What Is RSD WIth ADHD?

Being able to accept rejection is hard for anyone. But, when you’re an ADHDer, it can be difficult to control your emotional responses. You might become more sensitive to rejection and have a hard time dealing with things like criticism and teasing. 

Rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is a separate condition that can impact anyone. But, recent studies have shown a connection between RSD and ADHD, especially in children. 

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for ADHD kids to be ridiculed and teased because of their condition. Over time, they can struggle with self-esteem and have a hard time taking those criticisms. They might be unable to regulate their emotions in healthy ways, making them hypersensitive to rejection and other forms of teasing or ridicule. 

What Is RSD? 

Rejection-sensitive dysphoria is a newer term that isn’t widely recognized from a clinical standpoint. However, it’s used to describe extreme feelings of uneasiness when experiencing rejection or criticism of any kind. It can also be the perception of rejection. It tends to impact highly sensitive people more often and is sometimes connected to ADHD due to the different brain functions of people with the condition. 

While there aren’t official “symptoms” for RSD, people experiencing it might feel intense pain or sadness when being rejected or getting their feelings hurt. They might also start to be overly critical of themselves and struggle with self-esteem issues. 

RSD can lead to fear of social settings where you worry you might get judged by others. You might also start to avoid new experiences due to a fear of failure. When you’re an ADHDer on top of that kind of fear, you might start to be extremely harsh on yourself and blame your disorder for the way people treat you. Obviously, that can hit hard as a child when you want so badly to fit in. But, it can impact the way you view yourself as an adult, too. 

Does ADHD Cause RSD? 

There isn’t enough research to pinpoint exactly what causes RSD. However, many experts believe the cause is due to the way the brain processes emotions. ADHDers, for example, process emotions differently than the average person. As a result, unpleasant interactions can trigger negative emotions quickly and cause them to escalate. Furthermore, other factors could be past experiences and potentially trauma around negative social experiences.

Understanding the connection between RSD and ADHD can make it easier to receive an official diagnosis. Consider bringing it up to your healthcare provider or a mental health professional if you or your child is showing some of the common signs. Keep in mind that RSD can often be misdiagnosed as something else. It’s easy to assume it’s some kind of social phobia or anxiety. So, work with someone you trust to get to the bottom of what you’re really dealing with. 

How Is RSD Treated? 

If you (or your child) already have an ADHD diagnosis, this might be helpful in guiding treatment for RSD. If you aren’t sure if you’re an ADHDer, you might consider being assessed first.

There is some evidence to suggest that medication might help to ease some of the common symptoms of RSD, which can involve emotion regulation. Furthermore, working on it in therapy with a neurodiversity affirming therapist that is familiar with RSD can also be helpful. It can give you a better understanding of where your emotions are coming from, while offering ways to accept and cope with rejection without letting it overwhelm you. For example, you might explore what the story is that you’re telling yourself is happening when you are perceiving being rejected. For example, thinking, “She must hate me. I’m definitely getting fired.”

Another way RSD could be addressed is by practicing radical acceptance. By accepting and honoring your feelings without trying to shame yourself for them or change them, can help people move through the experience of RSD.

Additionally, your therapist may engage you in exploring ways to self-regulate and calm the nervous system. Overall, simply having an awareness that what you’re experiencing is RSD can make a world of difference.

Again, there is still a lot to learn about RSD. Maybe you’ve never heard of it before now, but the experiences sound familiar, or you see your child with ADHD dealing with strong emotions and you’re wondering how to help. If you’re interested in learning more, don’t hesitate to contact us for information or to set up an appointment for ADHD assessments.