Neurodiverse Love with Mona Kay Tips for Navigating Sensory, Social, & Emotional Differences in Your ND Relationships-Grace Myhill
Feb 24, 2026
Grace Myhill, MSW, is a social worker and coach for neurodiverse couples. She explains PDA and why refusals are not personal. Practical three-sentence requests and codes for emotional needs make asks clearer. Learn simple repair steps for hurt, ways to map sensory sensitivities, and strategies to balance special interests with shared connection.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
PDA Is A Drive For Autonomy Not Personal Rejection
- PDA is better framed as a persistent drive for autonomy, not a personal rejection of the partner.
- People with PDA react to perceived demands with a knee-jerk no, even when requests come from themselves.
Use The Three Sentence Request
- Use the Three Sentence Request to avoid triggering PDA by framing asks as requests rather than demands.
- Say a neutral fact, then “Can you please…” with timing, then say how it will make you feel to increase yes-responses.
Predefine Emotional Conversation Expectations
- Pre-set expectations using the Three Sentence Request for different emotional conversations (e.g., listening-only vs. problem-solving).
- Example: “Can you please just let me share…no need to solve; that would make me feel heard.”