As I started to immerse myself in online ADHD discourse, I started seeing the acronym “RSD,” which stands for “rejection sensitive dysphoria,” everywhere. YouTube videos and Substack posts provided helpful explainers about RSD, or rejection sensitive dysphoria, which was described as a symptom of ADHD. A Google image search revealed dozens of RSD infographics and checklists. On ADHD forums, people worried that their RSD would prevent them from graduating or that a partner’s RSD was going to break up their relationship.
Feb 17·edited Feb 17Liked by Taylor Allbright, PhD
I used to have a huge amount of emotional dysregulation, but doing CPTSD and attachment work around self-validation and self-soothing completely cured it and I was very emotionally stable by the time I realized I had ADHD. So I think executive function difficulties is the ADHD symptom...if it is manifesting as emotional dysregulation that really depends on the person and what else is going on in their nervous system, I don't think it's a core symptom even if it's widespread, because trauma and people not having good emotional self-care skills is also widespread. So, ADHD may make your emotional health worse if it's already bad, but that doesn't make it a core symptom by itself IMHO.
What I have found useful when I experience RSD is writing is very useful in documenting my spirals, the shame which for me is prevalent, and then processing it and talking it through with myself. I can then look at where it might be coming from, what parts are at play and along with my therapist then try and think about alternative views of the same thing. I.e. what other explanation could there be for X not messaging you back?
What were you telling yourself at the time?
Reflection and for me, going through it rather than around it has been very helpful in not only recognising that it is RSD and it is PERCEIVED rejection but also that next time, I can more quickly get to the alternate view and regulate more effectively/quickly
Interesting. I wonder what role parenting plays in these issues. Growing up with my parents they generally considered 'emotional dysregulation' (not that they used that term) not in regards to the emotions I went through, but what I did about them.
I used to have a huge amount of emotional dysregulation, but doing CPTSD and attachment work around self-validation and self-soothing completely cured it and I was very emotionally stable by the time I realized I had ADHD. So I think executive function difficulties is the ADHD symptom...if it is manifesting as emotional dysregulation that really depends on the person and what else is going on in their nervous system, I don't think it's a core symptom even if it's widespread, because trauma and people not having good emotional self-care skills is also widespread. So, ADHD may make your emotional health worse if it's already bad, but that doesn't make it a core symptom by itself IMHO.
What I have found useful when I experience RSD is writing is very useful in documenting my spirals, the shame which for me is prevalent, and then processing it and talking it through with myself. I can then look at where it might be coming from, what parts are at play and along with my therapist then try and think about alternative views of the same thing. I.e. what other explanation could there be for X not messaging you back?
What were you telling yourself at the time?
Reflection and for me, going through it rather than around it has been very helpful in not only recognising that it is RSD and it is PERCEIVED rejection but also that next time, I can more quickly get to the alternate view and regulate more effectively/quickly
Interesting. I wonder what role parenting plays in these issues. Growing up with my parents they generally considered 'emotional dysregulation' (not that they used that term) not in regards to the emotions I went through, but what I did about them.