May 8, 2019
In this podcast, Tracy talks about ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria or RSD. Because Tracy doesn’t struggle with RSD she wasn’t that interested in learning about it but once she realized it was the number one requested topic among the women in her Facebook group, she started doing her research.
Discover why emotion is not mentioned in the DSM, despite the fact that all experts believe that it is an integral part of ADHD.
What do so many of us with ADHD complain about?
- Short temper
- Impulsivity
- Low frustration tolerance
- Overwhelmed by emotions
- Overwhelmed by the pain or energy of others
- Others with ADHD may be unaware of others feelings and may seem to be insensitive
- Excitability
Tracy clarifies that if emotion isn’t mentioned, that means that RSD is also not recognized in the DSM.
Learn about the 3 types of mood challenges in ADHD. Discover which one of them is associated exclusively with ADHD.
Tracy shares why it’s so difficult for so many women with ADHD to grow up with a positive self-concept and the one thing that is instrumental in success for ADHD women.
Learn the symptoms of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and how it got its name. Discover how it looks different depending on whether or not those who experience it internalize or externalize the emotional response.
Tracy shares how members in her group describe what RSD feels like and how prevalent it seemed to be among the ADHD women in her group.
Discover how RSD can often be misdiagnosed as social phobia, bi-polar disorder and/or depression but how it is different.
Tracy talks about how Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria can affect people’s lives and relationships. She also shares a potentially positive side to RSD.
Learn what might help to lesson symptoms of RSD both in the way of medication and psychotherapy.
Once Tracy read about the drive to suceed and achieve, it was easy to wonder if perhaps she had RSD. That’s when she took this self-test here. Like all things ADHD it’s all about the degree of impairment.
Here are the questions. Choose Often vs. Not Often for each question.
Q1: Do you ever experience sudden, intense bouts of rage when your feelings are hurt? Choose Often vs. Not Often for each question
Q2: Do you ever experience sudden, intense bouts of depression when your think you have been rejected or criticized?
Q3: Are you your own harshest critic?
Q4: Do you ever feel anxious in social situations because you assume that no one likes you?
Q5: Do you consider yourself a “people pleaser,” often going above and beyond to get on someone’s good side?
Q6: Do you ever pass up opportunities or avoid starting projects because you’re afraid you’ll fail?
Q7: Have you ever been called “overly sensitive” or a “head case” because of your strong emotional reactions?
Q8: Do you often dedicate more time than is necessary to a project or become perfectionistic to make sure your work has no mistakes (and is above reproach)?
Q9: Do you ever experience your emotions as a physical sensation, as though you’ve been punched in the chest or physically “wounded?”
Q10: Do you ever feel shame about the “lack of control” you have over your emotions?
Q11: Before you were diagnosed with ADHD, were you told you might be depressed? Have bipolar disorder? Have a borderline character disorder?
Q12: Do you ever shy away from close friendships or romantic relationships, because you worry that if people “know the real you,” they won’t like you?
Q13: Do you assume the worst in commonplace interactions — worrying you will be fired every time your boss calls you in to her office, for instance?
Q14: Do you regularly think that you cannot go on feeling this way?
Q15: Do you ever avoid meeting new people or trying new things because your fear of rejection and criticism is so strong?
Resources:
https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria#2
https://chadd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ATTN_10_16_EmotionalRegulation.pdf
https://www.additudemag.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-adhd-symptom-test/