What is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)?
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is a condition linked to ADHD that causes intense emotional pain in response to perceived rejection or failure. The Cleveland Clinic explains that RSD occurs due to differences in brain structure, which makes it difficult for the brain to regulate rejection-related emotions and behaviors. This leads to emotional reactions that are far more intense than those experienced by neurotypical individuals.
The term "dysphoria" originates from the Greek word for “difficult to bear.” For those with ADHD, this difficulty manifests as an overwhelming emotional response to rejection, criticism, or failure. While everyone experiences discomfort in these situations, people with RSD find them almost unbearable. These feelings can be so severe that they become impairing, often leading to significant challenges in daily life.
To fully understand RSD, it’s important to first grasp the concept of emotional dysregulation—a common issue for individuals with mental health disorders, including ADHD. The human brain is complex, forming many different pathways over time to regulate emotions. However, in RSD, these pathways fail to adequately manage the emotional response to rejection, causing the brain to react as if it’s a TV stuck at a volume that’s far too high for comfortable functioning.
Symptoms of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
RSD can manifest in various ways:
Anticipatory Anxiety: Individuals with RSD often experience severe anxiety or other negative emotions in anticipation of potential rejection.
Misinterpretation of Neutral Interactions: Nonpositive interactions, such as neutral or vague responses, are frequently perceived as rejection, leading to strong emotional reactions.
Emotional Overreactions: The emotional response to perceived rejection can be extreme, often resulting in anger, rage, profound sadness, or severe anxiety.
Low Self-Esteem: Those with RSD can often be easily embarrassed or self-conscious and struggle with low self-esteem, finding it difficult to believe in themselves.
Outward Emotional Displays: Specifically children and teenagers with RSD may show sudden anger or burst into tears when feeling rejected. This can also happen with adults, but adults tend to mask their emotions better due to lived experience and learned coping mechanisms.
Inward Emotional Responses: Some individuals internalize their feelings, which can lead to sudden episodes of severe depression, sometimes mistaken for conditions like bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder.
People-Pleasing Tendencies: To avoid disapproval, individuals with RSD may become people pleasers, going to great lengths to avoid conflict or rejection from others around them.
Avoidance of Failure: The fear of failure or rejection can cause individuals to avoid starting new projects or striving for goals, leading to feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness.
Perfectionism and Overachievement: In an attempt to avoid failure, those with RSD may overcompensate by striving for perfection or looking to accomplish far too much and spread themselves thin. This often results in intense anxiety and neglect of self-care.
For many, RSD can also cause them to stop trying altogether—falling into what is commonly referred to as “bedrotting,” where the individual feels too overwhelmed to even attempt to engage in daily activities. This can lead to a spiral of negative thoughts and, in some cases, suicidal ideation, which is unfortunately a common side effect of RSD.
This cycle can be difficult to break, but it’s important to recognize that setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care is essential for emotional well-being. It’s okay to say no and to accept that not every social interaction will be perfect. Not everyone's out to judge you.
What Causes RSD?
The exact cause of RSD is still under research, but it seems to be most prevalent among people with ADHD. Experts suspect that it may be related to issues with brain structure, particularly in the areas that regulate and filter internal communication. When these filters are less active, the brain is unable to properly sort through and process emotional responses, leading to the heightened sensitivity seen in RSD.
Managing RSD: What Helps?
Managing RSD can be challenging, but some strategies can help:
Medication: For some, medication can be a game-changer, helping to regulate the intense emotional responses associated with RSD. Unfortunately, access to medication and therapy can be limited, so finding the right support is crucial. Always find what works best for you.
Reframing Failure: Learning to view failure as a redirection rather than a definitive end can help ease the pressure that often accompanies the fear of rejection.
Therapy: Psychotherapy, particularly forms of therapy that focus on emotional regulation, can be beneficial. While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often recommended, it may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those with ADHD, as it involves structured exercises that may feel overwhelming.
Understanding that not every interaction or outcome is a rejection can also help in managing RSD. Socialization is a skill that takes time to build, and it’s okay to make mistakes along the way.
We often remind ourselves, "It’s okay to be a b!tch"—meaning it’s okay to set boundaries, to say no, and to prioritize your well-being.
RSD is a challenging condition, but with the right support and strategies, it’s possible to manage the emotional intensity and lead a more balanced life. Trust the process, and remember that every step forward, no matter how small, is progress.
What helps you?
Workshop it to find what works best for you, and share it with our community! Together we can grow and learn to cope together.
We hope our podcast and this blog post can help shed some light RSD, its challenges, and how to cope.
Additional Research and Articles to Read:
Comentarios