Credit: August de Richelieu from Pexels For some children, everyday demands such as "brush your teeth" or "time to get off of your computer game," can trigger intense anxiety and extreme resistance. When this type of response affects everyday life, it may fit into the pattern of behavior known as pathological demand avoidance, or PDA. Children with this pattern of behavior have intense emotional reactions to parents' and teachers' requests that infringe on their sense of control.