Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is an extreme emotional sensitivity and emotional pain triggered by the perception — not necessarily the reality — that a person has been rejected, teased, or criticized by important people in their life.
Popular in Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
Caregiver Blogs
“We Are Negligent When We Overlook Emotional Dysregulation in ADHD”
“Emotional dysregulation is not new — to my daughter or to any other person with ADHD. But it was an...
Managing Treatment
Feel Like You’re “Flunking” Treatment? You’re Not. (And You’re Also Not Alone.)
If you’ve tried new interventions for your ADHD and felt frustrated with the return-on-investment,...
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
Q: “Are My Feelings Valid, Even If RSD Is Involved?”
“Your feelings are valid — RSD or not, neurotypical or not. You are entitled to have your emotions...
Guest Blogs
“RSD Has Blessed Me with an Immense Capacity for Feeling — and I’m Grateful.”
"Just as a force of nature can be powerful and destructive, RSD can also bring me to my knees in awe...
Teens with ADHD
“I Feel Judged and Attacked:” A Teen’s Eye View of RSD
A 15-year-old boy with ADHD expresses how rejection sensitive dysphoria manifests in his daily life....
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
Rejection Sensitivity Is Worse for Girls and Women with ADHD
Too many women with ADHD choose isolation to avoid the emotional pain of rejection — an unhealthy...
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Top Emotion Regulation Difficulties for Youth with ADHD
Emotion regulation difficulties in youth with ADHD range from irritability to DMDD. Here, caregivers...
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
How Does RSD Really, Actually Feel?
“The initial feeling of RSD is as if you've been punched in the head and are struggling to regain...
Typical ADHD Behaviors
Why Am I So Sensitive? Why ADHD Brains Can’t Just Ignore Unfairness
Do you become overwhelmed or enraged by life’s unfairness and attacks on social justice? You may be...
Emotions & Shame
Why ADHD Masking Is a Form of Self-Sabotage
Do you squander your precious time and energy trying to “act normal” at the expense of your mental...
Adult Blogs
“Life on Mars: Why Peopling Is a Mystery to Me”
“When your interactions with other kids are severely lacking because other children run away from you...
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
Q: “I Can’t Handle Rejection. Will I Ever Change?”
The emotional pain of rejection sensitive dysphoria is real and agonizing. But your responses to...
Adult Blogs
“Oversharing Is My Default Mode. So Is the RSD-Induced Shame I Feel Afterward.”
“Oversharing is a dangerous cocktail for people with ADHD and RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria). It...
The ADHD Brain
ADHD Neuroscience 101
An expert on attention deficit and learning disabilities talks about the biology behind ADHD and why...
Emotions & Shame
Emotional Numbness and the Spectrum of ADHD Feelings
The ADHD brain experiences feelings on a spectrum that ranges from emotional numbness to intense...