a Steiner School for years but in the UK the Schools get no funding so it costs as much as a private education :(

[@photogroup16]

I went to a Steiner school in Bristol which at the time was thee only one that was pay-what-you-can-afford. More recently a Steiner school was set up as an academy but after some issues I'm unaware of it was shut down leaving another fee paying school which as you say is beyond the reach of many family incomes. Such a shame because they offer so much to NT as well as other kids like ASD etc.

[@GabiAttala]

Did you by any chance go to a school in Letchworth Hertfordshire? Just curious

[@HarryThompsonPDAExtraordinaire]

Nope! But are you thinking about St Christopher's?

[@cameralensdee]

this sounds like me i am only 12! this was real helpful.

[@Hugo_Golden]

Lmao only watched first 5 minutes and feel almost exactly the same XD