Podcasts about rejection sensitivity dysphoria

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic confesses to bombing a speech so badly she considered faking her own death to escape the hotel. Turns out, all our “step out of your comfort zone!” pep talks might have been… well… a bit shit. Because sometimes you don't just step out... you cartwheel out, land flat on your face, and want to live in a cave forever.Enter RSD, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, the sneaky brain glitch that makes one awkward moment feel like the whole world hates you. Vic and Hamish dive into what it is, why it bites harder in sobriety, and how success amnesia makes you forget every win you've ever had the second something goes wrong.Expect sweaty palms, public speaking disasters, spa-side meltdowns, and knob jokes (obviously). If you've ever spiralled over a slow text reply or considered joining witness protection after a minor faux pas, this episode is for you.

Send us a textIn this session, Shane Thrapp of the Men's ADHD Support Group is joined by Dr. Tamara Rosier, ADHD coach, founder of the ADHD Center of West Michigan, and bestselling author of Your Brain Is Not Broken and You, Me, and Our ADHD Family.Together, they dive deep into Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD)—what it is, how it impacts people with ADHD, and how to stop it from running your life.Dr. Rosier introduces the concepts of survival thinking (where RSD thrives) vs. transformational thinking (where resilience and boundaries are built). You'll get practical tools to shift your mindset, manage emotional spirals, and respond to rejection and criticism without losing control.This session includes real-world strategies, role-play examples, and a Q&A with live participants. Whether you struggle with people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, or overreacting to criticism, this talk will help you become truly unstoppable.Your Brain Is Not BrokenYou, Me, and Our ADHD Family  Check out our website for great blogs, information, and upcoming events! Men's ADHD Support Group Website If you identify as male and have ADHD Join our Facebook Group!And follow us on all of our other social media! Our Facebook Page Our Instagram Our Youtube: Our Twitter Our TikTok Our LinkedIn

In this eye-opening episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott unpack the growing awareness of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) in relation to ADHD and autism—and why naming it can be life-changing.Drawing from their lived experiences, they explore the emotional rollercoaster of RSD, from spiralling thoughts after a delayed text message to sleepless nights replaying old conversations. With humour, honesty, and hard-won insight, Jordan and Simon highlight how mainstream recognition of RSD is slowly catching up to what the neurodivergent community has been saying for years.Together, they discuss:What Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria really feels like for ADHDers and autistic peopleWhy naming RSD creates distance, self-awareness, and practical coping strategiesHow therapy (and finding the right therapist) can help untangle emotional floodsThe importance of starting young—teaching kids resilience, boundaries, and emotional languageWhy harmful advice from mainstream parenting “experts” can traumatise neurodivergent childrenTools that actually help: clarity in communication, gentle feedback, and community validationWhether you're navigating RSD yourself, parenting neurodivergent kids, or trying to understand a loved one's inner world, this conversation blends science, lived experience, and humour to bring comfort, clarity, and hope.The article discussed in this episode❤️ Support the ShowIf this episode resonated with you:✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

It's Pub Ep Time as we wrap up the month! Let's release a show from the recent vault.The RSD - "typical CPTSD experience" overlap is deep and wide. Let's talk about shutting down life, expression, and healing from heightened rejection sensitivity.summaryWe explore the intricate relationship between Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), delving into various manifestations of RSD, including agoraphobia, challenges in self-disclosure, lack of novelty in life experiences, communication struggles, and workplace dysfunction.takeawaysRSD is closely linked to CPTSD symptoms.Agoraphobia can stem from heightened sensitivity to rejection.Disclosure of personal experiences is crucial for healing.Lack of novelty in life can be a result of RSD.Over-explaining is a common response to fear of rejection.Under-expressing oneself can hinder personal growth.Workplace environments can exacerbate feelings of rejection.Recognizing rejection as a mismatch can aid in moving on.Therapy should be a safe space for discussing RSD.Sensitivity can be a strength, but dysphoria leads to misinterpretation.keywords RSD, CPTSD, Rejection Sensitivity, Agoraphobia, Mental Health, Trauma, Healing, Communication, Workplace Dysfunction, Self-Expression

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) isn't about being overly sensitive. It's about a nervous system that experiences rejection as danger. In this episode, I explore RSD through the lens of relational neuroscience, attachment, memory, and regulation. Whether you see this in yourself or your child, this episode will help you understand why rejection feels so big, and what actually helps.In this episode, you'll learn:Why RSD reactions are so intense and how they're rooted in memory and nervous system statesHow attachment experiences shape our sensitivity to rejectionWhat actually helps when RSD shows up (for you or your child), including co-regulation and self-compassionResources mentioned in this podcast:Trauma, Memory, & Behavior: Part 1 {EP 90}The Neurobiology of Toxic Shame {EP 119}1% Better Is Enough. {EP 166}All Behavior Makes Sense {EP 198}Read the full transcript at:RobynGobbel.com/rejectivesensitivityProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute's (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

Send us a text! (add your email to get a response)What happens when criticism feels like a physical blow? For some of you, rejection and criticism trigger an emotional response so intense it has its own name: Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD).In this episode, we deep into the painful world of RSD – that overwhelming feeling of shame and worthlessness that can follow even minor criticism for or rejection. Jacqueline shares a raw, personal story about crying in a supervisor's office following critical feedback, highlighting how even successful people can feel ambushed by the pain of rejection. What's surprising is that the research shows that RSD is common with neurodivergent people with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We question whether RSD is truly unique to ADHD or if it's simply an intense manifestation of shame that's been given a clinical name. The neurobiological explanation involves differences in how the ADHD brain processes rejection, but we wonder if the real difference lies in how frequently people with ADHD face criticism throughout their lives for behaviors that are difficult to control.We also cover practical coping strategies, exploring cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, leaning into and even celebrating the traits that often invite criticism. Perhaps most valuable is reframing ADHD traits as having both strengths and challenges, recognizing that spontaneity, creativity, and hyperfocus can be tremendous assets in the right context.**We're excited to announce that our KulaMind community is finally open!! You'll get step-by-step tactics for how to overcome rejection sensitivity or other emotionally challenging relationships. Click here to get a 50% discount off your first month! Want to learn more first? Book a free call with Dr. Kibby to learn more. Support the showIf you're navigating someone's mental health or emotional issues, join KulaMind, our community and support platform. In KulaMind, we'll help you set healthy boundaries, advocate for yourself, and support your loved one. Follow @kulamind on Instagram for podcast updates and science-backed insights on staying sane while loving someone emotionally explosive. For more info about this podcast, check out: www.alittlehelpforourfriends.com

ADHD is one of the most misunderstood conditions out there.Misdiagnosis is common, treatments often miss the mark, and emotional symptoms like rejection sensitivity are rarely even mentioned.Today I'm speaking with Jheri South, a behavioral coach, ADHD expert, and mother of seven neurodivergent kids - who wasn't diagnosed until her 40s. She breaks down why so many people get overlooked or mislabeled, what Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria actually feels like, and how you can take clear, practical steps to better understand your brain and take back control.TOPICS:Why ADHD is so often misdiagnosed or misunderstoodHow Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) impacts emotions and self-worthThe real reasons ADHDers struggle with motivation, focus, and follow-through. MORE FROM NICK:Book a FREE call here to learn about the Move Your Mind Program: https://tinyurl.com/yc3zmu35Find all links here: https://nickbracks.start.page/Sign up to the website: nickbracks.comConnect with Nick on Instagram, Twitter & LinkedInMORE FROM JHERI:Website: https://jherisouth.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to episode 100! Today, we will be discussing Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria—its prevalence among neurodivergent individuals and how it has manifested in my own experience as an autistic person. Often, it is the accumulation of seemingly minor rejections that leads to burnout, particularly when navigating ambiguous social norms and the challenge of belonging. If you can relate to this experience, know that you are not alone. In this episode, we will explore the importance of self-compassion, emotional safety, and strategies for cultivating a more fulfilling and joyful life. Let's dive in.  In this episode: What is Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). Accumulation over time – how small, seemingly insignificant experiences of rejection can build, eventually leading to overwhelm or even burnout. The struggle to belong – how navigating unclear social rules and fear of making mistakes can intensify RSD, making participation in diverse communities particularly challenging. Mentioned in this episode: The NoBS Blend recording ‘Why rejection is so hard' The Happier Life Hub is now OPEN!! Use the coupon code EARLYBIRD on check-out to access The Hub for just £12 per month! https://happier-life.co.uk/hub   Season 5 of this podcast is sponsored by Stephanie Ward of The Spicy Brain Collective. We thank Stephanie hugely for her ongoing support. https://www.thespicybraincollective.com https://www.instagram.com/thespicybraincollective https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-ward-sbc   Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE or FOLLOW so you don't miss any new episodes; subscribe to my mailing list and connect with me over on Instagram @happierlifecoach If you would like to know more about how coaching works or to work with me 1-2-1, please visit https://happier-life.co.uk/ For more tips and to be part of the community, sign up to The No Bullshit Guide To A Happier Life Facebook Group now! Have you got a copy of the The No Bullsh*t Guide to a Happier Life book? Follow this link to purchase yours now!  

RSD can hit like a punch to the gut—sometimes from something as simple as a comment or a text.It's that intense emotional reaction to real or imagined rejection, criticism, or failure.

Hello tiniest ADHD babies

I'm back with one of my favorite guests who is always up for the challenge of a podcast–no matter what the topic is! I want to explore the term rejection sensitivity dysphoria and get Dr. Lesley Cook's take on it because I have so many questions. Let's learn more together!  Dr. Lesley Cook is a psychologist who works with those with ADHD and other kinds of neurodivergence. Born and raised in Hawaii, she now lives in Virginia and works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Show Highlights: ●      What RSD (rejection sensitivity dysphoria) is and how it is manifested ●      KC's personal experience with RSD and feelings of worthlessness ●      How RSD is different from sensory sensitivity and autism ●      Thoughts about the strong word dysphoria in RSD ●      KC's personal experience with RSD and being told she is “too sensitive” ●      How we can grow, change, and find regulatory strategies for RSD ●      Why it is difficult to communicate the facets and nuances of RSD and other interpersonal difficulties Resources and Links: Connect with Dr. Lesley Cook: TikTok Connect with KC: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Get KC's book, How to Keep House While Drowning We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: www.strugglecare.com/promo-codes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever texted a friend, waited for a reply, and felt like your entire world was crumbling when they didn't respond right away?  Do you find yourself deeply affected by neutral comments or minor critiques?  If so, you might be experiencing Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) - a powerful emotional response that can feel like overwhelming pain, shame or devastation after a real or pervceived rejection.In this episode, we break down:What RSD is and why it feels so intenseHow to differentiate between real rejection and fear of rejectionPractical tools to regulate your emotions and build resilienceHow to work with your sensitive nervous system, not against itReal-life strategies for handling rejection in relationships, work and daily interactions A powerful reframe that will help you embrace your sensitivity as a strength, not a flawPlus, you'll hear from Annie, a seasoned Nonviolent Communication practitioner, as she vulnerably shares her struggles with RSD - despite all her training - and how she's learning to navigate these deep emotional waves.✨If you've ever felt "too sensitive" or struggled to bounce back from rejection, this episode is for you.We discuss:1:55 Opening thoughts3:33 What is RSD?9:50 How can I best deal with RSD?15:09 How can I decrease my suffering and increase my capacity?21:17 Anxious and Avoidant Attachment Styles25:56 Closing thoughts

Alex Partridge is the founder of LADBible and UNILAD, and host of the hugely successful podcast ADHD Chatter.After being diagnosed with ADHD later in life at 34, Alex has built a platform dedicated to helping others understand their ADHD diagnosis and recently released his debut book ‘Now It All Makes Sense: How An ADHD Diagnosis Changed My Life'.In part 1, Alex joins Dr Alex George to unpack what ADHD actually is, how it affects those who have it and reveals why it's so important to be kind to yourself.Plus, the pair discuss their experiences with alcohol as ADHDers, and why they believe Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria is the hardest part of having ADHD…Follow @alex_partridge_100, listen to the ADHD Chatter podcast and check out his book ‘Now It All Makes Sense: How An ADHD Diagnosis Changed My Life'.Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcastGet the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual nowDownload Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi bestiessssOn todays episode, Tara's out of meltdown and is a bit more organised* *she's doing HIGHLY profound things like sewing pants and brandishing bobbins with Chloe Wilder (Listen to Chloe's ADHD island here),Meanwhile Grace is taking her journals on a little beach trip (don't worry she asked them first) in her bid to stay unperceived and allowing herself to be indulgent about meeting her needs.

In the second of our powerful two-part conversation, Emily Kircher-Morris and Dr. William Dodson discuss the complexities of ADHD, emotional dysregulation and its subset, and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). He explains how RSD can manifest in ADHDers, the impact of childhood experiences, and the importance of understanding and treating these conditions. There is a need for updated diagnostic criteria and effective treatment strategies, including medication and supportive environments. They dig into the complexities of ADHD, including management strategies, and the importance of understanding the overlap between social anxiety and mood disorders. TAKEAWAYS Emotional dysregulation is often overlooked in ADHD diagnoses. RSD is a specific condition affecting many with ADHD. The emotional pain from RSD can be both emotional and physical, and can lead to significant life impairments. Childhood experiences can exacerbate RSD but are not the sole cause. Medication can be effective in managing emotional dysregulation. Understanding RSD is essential for clinicians working with ADHD patients. Preventative strategies are key in managing RSD episodes. Sleep, nutrition, structure, and routine play vital roles in emotional regulation. Social anxiety and rejection sensitivity can coexist but are distinct. The research project Emily mentions in her closing thoughts. The sign-up window is open for a limited time, for the Neurodiversity University Educator Hub! Join a community of like-minded teachers, administrators, and advocates who are passionate about supporting neurodivergent kids. It's a welcoming space to share ideas that will help make your classrooms and school districts better places for all students. The Educator Hub is available via an app for your smartphone, or online through a browser. Click and join us. Dr. Bill Dodson is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who has specialized in adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder for the last 27 years. In recognition of his clinical contributions to the field of ADHD he was named a Life Fellow of the APA in 2012. He was the 2006 recipient of the national Maxwell J. Schleifer Award for Distinguished Service to Persons with Disabilities. His contributions to the field of ADHD include: The only currently available methodology for the fine-tuning of ADHD medications. The concept of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria and its treatment with medications. The first non-behavioral theory of what ADHD is and how it can be treated successfully with an emphasis on what goes right rather than what goes wrong. Dr. Dodson has a book for clinicians, patients, and parents on the practice of ADHD medicine coming out at the end of 2025. BACKGROUND READING Bill Dodson's website Dr Dodson's contributions to ADDitude magazine

In part one of a two-part conversation, Emily Kircher-Morris and Dr. William Dodson discuss the complexities of ADHD, emotional dysregulation and its subset, and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). He explains how RSD can manifest in ADHDers, the impact of childhood experiences, and the importance of understanding and treating these conditions. There is a need for updated diagnostic criteria and effective treatment strategies, including medication and supportive environments. They dig into the complexities of ADHD, including management strategies, and the importance of understanding the overlap between social anxiety and mood disorders. TAKEAWAYS Emotional dysregulation is often overlooked in ADHD diagnoses. RSD is a specific condition affecting many with ADHD. The emotional pain from RSD can be both emotional and physical, and can lead to significant life impairments. Childhood experiences can exacerbate RSD but are not the sole cause. Medication can be effective in managing emotional dysregulation. Understanding RSD is essential for clinicians working with ADHD patients. Preventative strategies are key in managing RSD episodes. Sleep, nutrition, structure, and routine play vital roles in emotional regulation. Social anxiety and rejection sensitivity can coexist but are distinct. The window is open for Educator Hub sign-up for a limited time, beginning January 31. Join a community of like-minded teachers, administrators, and advocates who are passionate about supporting neurodivergent kids. Click and join us. Dr. Bill Dodson is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who has specialized in adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder for the last 27 years. In recognition of his clinical contributions to the field of ADHD he was named a Life Fellow of the APA in 2012. He was the 2006 recipient of the national Maxwell J. Schleifer Award for Distinguished Service to Persons with Disabilities. His contributions to the field of ADHD include: The only currently available methodology for the fine-tuning of ADHD medications. The concept of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria and its treatment with medications. The first non-behavioral theory of what ADHD is and how it can be treated successfully with an emphasis on what goes right rather than what goes wrong. Dr. Dodson has a book for clinicians, patients, and parents on the practice of ADHD medicine coming out at the end of 2025. BACKGROUND READING Bill Dodson's website Dr Dodson's contributions to ADDitude magazine

In this episode, I dive into rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) and how it connects to both ADHD and autism. I explore the intense emotional responses that come with RSD, the common triggers, and the ways it can impact relationships and self-worth. I also share some therapeutic approaches that might help and explain why it's so important to understand RSD — whether you experience it yourself or want to better support someone who does.Watch this episode on YouTube.Take the Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria test. If your score is 45-60, the website recommends that you "see a trained mental health professional as there is a possibility that you may be experiencing symptoms of rejection sensitive dysphoria."If you'd like to know more about topics discussed in this episode, check out:"Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria in ADHD and Autism" by Debra Bercovici"New Insights Into Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria" by William Dodson"Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Case Series" by William W. Dodson et al."Associations Between Autistic Traits, Depression, Social Anxiety and Social Rejection in Autistic and Non-autistic Adults" by Emine Gurbuz et al."Recognising and Responding to Physical and Mental Health Issues in Neurodivergent Women" by Clive Kelly et al."What to Know About Autism and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria" by Amy Marschall"Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and Autism Unveiled" by Ralph Moller"Effects of Rejection Intensity and Rejection Sensitivity on Social Approach Behavior in Women" by Violetta K. Schaan et al.  Theme music: "Everything Feels New" by Evgeny Bardyuzha. All episodes written and produced by Kristen Hovet.Send in your questions or thoughts via audio or video recording for a chance to be featured on the show! Email your audio or video clips to otherautism@gmail.com through WeTransfer. Become a patron on Patreon!Buy me a coffee!Buy The Other Autism merch. Use code FREESHIP for free shipping on orders over $75 USD! The views, opinions, and experiences shared by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. The content is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical or professional advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions related to your health, fitness, or wellness.

Hi besties, we have something a little bit different for you this week!First up, we're struggggling to do admin tasks, but on the plus side we were so bored at the bank that we used the hand sanitiser 200 times so our hands are super dry

In this episode of Helping Organisations Thrive, we are joined by Tamzin Hall as we explore Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) and its impact in the workplace. Tamzin explains how RSD is common in neurodivergent people but affects others too, causing intense emotional pain over perceived rejection, even from minor incidents, making it difficult to move forward. Tamzin shares strategies to help those affected build an understanding of their RSD and recognise the triggers, which can aid in managing reactions both in the moment and proactively. We discuss how leaders can support employees with RSD by clearly communicating the “why, what, when” behind decisions to minimise feelings of rejection.   Connect with Tamzin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamzin-hall/ Website: https://www.theneurodiversityacademy.com/   ##########   If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com   You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2   ##########  

Oh hiiii, ADHD Bestie babes!

BONJOUR cutest babes tuning in from what is now 126 countries!

Hi our fave ADHD dream boats! We finally got this bad boy uploaded 8 hours late

Hi bestie babessssIn today's episode:• Grace can't buy steak, we talk about  we need to take a break from acrylics, and how this is hard for our dermatillomania (skin picking).• Divergent Dilemma #1 - we answer Jemima's question about ADHD and eating, she struggles with binge eating and feeling self-conscious about her weight. We discuss weight stigma, separating self worth and weight, weight-science -using more clear measures of health. We also touch on restriction mentality and how this can so easily lead to binge eating in women with ADHD.IREGGY SEGGY:• We are still riding the high of reading ADHD reddit threads.We have dogs laughing at us, accidental DIY/accents, arms in bins and most importantly we ask the question: how many days is too many days to eat an errant hand bag donut?RECOMMENDATIONS:• Tara recommends hair skin and nail gummies to keep those nails strong and less likely to be picked at • Grace recommends a supermarket shopping hack for ADHD brains that even the most inattentive brains won't ‘rump'. We will be back in those stunning

Hiii cutest ADHD loves!In today's episode:• We talk about the highs of kid-free holidays with friends and the lows of losing your

Von and therapist Stephanie Olano discuss the basics of ADHD and how it impacts executive functions. They explore the concept of ADHD as a superpower and discuss strategies for managing it. They also delve into the challenges of boredom, impulsivity, and addiction that can be associated with ADHD. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of creating systems and breaking tasks down into manageable steps. They also touch on the connection between ADHD and trauma, as well as the link between ADHD and addiction. In this conversation, Von and Stephanie discuss the concept of instant gratification and how it relates to ADHD. They explore the idea that substances like drugs and alcohol can provide immediate relief and pleasure, but there is a need to find healthier coping skills and solutions. They also delve into the topic of rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) and how it affects individuals with ADHD, causing them to feel intense emotional pain and perceive rejection even when it may not be present. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of challenging negative narratives and assumptions, and finding ways to accommodate and embrace the strengths of ADHD rather than trying to manage or control it.Chapters (00:00) Introduction and Overview(03:24) Executive Function & ADHD (11:01) Why Is It So Hard To Relax with ADHD?(15:30) Creating Systems and Routines(21:48) Having A Support System(22:37) Why ADHD Can Be Traumatizing To The Nervous System(26:12) The Link Between ADHD and Addiction(30:05) Instant Gratification and Coping Mechanisms(32:34) Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria(40:43) ADHD as a Superpower(47:21)  Accommodating Your ADHD and Self-CompassionStephanie Olano Linkin

ALOHA BESTIES & WELCOME TO 'YOUR ADHD ISLAND'

Hiii ADHD cuties tuning in from what is now 104 countries!

On this episode of Rooted Recovery Stories, Patrick sits down with the multitalented Vidalia Anne Gentry, better known as Drag Queen VAG or Vag4Short. VAG boldly shares stories from her childhood and experiences with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, and how they have shaped her and her views as a performer and human being. She discusses the importance of being creative, having care and empathy for others, and ultimately being able to express yourself without the pressure to be perfect. Beyond her notable influence on the Nashville drag scene, VAG is a businesswoman, activist, and inspiration to her thousands of followers on social media. We would love to hear from you! Email us at ROOTED@PROMISES.COM Watch/Listen/Subscribe: ⁠⁠@rootedrecoverystories Insta: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/rootedrecoverystories/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patrickcusterproject Facebook: https://www.promises.com/rooted-recovery-stories/ URL: ⁠https://www.rootedrecoverystories.com⁠ 1:01-2:21 Intro 2:21-5:23 Vag's Childhood 5:23-7:21 How Vag Got Into Creativity 7:21-10:25 Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria 10:25- 12:54 Slower Development of Sense of Self 12:54-17:06 Being In Control on Stage 17:06-19:46 Becoming What You've Always Dreamed 19:46-24:15 Gender Fluidity 24:15-26:30 Caring About You As A Human 26:58-31:11 Vag's Early Years In Drag 31:11-34:40 Doing It For The Audience 34:40-35:49- "Normal" 35:49-42:51 Representation of Drag Queens 42:51-50:53 How Vag Started Drag & The Drag Scene In Nash 50:53-57:09 Being Able to Express Yourself Without The Pressure to be Perfect 57:09-1:00:42 Outro __________________ Resources: Insta: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mentalhealthamerica URL: https://⁠www.mhanational.org⁠ Promises Behavioral Health – Treatment for addiction, mental health/trauma: URL: ⁠https://www.promisesbehavioralhealth.com⁠ Insta: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/promises_bh/ Follow Patrick Custer! Insta: https://www.instagram.com/patrick_custer/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patrickcusterproject Follow VAG! Insta- (@vag4short) Tik Tok- (@onion4onion) Produced and Edited by "The Cast Collective" in Nashville, TN! Visit us today at https://www.thecastcollective.com Email: info@thecastcollective.com Follow The Cast Collective on Instagram & Twitter! Instagram: @TheCastCollective Twitter: @TheCastCollective #VAG #pridemonth #lgbtqia #trauma #recovery #podcast #mentalhealth #lifestyle #inspiration #purpose #therapy #tennessee #selfcare #overcome #healing #wellness #goodnews #promisesbehavorialhealth #patrickcuster #struggle #rootedrecovery #dragqueen #nashville Keywords: trauma, recovery, podcast, mental health, rooted recovery stories, patrick custer, mental health podcast, trauma podcast, anxiety podcast, recovery podcast, coping mechanisms, nashville, domestic violence, trauma, drag, drag queen, VAG, Vadalia Anne Gentry,

Hellooo dopamine-deficient dream boats

André, The Impulsive Thinker, sits down with Dr. William Dodson, a top psychiatrist specializing in adult ADHD, to dive deep into Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). Emotional dysregulation in ADHD is often overwhelming, especially in the U.S. where it's overlooked. Dr. Dodson breaks down what RSD is—a quick, intense emotional response to perceived rejection or failure. It feels unbearable but doesn't last as long as typical mood disorders.   Check out the ADHD Transform Journey Program that is now available. We want to hear from you! Please send show ideas, questions, or feedback to podcast@tacticalbts.com and join our mailing list! Watch the podcasts on YouTube and connect with me on LinkedIn. Check out our website. Take a look at ADDitude.   Guest: Dr. Dodson is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who was one of the first practitioners to specialize in adults with ADHD 25 years ago. He is the recipient of the national Maxwell J. Schleifer Award for Distinguished Service to Persons with Disabilities in 2006. He was named a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in 2012 in recognition of his contributions to the field of adult ADHD.   He is part of a group doing initial research programs to validate the concept of RSD and its treatments.  They are recruiting people who are willing to give 20 minutes of their time to participate in the study to determine whether RSD is a distinct syndrome and whether it is invariably associated with ADHD. If you are 18 years of age or older and have been formally diagnosed by a professional and are interested in participating in the study, contact Dr. Dodson directly for the initial screening at billdodson19@gmail.com.

Hellloooo gorgeous ADHD besties! On today's show:• Listener question: Tara and Grace share their ADHD late-diagnosis stories. They explain how they first learned about ADHD, why Tara got diagnosed twice almost a decade apart, stimulant meds and struggling with low self-esteem. • Dilemma: A cute listener shares that she regrets not taking her ADHD diagnosis more seriously in her 20s. She asks how to move past self-shaming and be kinder to herself.  • Ireggy Seggy with a Guestie: Grace's hubby Eric is here with a tongue-in-cheek quiz to determine once and for all "who is the most neurotypical"? The answer might (won't) surprise you! RECS• Tara recommends watching Alone while doing bed yoga.  • Grace recommends an episode on The Imperfects podcast: Fern Brady - autistic in a non-autistic world.• BOOKS: No Bad Parts, Different Not Less, ADHD 2.0 (see our IG for more!) @adhdbestiespodcastYour ADHD Besties,Grace & Tara xx----------------------------❗️ SUBMIT your Divergent Dilemma for us to read on the podcast: https://adhdbesties.com/dilemmas/Join us on socials (so it's not just our husbands commenting

Hiii besties! ✨On today's show:• Divergent dilemma #1 - Lilian asks if she should find a new hairstylist because she's got ADHD-related RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria). Dw, we've got you covered bby!• Divergent dilemm #2 - A newly-diagnosed ADHDer is asking about hyperactivity, stimming and rumination. BABEEE you're asking the right girls! We're stimming QUEENS

Heyyyyy ADHD bestie babes! ✨On today's show:• Grace shares a drama from her week about how ADHD meds have led to appetite suppression/meal skipping, and how a perfect storm last Friday ended up with a little trip to the hospital.

Hiii ADHD besties! On today's show, we have our very first ADHD GUESTIE

Welcome to The Mental Breakdown and Psychreg Podcast! Today, Dr. Berney and Dr. Marshall discuss another "disorder" that is making its way into the mainstream. Read the articles from the Cleveland Clinic here and from WebMD here. You can now follow Dr. Marshall on twitter, as well! Dr. Berney and Dr. Marshall are happy to announce the release of their new parenting e-book, Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child Part 2: Attention. You can get your copy from Amazon here. We hope that you will join us each morning so that we can help you make your day the best it can be! See you tomorrow. Become a patron and support our work at http://www.Patreon.com/thementalbreakdown. Visit Psychreg for blog posts covering a variety of topics within the fields of mental health and psychology. The Parenting Your ADHD Child course is now on YouTube! Check it out at the Paedeia YouTube Channel. The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle! Get your copy today! The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube Channels, Paedeia and The Mental Breakdown. Please leave us a review on iTunes so that others might find our podcast and join in on the conversation!

Dr. Lalitaa Suglani is an award-winning psychologist, renowned leadership empowerment expert, international speaker and author. Her book, High Functioning Anxiety, will be published by Hay House in May 2024. Lalitaa believes that the key to achieving real lasting success and happiness in all areas of life lies within our own mind. She has seen how, through personal growth and self-awareness, we can learn to harness our thought patterns, gain control of our internal voice, cultivate a positive mindset and create the life and career of our dreams. Over the years Lalitaa has worked with adults, children and families, and within organisations such as the NHS, schools, charities and private organisations. She is committed to helping individuals on their journey to achieve emotional and psychological wellbeing. Lalitaa's mission is to help transform lives through fostering understanding and acceptance of the emotions, attachments and relationships we hold. Her goal is to awaken people to their inner power, allowing them to thrive and flourish in life! In a world where appearances often overshadow internal struggles, award-winning Psychologist Dr. Lalitaa Suglani takes a brave step to confront the hidden fears and anxieties that many of us grapple with silently. In her new book High-Functioning Anxiety: Five Steps to Learning You Are Good Enough Dr Lalitaa shares her personal journey of self-discovery and growth, shedding light on High Functioning Anxiety (HFA) and offering readers a path to understanding and embracing their authentic selves. In this episode we cover the following topics: What high-functioning anxiety is  The top 5 symptoms of high functioning anxiety Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria and colouring our world in a different way The two sides of high-functioning anxiety: how you see yourself vs. how you present yourself to the world How childhood trauma impacts the above Visit Dr. Lalitaa: Pre-order her book: https://hayhs.com/hfa_pp_pb_az   Take Dr. Lalitaa's quick to understand your archetype: https://www.highfunctioninganxietyquiz.com   Website: www.DrLalitaa.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuWuiIsl_Sz4vJZXTGW7fZg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.lalitaa.psychologist?_t=8hz5Kz9qspV&_r=1 Instagram: https://instagram.com/dr.lalitaa?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr My Law of Positivism Healing Oracle card deck: https://www.lawofpositivism.com/healingoracle.html Visit Law of Positivism: https://www.instagram.com/lawofpositivism/ Website: https://www.lawofpositivism.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawofpositivism/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lawofpositivism

Heyyy ADHD besties!

Hey ADHD besties! On today's show; • We hack ADHD sleep & eating with our recommendations• Answer a dilemma about a tricky living situation and why the ADHD ability to quickly get out of a bad mood makes us superior housemates• Our second dilemma is juicy AF, we look at ADHD perfectionism, imposter syndrome and rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) in our jobs (and why selling boudoir photography to your uncle Jeff is never a good idea.)• Ireggy Seggy: Most importantly, in our ireggy seggy we discuss the horrors of ADHD sensory overload and why the wrinkly blueberry is a worst case scenario, especially if you're wearing wet jeans.We love you and your superior brains that don't work very well -

Curious about how to deal with disappointment when living with ADHD? In this episode of ADD Woman podcast, host Lacy Estelle shares her personal experiences and insights into navigating disappointment while living with ADHD and raising children with ADHD. She talks about the different ways her children handle disappointment, sheds light on the emotional pain of disappointment, and emphasizes the importance of embracing, learning, and growing from it. Through her candid conversation, Lacy provides a Christian woman's perspective on coping with disappointment and invites listeners to align their perspectives for healthier relationships and personal growth. Reach out to Lacy Estelle via:Email: podcast@anaddwoman.comFacebook group: @anADDwomanInstagram: @anADDwomanWebsite: www.anaddwoman.comLacy's Facebook group: Mothering the Storm Accountability and Support GroupSupport the show

This week: Jen talks about Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. RSD affects 98% people with ADHD and is an intense emotional response caused by the perception that we've disappointed others in our life and will now be rejected, abandoned, unloved as a consequence. Jen talks about how RSD feels in her body and reads lots of comments from her listeners about they experience RSD. This episode will help you feel less alone! For exclusive podcast content join the You Are A Lot podcast patreon at patreon.com/ALOTADHDPOD for just $5 a month. You can sign up for a 7 Day Free Trial today! Follow Jen on Instagram Follow Jen on Tik Tok Visit the “You Are A Lot” (an adhd podcast) webpage Send an email to the podcast at alotadhdpod at gmail dot com For More Info on Jen SOURCES USED FOR THIS EPISODE: Defining Features of ADHD That Get Overlooked (Video) - Dr. William Dodson An ADHD Guide to RSD (Video) - Dr. William Dodson Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria - ADDitude Magazine Understanding RSD Download - ADDitude Magazine RSD Coping Strategies Toolkit - ADDitude Magazine Overview of RSD - Cleveland Clinic  

Have you recently received a later-in-life ADHD diagnosis and they didn't send you home with a guidebook? That is EXACTLY why I created a life coaching program that includes everything I wish I would have been given when I was first diagnosed. Check out ADHD Alchemy before you listen to this episode: https://www.karrieoutloud.com/adhdalchemyHello, My Lovely!In today's episode, our chitty chat is about Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, something that commonly goes along with ADHD. What you'll hear:•What is RSD and why is it tied to ADHD? •What causes RSD and how can effect you and your primary relationships•How to figure out if RSD is an issue for you and what you can do about it. p.s. Just in case you haven't heard this today...I see you. I love you. And I'm rooting for you. Always.Let's Connect: ~Subscribe to my Piece Of Mind Love Note here: https://www.karrieoutloud.com/piece-of-mind-subscription-page*Think you may have ADHD? Take my ADHD Quiz for women here: https://oac345944ky.typeform.com/to/sYA7Faah?typeform-source=com.google.android.gmMy Instagram: @karrieoutloudMy website: karrieoutloud.com

In this episode of the Red Beard Embodiment Podcast, we delve into an in-depth conversation with Kelly Allen Pickens, a Family Nurse Practitioner and a specialist in ADHD treatment for women and girls. Alex and Kelly shed light on a multitude of topics related to ADHD, extensively discussing the correlation between ADHD and a range of conditions including addiction, impulsive behaviors, and longer-term health conditions. Kelly openly talked about her practice, Undivided Attention, and the challenges she faced to provide devoted care to her patients, especially women and girls who struggle to find compassionate approaches in managing ADHD.We get into the details about the evaluation process, the role of medication and coaching in managing ADHD, and the empowerment of understanding oneself and developing self-compassion. The duo also discusses the role of trauma, environmental factors, genetic factors, and hormone transitions in ADHD. The conversation further extends to the influence of social media on ADHD awareness, and the importance of neuroscience research in ADHD treatment and management.Don't miss out on this insightful conversation that seamlessly blends healthcare, mental health care issues, and key societal points that relate directly to ADHD. Links and Resources Mentioned:Undivided Attention: https://www.uaadhd.com/ ADDitude Mag https://www.additudemag.com/ Chadd.org https://chadd.org/ Key Highlights:00:00 Introduction and Background02:20 Discovering ADHD06:42 Realizing Personal Experience with ADHD07:07 Misconceptions about ADHD08:12 Genetic and Environmental Factors of ADHD10:29 Increased Awareness of ADHD13:11 ADHD Research and Clinical Implementation14:10 Misconceptions about ADHD Symptoms15:44 ADHD as a Disorder of Doing18:00 Genetic and Environmental Factors of ADHD21:19 The Influence of Childhood Stress and Trauma23:13 The Interplay of ADHD and Adverse Childhood Experiences26:19 Personal Journey and Focus on Women and Girls32:00 ADHD Coaching and Medication45:18 Understanding ADHD Symptoms49:16 Medication and Treatment55:23 The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System56:03 Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria

Do you ever feel like you are more sensitive to rejection, teasing, criticism, or your own perception that you have failed or fallen short? Or maybe you know someone who seems to be particularly hard on themselves and reactive to others? Everyone experiences some reaction to rejection, but individuals with RSD find themselves more likely to perceive harsh rejection and criticism where there might be none and can sometimes feel like they live in a chronic state of rejection. In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, dive deep into the complexities of rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) and its impact on neurodivergent individuals and the people around them. Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode: Understand the impact of RSD and how it can lead to chronic pain, affect relationships, and cause avoidance behaviors in professional and personal settings. Hear about some ways that RSD can impact relationship dynamics and major life changes and decisions. Learn about treatments and strategies to help with RSD, as well as ways to adapt therapeutic modalities to be more effective with neurodivergent individuals. Rejection sensitivity dysphoria can be difficult to navigate both internally and externally and can have a profound impact on the way you experience the world, but there are ways to address it that can help with reducing the intensity around feelings of rejection and finding ways to improve relationships through collaborative communication around RSD. Resources plus Exclusive Coupon Code Dr. Neff's Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Workbook Bundle (Clinical Use): https://neurodivergentinsights.com/neurodivergentstore/p/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-clinical  Dr. Neff's Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Workbook Bundle (Personal Use): https://neurodivergentinsights.com/neurodivergentstore/p/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-bundle Use Code: “DivergentConversationsListener” To get 20% off anything in the shop, including the RSD bundle.  Dr. Neff's free blog posts on RSD: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/category/Rejection+Sensitive+Dysphoria  The EFT attachment infinity loop can be downloaded here: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/couples-resources   A Thanks to Our Sponsor, Tula Consulting! ✨ Tula Consulting: We would love to thank Tula Consulting for sponsoring this episode. Workplace communication can be messy. Considering the lens of neurodiversity can be helpful for understanding this. Maybe you found yourself frustratedly typing "per my last email" in an office communication, perplexed about how a colleague or client doesn't seem to understand your very clearly written email. Consider this. Visual information processing isn't everyone's strength. Perhaps a quick call could make a world of difference. Or how about including a video or voice message with your email? And this technology exists! Simple steps like these can make your work environment more accessible and bring out the best in everyone. Tula Consulting is on a mission to help organizations build more neuro-inclusive products and work environments. Tula does this by bringing curious minds to solve curious problems. Find out more by visiting tulaneurodiversity.org.   Transcript PATRICK CASALE: Hey, so we are about to do an episode on RSD today, which I think we are going to turn into a two-part episode. One, because there's so much to cover. Too, because Megan just wrote a 170-page workbook on the subject. Three, because I am unbelievably jet lagged and haven't slept in days. And Megan is not feeling well and is sick. So, we're going to do what we can today to kind of jump into the introduction to this topic. But a lot of you submitted questions to our Instagram, a lot of you submitted questions in general, and we want to cover all of them. We just may not get there today. But this is certainly a topic that we are going to circle back to. So, because Megan just wrote a 170-page workbook, I'm going to turn it over to you to kind of set the stage. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, well, one problem is when you've been swimming in the literature it's hard to know where to start the conversation. So, yeah, how do I synthesize RSD? Well, RSD stands for rejection sensitive dysphoria. Yeah, I guess I'll go over the history of it briefly. So, it was coined by Dr. William Dotson, who if you don't know who that is, like, I recommend Googling him. He's got a lot of really awesome articles up. He's got a lot of webinars that are free through ADDitude Magazine. And he's, like, done a lot in really emphasizing kind of the emotion regulation struggle that often happens with ADHD. But yeah, he's the one that coined RSD. Although, you could actually go back to the '60s and there was a psychiatrist before him, Dr. Paul Wender, who was describing symptoms that now we realize are RSD, who's using the language of atypical depression. But looking back, we actually see, like, okay, that was undiagnosed or often undiagnosed ADHD. And it was RSD and emotion regulation struggles that he was describing. So, there have been breadcrumbs of this in the literature since the 1960s. But it was really in the last 20 years or so that it's become an actual term. It's not a diagnosis. It's not something you'd be diagnosed with. It comes out of the ADHD literature, so there's some debate, like, is this a specifically ADHD thing? And there's several people that say, yes, this is like a distinctive ADHD thing. So, that's the kind of, I guess, clinical definition of RSD. Oh, I guess what it is. So, the question that Dr. Dotson would ask his… and he's a psychiatrist, he's not a psychologist, he's a psychiatrist. But what he'd ask his people when they come in is this question, "For your entire life, have you always been much more sensitive than people you know to rejection, teasing, criticism, or your own perception that you failed or have fallen short?" And he said, 99% of ADHDers would have this like, yes. And not just, yes, but like, "Oh, my gosh, I feel like you know something about me that I've been so embarrassed to tell the people in my life." And then about a third of ADHDers said, "This is the hardest part of ADHD to live with." So, it's pretty significant when we think about kind of the clinical picture of ADHD. Okay, I'll take a breather there. So, that's, I guess, the clinical definition, is it's a really intense, physical, emotional response to the perception of rejection. Or even, like, I guess self-rejection in the sense of like, I didn't live up to my own standards or bar, yes. PATRICK CASALE: And this is very different than other forms of rejection. And I think that's important. Like, you went over that in your... was it Misdiagnosis Monday that you created the diagram for recently? MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, so I created a Venn diagram comparing, like, what is normative rejection sensitivity and then what is RSD? And that's actually typically where I start the conversation. Earlier I was like, "Oh, I don't know where to start the conversation. I usually start with like the evolutionary history." Rejection sensitivity is like a human experience and thank goodness it is. So, if we look at it from an evolutionary lens, the idea that belonging to a group literally meant survival for most of human history. You know, we're pack creatures, and we're not the biggest or strongest species, but it's our ability to think together, to be together, to problem solve together that has meant humans have survived. So, the thinking goes, and this is, you know, any evolutionary psychology is going to be an oversimplification, but kind of the thinking goes, so our anatomy hasn't caught up, right? So, if we perceive rejection, we can experience that as a threat to belonging, therefore a threat to survival on a very kind of automatic level because it's like it's baked into our DNA. And so we haven't caught up to the fact that we don't actually have to belong to the group to survive in modern life. But our body chemistry or our nervous system hasn't caught up to that. So, I like to frame, like, rejection sensitivity through that lens of, yeah, this makes sense as a human experience and it's a spectrum. Some people have really intense. So, like, if you have RSD, you're going to have a really intense rejection sensitivity, whereas other people have more mild rejection sensitivity. But yeah, that is what I did on the Venn diagram and the articles. I walk through, like, this is what normative rejection sensitivity looks like and this is what RSD looks like because RSD is above and beyond that normative sensitivity to rejection. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, thanks for setting the stage like that because I think it's important to delineate between the two. Like, it's absolutely a process of human experience to feel hurt when they feel rejected, or to feel vulnerable, or to feel insecure, or to feel unsafe. But this takes this to a whole new level, right? Because the symptomology, the struggles that come with RSD can really intensify very quickly and be unbelievably debilitating. MEGAN NEFF: Absolutely, absolutely. Yes, debilitating. And like, yeah, I think that captures it. And that is part of, like, that's one of the ways I distinguish between, like, RSD versus normative of how much is influencing the person's decisions or daily life. And if, like, a fear of rejection, a fear of putting ourselves out there is significantly influencing our decision, that has a lot of control over our day-to-day. And typically, it's not a great thing for our well-being when fear is controlling. There's a lot of avoidance that can often happen for people when they have RSD. Like, avoidance of social situations, or putting themselves out there for like a job promotion. So, there can be career implications, romantic implications. Like, I can't even imagine asking someone out on a date, right? What if I'm rejected? So, yeah, it can be really debilitating. PATRICK CASALE: I see it show up a lot in the coaching that I do because of the entrepreneurial side of my business with a lot of my ADHD coaching clients, where it's really hard to even put themselves out there on social media, it's really hard to create content, it's really hard to put their own spin on something because God forbid someone comes in and critiques it or says something that really sends them down that shame spiral. MEGAN NEFF: So, I actually just had a really interesting consultation around this. And right now I'm working with a psychoanalyst because I'm wanting to… this is a little bit of a divergent trail, I'm wanting to… So, as a psychologist, when I work one-on-one with people, I have a relational framework for the work I do. And I've realized having a framework is really helpful. So, I'm wanting to figure out how to adapt that relational framework to what I do as a public psychologist. So, I've been consulting with… a lot of people consult with like business coaches, I'm consulting with a psychoanalyst to figure out how do I bring a relational framework to the work I'm doing? PATRICK CASALE: That's right. MEGAN NEFF: But part of what came up was this, I've realized in writing this workbook that RSD is probably the number one block when it comes to, especially, social media because social media is just such a vicious space right now. It can be, I shouldn't make global statements, it can be. And one thing I was talking about was how as an autistic person, my ideas, and my emotions are not separate. So, as an autistic ADHDer, right? Like, and I see that a lot with autistic people, our ideas, and our emotions, our ideas, our values, and our personhood are so integrated. So, when I put my ideas out there, I'm putting a lot of myself out there, and then you layer on top of that RSD, damn, that's hard. PATRICK CASALE: It is. That's such a great way to kind of just put that out there too. And I know that you've been on the receiving end as I have too, your audience is significantly bigger, so you probably receive more of it, but I've been on the receiving end of text messages with you where someone said something nasty, or really like offensive, or just inappropriate, and how debilitating… why do I keep using that word? How painful that [CROSSTALK 00:10:1]1- MEGAN NEFF: ...today. PATRICK CASALE: I don't know, I feel like my brain is moving at like MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, we're both struggling. PATRICK CASALE: [CROSSTALK 00:10:19] but how painful that experience has been for you and how it makes you kind of retreat inward, and then a void. MEGAN NEFF: It does. So, I just recently switched things up. And it's actually been so good for my mental health. Like, the way I joke about is that I've emotionally broken up with social media because what I was noticing, I noticed a few things and it's so helpful to have the RSD lens. Like, probably for the first six months, when I was growing, it was really exciting. I'd open the app, I'd be excited to see like how many like, you know, because I had these little posts that would just go viral. And it'd be exciting to see that. And then it shifted to where I'd open the app and I would dread like, "Oh, no, did it go viral?" Or like my stomach would drop every time I open the app. Or every time I open a DM or the comments, like, half the time I literally kind of open the comments because I would feel so stuck of like, what am I going to see? 99% of the comments are really incredible things to read. But of course, those aren't the ones that stick to my brain. It's the 1% of it. Again, I want to tease apart, some of the comments that are critiques have been really, really good learning experiences for me. And then some of them are just like rude, and unkind, and come with a lot of hostility. And I do value the ones that are hard to take in but those have been good learning experiences for me. Yeah, I got to a point where I would feel physically sick opening the app. So, what I've done is I've turned comments off. I have an auto DM. And I will go days without opening the app. So, I will open it on Monday and Wednesday when I post. And you know how you can see on your phone how much time you've spent, like I spend like five minutes a week on Instagram. And it's amazing. And I feel like I've so much of my nervous system back, I have so much my mental real estate back. And I'm reinvesting that. I've launched my more community-oriented membership. And I'm reinvesting that energy in people who are really committed to showing up and engaging authentically. And I cannot explain what a difference that has made for my mental health. PATRICK CASALE: I'm really happy that you've done that for yourself because I know the amount of energy it takes. I also know how impactful it becomes. And it becomes a situation where you have… I, typically, in these moments will shut down, I will avoid, I'll turn everything off, I have to disconnect from everything. And then you're right, there's like this fearfulness of even opening the app back up. There's this like overwhelming dread sensation of like having to look at anything where you may perceive it in any sort of way that feels critical or… and not in a bad way because criticism is not always a bad thing, like you mentioned. But there are just people who like to just say stupid shit just to say stupid shit. And you have free rein to do that on the internet. So, it becomes really hard for people who are in online practices who are therapists who will have to network virtually, who have to show up online because that can really intensify very quickly and all of a sudden that leads to that shutdown or the disconnection. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah. No, I love how you're connecting it to entrepreneurship because I think there's a lot of, particularly, ADHD entrepreneurs and RSD is very ADHD thing. And like, that double-edged sword of, yeah, like, you have to put yourself out there to be an entrepreneur. And oh, my goodness, if you put yourself out there, you're going to face criticism. You just are. Like, you can't please everyone. And something I like that's a mantra I remind myself, but when you have RSD you have to. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, you're right. And that's why I keep bringing up the entrepreneurial side is because so many ADHDers that I know are entrepreneurs and it makes sense. Like, it works with the way the brain functions, and the creativity, and the spontaneity, and all the innovation. And like, it's also really challenging because it is about showing up. And you mentioned something before that's sticking in my mind about like, the inner connection of like the inner woven thought, feeling, experience for autistic people. And I get that very much and so much of ourselves when we put ourselves out there in that way, is like this is an extension of how I'm feeling and how I'm moving through the world. So, for it to be picked apart at times of like, "Oh, well, this isn't that character, this doesn't sound right, or like, I don't like the way this came across." All of a sudden it becomes this, like, sensation or this experience of my personhood, like, my sense of self is being under attack right now. And that makes me want to, like, bury my head and hide. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. And then, again, I guess, to bring it back to the AuDHD experience, like, another thing I see and I experience as an autistic person is like the fear of putting something out there and it being factually wrong. Like, I think that's one of my biggest fears. And I see that with a lot of autistic people. Like, what if I write something, and then in five years new research comes out, and like that language, and that, like, I've been talking to my spouse a lot about… my business has just become a huge source of stress if I'm working way too many hours, and I'm chronically sick. So, something has to change. And one of the things I was realizing and talking with my spouse, the reason I'm so stressed is I'm frantically because I have this membership that I've historically published a workbook a month that also means I've got like 20 workbooks, and I'm like, what is wrong in that, that I now want to go back and update? Because the idea of like, anything being out in the world that has my name on it, that might be factually wrong, from an autistic lens is also, like, very unfathomable. PATRICK CASALE: And I imagine how unmanageable that becomes too, that it's like, "Oh, I have a 170-page workbook. Now I have to go back and add or edit and revise." And like, very time consuming, obviously. But, you know, Luke is obviously a God sent too, so… MEGAN NEFF: Yes, that's what he is [INDISCERNINBLE 00:16:44] one. But yeah, so I think, especially, the autistic ADHD experience, it gets complicated because there's a lot of different layers that we can feel rejected or criticized. So, this, I think, is a really important part of RSD. And I think this becomes an important part of learning how to work with RSD when our brain is hyper-vigilantly scanning for signs of rejection, what it means is that, like, the wiring around that is going to become like, and the neural pathways are going to become really forged around, like, perceiving rejection, which means we're going to perceive it when it's not actually there. And this is where I think partnerships and friendships really suffer. Like, let's say two ADHDers, right? So, like, someone forgets to call or someone forgets, like, because working memory, it can be a struggle, and the person with RSD that might trigger, like, that person doesn't care about me, and it could trigger so many narratives, when it's really like, oh, something came up and they forgot. And I think that is part of what causes so much pain around RSD is it's like someone is perceiving it chronically when they're not actually being rejected. PATRICK CASALE: That's what I come across the most too when people are asking questions around RSD is like, well, if I'm moving through the world where I'm constantly feeling this pain of rejection or experiencing it this way, how do I then move through the world? Because it's so hard to maintain friendships, working relationships, professional relationships, etc. when I'm experiencing RSD so intensely in all of these situations. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, for a lot of people it's like, okay, it's easier just not to put myself out there. It's easier not to be in a relationship. It's easier to make my world small. And that's a really sad solution. PATRICK CASALE: It is because there's so many feelings of isolation, and loneliness, and disconnection as there is for a lot of neurodivergent people, so intentionally shrinking your world to protect yourself from potential harm, it's really, really hard. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We haven't even talked about that aspect of RSD of, and this is why, like, you also hear autistic people talk about RSD. I'm really curious, we haven't seen a study on this but I'd be curious if we did a study that controlled for the ADHD because we know so many autistic people have ADHD, like purely autistic people, would they still have RSD? I'd love to see a study on that. But the neurodivergent experience of just perpetual miss-attunement, like we have had more rejection. So, that's another complicating factor, right? We're more likely to perceive it, but partly that's because we are more likely to have experienced social victimization and rejection. And then it becomes this kind of vicious feedback loop of if we show up anticipating rejection, we might have developed psychological defenses and ways of being in the world that actually make it more likely for us to be rejected. And, yeah, it's vicious. PATRICK CASALE: We've talked before about, like, how we always lay out the pain points because so much of the experience is pain points, honestly. But if we're saying this, right? And then we take a step back from the clinical lens for people to say, okay, this is my experience, this is my world, this is every day, this is how I move through relationships, this is how I perceive conversation and feedback. What do we do? MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, no, I mean, there are things we can do. And I'm going to kind of put it in two buckets, psychopharmacological. Okay, big words and brain fog don't mix well today. And then kind of psychological treatments or therapeutic, like, more traditional type treatments. And again, this comes from Dr. Dotson's work, but he has talked about, so there's a class of medications, I'm going to actually look it up so I make sure I'm using the right words, that it's a non-stimulant medication, that it's a class of medications that's sometimes used for a for ADHD. So, alpha agonist is the class, and clonidine and guanfacine are the two medications within that class. Okay, this is really technical, but both have about a 30% response rate. So, a response rate when we're talking about medication is kind of significant reduction of symptoms when the person is on it. So, 30% isn't great. But these two medications are different enough that if you try one, and it doesn't work, and you try the other, there's about a 55 to 60% response rate that one of these will work for you. That's actually a pretty good response rate when it comes to medication. And Dr. Dotson, and again, he is a psychiatrist, but like, he will talk about how he's worked with people who have maybe been like, psychoanalysts for 10 years. RSD wasn't touched, they go on medication, and it's like they ask a girl out for the first time or they apply for that job. Like, it provides emotional armor that they needed. A, to just get out of that avoidance suit, but B, to actually be able to engage like the talk therapy tools. We often need some sort of armor or just regulation to be able to engage the tools that are useful. So, I think that's a really helpful frame just to realize, like, there are medications out there that might be helpful for some people. PATRICK CASALE: That is definitely helpful. And then, you know, on the other bucket, the psychological framework and toolkit that we're talking about, what are strategies that you think are useful? MEGAN NEFF: So, yeah, like a lot of kind of the traditional emotion regulation strategies, but then like, a little bit more targeted. First of all, I think, learning about the rejection sensitivity lens, I say this a lot, and sometimes it gets big reactions, but like, we have to learn to not always trust our minds. Like, our minds are not always helpful. Sometimes, like- PATRICK CASALE: Totally. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, our minds love attention. And so sometimes it'll spew the most mean, negative, alarming things at us to get our attention. And this is one area where I think learning to not trust our minds becomes really important, realizing, okay, I am prone to have like a rejection goggles on or rejection lens on, which means I'm going to see it when, like, maybe my partner isn't actually trying to reject me, or maybe my boss is genuinely giving me… like, is intending good for me in this constructive feedback. So, I think one really getting clarity on that lens so that we can identify when that's on so that we can unhook from it a little bit more. I would say that's the first step. Other steps like emotion regulation strategies. So, again, if we put this back into the perspective of a threat response, our nervous system, our stress state, our fight, flight, freeze, fawn wherever we go in our nervous system is going to be activated when we're perceiving rejection. So, I'm a big fan of like nervous system mapping, which I think that comes from polyvagal theory. I don't love all of polyvagal theory, but I like this idea of nervous system mapping of like, let me map where I am in my stress response, and then figure out what tools you need. So, if you're someone who goes, like hyperarousal, you would need downregulation strategies to kind of help cool the body off. So, emotion regulation strategies. And then, also, things like knowing your rejection triggers, knowing your, like, what I call raw, but what I didn't come up with the term, but raw spots. Like, what are those raw spots or those areas in our life where maybe we have some attachment wounds, or some relational wounds so when they get bumped they pull a big reaction from us, getting a lot of clarity about, like, what are your rough spots? Why? What's the history of those? What happens to you when those get activated? So, also, like a ton of insight, right? Insight into your relational patterns, into your psyche. I'll stop there, that was a bit. There's, I'm sure more. PATRICK CASALE: Those are good to start out with so that people can implement this stuff and start, you know, doing their own research or incorporating these into their day-to-day because I think it's important to be proactive, too, because I think you're mentioning so many important tips right now and the raw spot suggestion, great suggestion, right? Because if you know what creates these triggers for you, then you can work on, you know, preventing, or at least putting into practice something that will help regulate when you're going into events like that or moments like that. I actually don't like at all, and I just want to be clear about this, CBT but REBT, rational emotive behavioral therapy, when you do like the ABCDE model of like activating event, behavioral challenge, challenging belief disputation, because what we're talking about is like, my wife's not picking up the phone, she must not love me anymore. And we're jumping to these conclusions, we're catastrophizing a lot, and I like that you said, don't always trust your brain because there are always, and I don't want to use blanket statements either, there are often alternative explanations for behavior. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah. Wait, so are you saying you don't typically like CBT but you do like that CBT exercise? PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, I like that exercise because it allows you to say like, what's the activating event? Okay, she doesn't pick up the phone. My immediate reaction is she doesn't love me anymore, right? Like, and then you've kind of processed it through that lens of like, but what are the other scenarios here for not picking up the phone? MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, I'm glad you say that because I'm with you. And that, like, I tend to not default to CBT, especially, for neurodivergent or anyone who's had a marginalized experience in the world because I think it can be really invalidating. But then there's these tools from CBT that I really like. And I'm like, well, if you put it in context, this can actually be really helpful. And I don't want us to, like, throw the baby out with the bathwater. So, I'll talk about that too, like putting your thoughts through a reality filter. And there's certain questions you can ask to be like, okay, is this thought helpful to me right now? Is it like, yeah, are there cognitive distortions that are, like, influencing this? Kind of that detective work of like, let me become a detective of my own mind, and my own experience, and my own thoughts, which even just the act of stepping outside of the experience into that observing detective, ideally, non-evaluative, non-judgmental mode is therapeutic, no matter where you land on the reality filter of the thought. PATRICK CASALE: Absolutely, yeah. And I'll just piggyback on my statement of saying I'm not a fan of CBT. I know how harmful it is for marginalized communities and for neurodivergent folks in… oh, we could have a whole episode on therapeutic modalities that don't work well for neurodivergent human beings. But if you put it through that lens, and I like that you use that word, you can start becoming that detective, you can start, like, taking that step back because it's really helpful when it feels like almost everything is creating this intensification of experiences that leaves you feeling like you're not able to participate in your life because you just feel like you can't put yourself out there or you can't, you know, speak your mind, or you feel like you just can't show up the way you want to show up. And I think that's really challenging for a lot of ND folks, too, is like, if I can't show up authentically, that really feels uncomfortable and that feels really painful, too. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, I mean, that then ties into like masking and RSD which that can be its own, like complex conversation. But yeah, if masking helps reduce RSD you could see how like, okay, I'm going to say this, but then I'm going to unpack it, masking becomes a form of self-care. And I don't mean that masking is actually self-care, but like, in that option of like, I'm either going to, like, spiral, like, the fear of I'm going to spiral with RSD because I'm going to show up authentically and you know, the fear, it's not going to be perceived, or I'm going to mask, I could see how for someone masking feels like the less energy cost of the two. And again, that's assuming that masking is like a choice, which it often is not. But it's just that is an interesting, like, yeah, the masking RSD dynamic. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, absolutely. So, I think we could take this in a variety of ways. And I think we could talk about, like, partnership and RSD, I think we could talk about so many different avenues. I also don't know how your energy is and I want to check on that. MEGAN NEFF: No, I actually feel like I've talked a lot about like content creation in RSD, which is not going to be, like, the majority of people listening to this. So, I'd love to spend some energy to generalize it more to, yeah, relationships, workplace, things like that. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah. MEGAN NEFF: Absolutely. PATRICK CASALE: So, let's talk relationships. Whether it's, you know, different neurotypes, same neurotype, one person is experiencing RSD, one person's not, that can be really challenging because conflict can arise in relationships, and often does. And it can feel really, really painful to feel like you are being critiqued, or you feel really vulnerable, or you're, you know, feeling like you're spiraling often in conversations with your partner. And I imagine then the other partner would then feel that challenge too of like, I don't even know what I can say. MEGAN NEFF: Yes, yeah. I mean, I think it's painful for both people involved, right? Because if one person feels like they're walking on eggshells, right? That's kind of the famous metaphor, that is not healthy for a relationship if there's not the capacity to talk openly about what is happening, and if hard conversations spiral into, like, emotion dysregulation and conflict. So, that is a really painful scenario for both partners involved. Yeah, absolutely. With relationships, I'd be curious to kind of like overlay attachment style and RSD. And attachment theory is one that like it gets critiqued for being oversimplified, but I find it a really helpful lens, even with it being, if people know like, okay, this is probably an oversimplification, I still find it really helpful and to someone who has RSD and also, anxiously attached, like, there's going to be some big emotions when they perceive like an attachment injury or where they perceive they're being criticized. And again, kind of, I'm mapping, I guess, is my word today, but mapping out what are the attachment styles. There's a really great exercise from EFT therapy. It's infinity loop. I have a link on my website, I could link it in our show notes. But it's essentially you map out, like, what happens in the aftermath of an attachment injury. Like, what story does each partner start telling? What did they start doing, right? So, some partners will retreat, some will go to work because it's like, we have to fix this. But then that activates another story, like a secondary story. So, you can map out like, okay, what happens to us in an attachment injury. I think exercises like that become really helpful because then you can understand and name the chaos without a map of like, what is happening here? It's really confusing. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And I'm glad you mentioned that because I think recognizing the attachment style and the pattern and then being able to, again, step back when you're not activated and look at it, and say, okay, now I get a sense of like, what's happening in these moments because what you don't want to do, like you said, it's not a healthy partnership if you're walking on eggshells if you feel like you can't have communication, and it's very different experiences on either side, so each partner is experiencing this painfully but very differently, too. MEGAN NEFF: Absolutely, absolutely, yeah. Like, I think ideally the RSD could almost be externalized and be talked about as like a thing in the relationship, right? Like, okay, we just hit an RSD wall, or like, we just triggered the RSD. I love externalizing both and like individual techniques, I do it all the time. Like with, oh, my mind is doing this thing, right. That's it. I'm externalizing it. I'm making it less connected to me. I'm saving the relationships when we can externalize it and it's like, let's collaboratively solve the struggle we're experiencing around this RSD trigger versus you versus me. That really changes the conversation. PATRICK CASALE: It feels much more like teamwork at that point in time. And going back to your detective analogy before, like, you're both putting on that detective hat of like, how can we solve this together? Instead of you're injuring me versus I'm experiencing our relationship this way. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah, exactly, exactly. Yeah, yeah, that makes such a big difference when partners can do that, like stand side by side, look at the dynamic together versus… I see that a lot, so much like accusations, and kind of like, I mean, our narcissism episode just came out. Like, you are a narcissist, or you're gaslighting me. Like these huge words get thrown out, or can get thrown out when we're looking at the other person as the problem versus looking at the dynamic, or the issue, or the like the process, content versus process. Like, that's a communication thing of when we're locked in the content, which we typically are during in RSD trigger. That means we're locked in like, the thing we're talking about. Process is kind of like bird's eye view, like what is actually happening here relationally? You can get unhooked from the content enough to have some process conversation, some process reflection, that is so helpful in relationships. PATRICK CASALE: Absolutely, 100%. And I think that's also a good transition point into professional relationships. Like, because those things happen in the workplace, too. And it can happen with your co-workers, it can happen from a employee/employer standpoint, and the implications can be pretty huge, like you said, not trying to go for that promotion that you wanted, not talking out in staff meetings because you're going to feel rejected for how you come across. There are so many ways that this can show up in the workplace, too. MEGAN NEFF: Absolutely, absolutely. And I think it's going to depend like, so I talked about, well, Dotson talks about three ways people can respond to RSD, I've added a fourth one. And I have like a little matrix up of like the different ways people can typically respond to RSD. So, workplace stress is going to depend on like, what is your kind of default response? So, like, perfectionism is a really common response to RSD. Like, if I just never make a mistake, then I'm fine. No one's ever going to perceive any of this, right? It's totally illogical, except it's not because we're going to make mistakes. People pleasing, so kind of, like, I put that in under the fawn mode. Like, perpetual people pleasing, like reading, like, what does this person want from me? And a lot of people that are RSD become really good at like, kind of taking in a person, figuring out exactly who they want the person to be. I think that ties back into masking and other things. And then avoidance. So, just like, I'm going to avoid putting myself out there. I think that's the one we've talked about the most in this episode. And then the one I added is the like projector or someone who gets like fight mode when they're perceiving rejection. So, yeah, workplace, if you're a perfectionist people pleaser, with RSD in the workplace, you're going to burn out really fast. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, yeah. It's going to look like workaholism, right? And you're going to be potentially putting in extra hours that are unnecessary, you're going to be taking on additional tasks that you don't really have the capacity for or don't want to do. And you're going to be one of those employees potentially that goes above and beyond for everything. And then ultimately, it's like, fuck, I can't do this job anymore. This is not manageable for me. This is not sustainable. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah. And like I think you and I were probably both in that category. And I think that then resentment can come in. So, I would say it's like a more low-simmer chronic RSD response, right? Because there's this illusion of I can, yeah, evade rejection if I just work harder. But then the resentment that builds up, the burnout that that builds up. Absolutely, yeah. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, absolutely. And then it leads to either termination or leads to quitting a job that you may have been able to navigate or find some accommodation for and it can be really challenging. I think that if we're looking at the whole person, this is so impactful interpersonally, in relationships, in employment places, employment places, places of employment, [INDISCERNIBLE 00:39:39] but it's so impactful. So, knowing the triggers, like you said, implementing some of these soothing strategies for your nervous system, being able to have these conversations, being able to externalize. I think there are a lot of good strategies that you're naming and mentioning right now. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah. And then also for the avoiders, right? Like getting out of the avoidance loop, which essentially, a lot of anxiety-based treatments are all about targeting avoidance because avoidance feeds anxiety. So, I would add that tool for the avoiders, and especially, with the workplace. Like, avoiders are probably going to be underemployed, they're not going to be going up for that promotion, they're not going to be putting themselves out there. And so really targeting avoidance, using exposure. Gosh, it's going to be a whole other episode. Actually, I feel some guilt about this because I think I used to be one of the voices that said this, and I'm now seeing it on social media a lot. Like, exposure therapy doesn't work for autistic people. Exposure therapy doesn't work for sensory habituation. But that doesn't mean it doesn't work for PTSD triggers, for anxiety. So, we have to get out of this, I think it's a dangerous mindset to say exposure therapy doesn't work for autistic people. When you're in an anxious-driven avoidance loop, you absolutely have to do exposure. Like, it can be natural, it should be led by you. So, for that person exposure and addressing the anxiety would be a really important part of the toolkit. PATRICK CASALE: Glad you name that. I think that's a really good tip and also good framework for the recognition that in some instances certain techniques and strategies are useful, like we said before, despite not being useful as like a blanket statement or across the board. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, I'm starting to become more gentle in my language use. Like, I think I used to be like, "This kind of therapy is bad." Like, I used to say, like, "CBT is bad for autistic people." I'm now more around like things need to be adapted, right? So, you need to adapt exposure therapy when you do it for an autistic person, 1,000%. If you're using CBT, you should adapt it and consider the marginalized experiences. So, I'm kind of like, yeah, I'm changing my narrative a little bit and how I talk about it. I'm softening it to talk more about adapting and less about what's good and what's bad. PATRICK CASALE: I think it's also important to like, differentiate between taking one simple tool, or technique, or strategy from something, opposed to saying like, okay, CBT as a whole, we don't like it. But this one technique really is useful if we adapt it in a neurodivergent affirmative way. And I think that you could do that with a lot of different therapeutic interventions and modalities. MEGAN NEFF: Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah, yeah, yeah. PATRICK CASALE: Usually, three yeahs in a row from you is like, all right, let's transition out. So, is that where we're at? MEGAN NEFF: I mean, I don't know how long we've been recording. You're right. Like, you said this before we started recording because we were both feeling really lousy. And I was like, "I don't know if this will be a good episode." You were like, "Usually when we start talking it like works." I feel like I could talk longer. But I also feel like I could be done. I don't know, what do you feel? PATRICK CASALE: I feel the same way. I think we've been recording now for about 45 minutes so- MEGAN NEFF: Okay, good length. PATRICK CASALE: Good length of time. And I think it's a good foundational episode to then build off of for different perspectives. I think we can also have people on here to talk about their own RSD experiences, and how it shows up, and how they work through it, or try to manage, and support themselves. So, I think we can go a lot of directions with this. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah. And I mean, I love, we should definitely do a like answer questions follow up because I think people have a lot of questions around this topic. And so we could do that. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, will say I didn't think about even asking for questions for the episode until like 10 minutes before we started recording. We got like six questions immediately. So, I think that with another day or two, we could compile all that and we can address that the next time we record. MEGAN NEFF: Let's do that. PATRICK CASALE: Cool. Well, for those of you who don't know, Megan, and I haven't recorded in like three and a half weeks because I've been gone and I just appreciate being able to fall back into this even though we feel crappy, like connected in that way. So, just want to thank you for that. What was I going to say? MEGAN NEFF: I think episodes are out every Friday on all major platforms, Spotify, Apple… PATRICK CASALE: What Megan just said, new episodes are out every single Friday. If you have topic requests, if you have questions you want answered, please email our Gmail address that's attached to our Instagram, which is divergentconversationspodcast@gmail.com. We do read those. We don't always respond because we just don't always have the capacity or the spoons to do so. And new episodes are out every single Friday on all major platforms and YouTube. And Megan has a 170-page workbook on RSD that you can purchase from her website at neurodivergentinsights.com. And that will be linked in the show notes as well. Cool. All right, goodbye.

I'm back with one of my favorite guests who is always up for the challenge of a podcast–no matter what the topic is! I want to explore the term rejection sensitivity dysphoria and get Dr. Lesley Cook's take on it because I have so many questions. Let's learn more together!  Dr. Lesley Cook is a psychologist who works with those with ADHD and other kinds of neurodivergence. Born and raised in Hawaii, she now lives in Virginia and works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Show Highlights: ●      What RSD (rejection sensitivity dysphoria) is and how it is manifested ●      KC's personal experience with RSD and feelings of worthlessness ●      How RSD is different from sensory sensitivity and autism ●      Thoughts about the strong word dysphoria in RSD ●      KC's personal experience with RSD and being told she is “too sensitive” ●      How we can grow, change, and find regulatory strategies for RSD ●      Why it is difficult to communicate the facets and nuances of RSD and other interpersonal difficulties Resources and Links: Connect with Dr. Lesley Cook: TikTok Connect with KC: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Get KC's book, How to Keep House While Drowning We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: www.strugglecare.com/promo-codes.

In this week's episode I sat down with musician, running enthusiast and sobriety advocate, Luke Bayliss. From a young age, Luke experienced bullying at school which triggered debilitating anxiety and an eating disorder. Always feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, when Luke discovered alcohol, he found his insecurities melted away. Luke had a troubled relationship with booze from the outset which would later lead him to a near fatal car accident and multiple admissions into psych wards. It wasn't until Luke went into treatment again in 2022 that he was correctly diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar 3. Since this time, Luke has managed to stay sober and is now passionately sharing his story, so that it doesn't become yours. Luke talks passionately on a range of topics including: Bullying and developing an eating disorder – 13:00 Childhood anxiety – 19:00 Surviving a near fatal car crash – 25:00 ADHD, Bipolar and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria – 30:00 Why routine is a game changer – 46:30 Finding strength in vulnerability – 52:00 Check out Luke's Behind the Smile photo on the Ash Butterss Website. You can follow Ash and Behind The Smile on IG here: @ashbutterss You can find Luke using the links below: Instagram: @llukebayliss and @soberlifeguides Podcast: I have ADHD with Kristen Carder DRYY Community If you or someone you know if struggling with mental health or addiction, please reach out for support. Some support options include: • A healthcare professional • Alcoholics Anonymous • Lifeline or Beyond Blue (Australia) • CheckPoint (global) If you'd like to support the show you can "Buy Me A Coffee" by following the link below: ⁠YES I'D LOVE TO SUPPORT BEHIND THE SMILE PODCAST

Ashley explains what Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) is, symptoms to look for, the brain science contributing to symptoms, and what parents can do to support their children if they have RSD. 120 Self-Regulation Ideas for Kids: https://hes-extraordinary.com/self-regulation-strategieshttps://podcasts.apple.com/th/podcast/ep24-the-power-of-positive-affirmations-in-parenting/id1615301027?i=1000569998838 How to Use Emotion Coaching to Teach Children Self-Regulation https://hes-extraordinary.com/how-to-use-emotion-coaching-to-teach-children-self-regulation RSD Quiz: https://www.additudemag.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-adhd-symptom-test/ The Power of Positive Affirmations in Parenting: https://podcasts.apple.com/th/podcast/ep24-the-power-of-positive-affirmations-in-parenting/id1615301027?i=1000569998838 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enlighteningmotherhood/message

Let's explore the concept of micro-rejections and how they can affect us emotionally. We are discussing the physiological and psychological reasons behind why these seemingly insignificant rejections can hurt so much, especially for individuals with ADHD. My amazing guest is licensed counselor, founder of Humanity Hive, and ADHD specialist, Candin Phillips, who sheds light on Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. Tune in to learn more about this phenomenon and discover ways to navigate and cope with micro-rejections.Notable Timestamps:[00:04:30] What is Rejection sensitivity dysphoria?[00:09:39] Women and ADHD diagnosis. [00:12:20] Importance of ADHD testing. [00:16:06] Overcoming the pressure to perform. [00:20:37] Overachievers and people-pleasing. [00:25:03] Setting proper boundaries. [00:27:22] Setting boundaries and documenting achievements. [00:31:54] RSD and assumptions in relationships. [00:35:26] Rejection Sensitivity and Medication. [00:37:30] Shifting approach to ADHD. [00:40:16] Bilateral simulation for healing. References mentioned:Schedule a FREE breakthrough call with me Want to take these ideas and apply them to your life? Let's do it!Apply for the Effective Collective Mastermind - Mastermind for moms with too much on their plate to get what they truly desire (only a few spots left; starts in October)Month of Miracles FREE DOWNLOAD- 31 actionable ideas for miracles everyday for a month!Get on my email list These are the emails you can actually WANT to open. BTS on how I went from burnt-out to audaciously aligned and how you can do it, too!Surprisingly True Useful Fun Fact ResearchConnect with Candin Phillips:IG - her account is amazing, y'all!Candin's Support LinksALLISON HARE'S LINKS:EFFECTIVE COLLECTIVE MOTHER MASTERMIND: Schedule a free exploratory call here.AllisonHare.com - Late Learner Podcast, personal journal and blog, danceInstagram - Steps to heal yourself, move society forward, and slinging memes and dancing (seriously, Allison is also a dance fitness instructor)Late Learner IGYouTube ChannelBlog - quick, way more personal, deeper topics - make sure to subscribeTikTok - documenting my journey one lo-fi video at a timeReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Personal Brand - need help building yours? Schedule a call with me here and let's discuss.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com

Sometimes, we think that our children are too sensitive when they overreact to certain situations, especially when we're giving them criticisms or feedback. However, there are cases when their reactions and sensitivity are due to a mental health disorder called rejection sensitivity dysphoria. In fact, about 70% of those who have ADHD are also diagnosed with rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD). That's why it's important for us to learn more about rejection sensitivity dysphoria as it remains unknown to many. Rejection sensitivity dysphoria is a clinical issue.Most people don't have any idea what rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is, which is why we're here to shed light on the matter because it is a newer issue that's not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Rejection sensitivity dysphoria is a clinical issue wherein an individual exhibits overly emotional reactions to criticisms or rejections whether real or perceived. They usually get too worried about being rejected or criticized by others causing them to be avoidant. What are the signs and symptoms of ADHD?Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that greatly affects an individual's behavior in many ways. Kids with ADHD have sudden outbursts and some situations overwhelm them easily.Parenting becomes even more challenging when you're parenting kids with ADHD and RSD. You have to have your A game parenting skills on and have everything together because these kids are very sensitive.What are the signs and symptoms of RSD?Sudden outbursts are the most common sign of RSD. Another is being emotionally overwhelmed all of a sudden. Kids with RSD often have low frustration tolerance which makes them easily triggered even by minor things. Other than being easily angered or irritated, they have an intense fear of failure or rejection. They are prone to negative thinking and negative self-talk. This fear can be persistent which influences their emotions and behavior. This can also cause constant anticipation of negativity and self-doubt.How is RSD different from ADHD?ADHD is a clinical issue that involves impulse control issues, hyperactivity and inattention. An ADHD brain looks different as it tends to have more unfocused brain waves. On the other hand, RSD is a specific behavior in relation to the fear of failure, criticism and rejection. An RSD brainwave activity looks different in the limbic system. There is overactivity occurring in the frontal lobes and low activity in the common area of simple reason. How is RSD different from a mood disorder?RSD and ADHD overlap at some point because of emotional regulation but mood disorder and RSD are more overlapping. In fact, symptoms of RSD such as sudden outbursts, low frustration tolerance and mood changes are also common to mood disorder. However, the distinguishing characteristic of RSD is that it has a clear trigger but there doesn't always have to be a trigger because the brain gets itself into a state of being overwhelmed or withdrawn. In relation to this, we also have to take into consideration other clinical issues like the sensory processing disorder (SPD). We all know that the trigger for SPD is a sensory trigger, whether it be a light, sound or touch, which causes children to have sensory meltdowns.Cognitive reappraisal is a technique for your negative thinkers.One of the strategies for managing emotional dysregulation is cognitive reappraisal which is a helpful technique for people who struggle with negative thinking. It restructures one's way of thinking to change how one should respond to a situation. The first step is to identify negative thought...