Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD)

Many people with ADHD experience intense sensitivity to rejection, sometimes referred to as rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD). Have you ever assumed that someone is mad at you or hates you after they didn't respond to a text for a while? Or have you gotten feedback or criticism from someone that made you feel like a failure at life? We may have been told that we are just being too sensitive, but in reality, our brain has learned to treat rejection as a real threat that triggers the fight, flight, or freeze response. This can quickly cause a cycle of bracing for rejection, reacting intensely when it shows up, and then people-pleasing or pulling back to avoid feeling that way again.

Walking through this with a counselor can help you build a different relationship with rejection, one where a hard moment doesn't have to derail your whole day