UNDERPINNING AVOIDANCE

At the root of this avoidance is an anxiety about conforming to social demands and of not being in control of the situation. Someone with a demand avoidant profile may seem to have enough social understanding to adapt their strategies to the person making the demand on them. 

Sometimes the strategies J uses to reduce her anxiety appear quite elaborate, calculated and sometimes if I'm honest, hurtful, but I try to keep in mind that this behaviour reults from her efforts to control herenvironment and therefore reduce her anxiety levels.

Explosive Behaviour

We often experience straightforward refusal or outbursts of explosive behaviour, including severe aggression/anger. For me, this is the saddest part of it all. Watching your daughter completely meltdown (screaming, throwing things and physically lashing out, and she is pretty strong for her young age) can be pretty scary. 

However, when you learn that this is usually a form of panic on her behalf when perhaps her anxiety has reached the limit, you quickly learn to ride it out and not take it personally. 

With a greater understanding and knowledge on board, we have come to understand that it is not her fault!