Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)

Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) causes extreme emotional pain resulting from actual or perceived rejection, criticism, teasing, or failure. People with RSD experience low self-esteem, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, strong people-pleasing tendencies, extreme self-doubt, negative self-talk, and sudden outbursts of negative emotions. It’s a form of emotional dysregulation, a common but misunderstood and under-researched symptom of adult ADHD. It’s possibly due to brain structures that make it difficult to regulate rejection-related emotions and behaviors. Along with its opposite, recognition responsive euphoria (RRE), RSD is controversial, with some not considering it real. Treatment requires professional help, medication, and treating oneself with compassion, getting rest, engaging de-stressing skills, and finding ways to fully validate emotions (helps to connect to positive people).